GM workers in Mexico elect independent union, pushing for higher wages, Auto News, ET Auto

By Daina Beth Solomon

MEXICO CITY: An unbiased labor union supported by worldwide activists has received a sweeping victory to characterize staff at a Basic Motors’ pickup-truck plant within the central Mexican metropolis of Silao, Mexican officers stated on Thursday.

The union, SINTTIA, beat three rivals by a large margin, together with Mexico’s largest labor group that had held the contract for 25 years, and is poised to deliver a couple of bump in wages in a rustic the place salaries have stagnated for years.

The vote by a number of thousand staff was required beneath a Mexican labor reform that underpins a commerce settlement with the US and Canada, and was carefully watched by the U.S. authorities.

The AFL-CIO, the biggest U.S. labor group, celebrated the vote as a win for staff throughout the auto sector.

“Staff will advocate for larger wages and improved well being and security requirements … serving to to set new requirements within the car business,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler stated in a press release.

“This vote represents a rejection of the previous and a brand new period for Mexican staff’ proper to affiliate freely.”

Basic Motors didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Mexico’s federal labor middle stated SINTTIA received with 4,192 votes out of 5,389 legitimate ballots, in an election with virtually 90% turnout.

Many staff hoped to push out the Confederation of Mexican Staff (CTM) after voting final yr to dissolve their contract with the group in a vote monitored by U.S. officers beneath the USMCA commerce deal.

CTM had held the Silao contract for the reason that plant opened in 1995 and is aligned with the Institutional Revolutionary Social gathering (PRI) that dominated Mexico for many years.

It received 247 votes within the this week’s union election.

A separate group that critics say has ties to CTM, generally known as La Coalicion, or The Coalition, took second place with 932 votes.

SINTTIA, an upstart union supported by U.S. and Canadian labor teams, campaigned for months to rally supporters on the plant of 6,300 workers.

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