USW Backs Petition to Enforce Mexican Workers Labor Rights

Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, (412) 562-2444, jkamm@usw.org

USW International President Tom Conway issued the following statement in response to a petition filed today under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) focusing on labor violations at the Mexican auto-parts factory Tridonex:

“The USW applauds the initiative spearheaded by the AFL-CIO to file the first-ever petition under the USMCA in an effort to hold Mexico accountable for enforcing its labor standards.

“One of the hard-fought victories of the USMCA was that it provided a rapid response mechanism that allows the United States to take action against individual factories that violate workers’ rights.

“Workers at Tridonex’s Matamoros plant have seen their rights trampled for far too long. They, like all workers, deserve the opportunity to choose representation by an independent union and negotiate for a fair contract that reflects their needs and priorities.

“We have every faith that the Interagency Labor Committee will swiftly review this petition and ensure that our trade system benefits workers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.