Strengthening Independent Unions in Mexico
October 2007 – September 2012
This project builds non-unionized workers’ knowledge on ways to improve and defend their rights. The project is being implemented in at least 10 workplaces in the Valle de Mexico, Puebla and Tlaxcala.
The Canadian Labour Congress is working with the Frente Autentico de Trabajo (FAT) on this project and uses the labour side agreements of NAFTA, along with Canadian and American unions, to bring forward cases of labour rights violations and then searches for ways of strengthening the FAT’s international relations with the Steelworkers and other unions.
Another focus is to deal with workers from a range of sectors who are operating under “protection” contracts. A protection contract is a deal that a company makes with a "yellow union", i.e. individuals who call themselves unionists but are in cahoots with employers and do not represent the best interests or any interests of the actual workers.
We have seen an Increase in the union’s capacity to organize independent unions along with stronger union participation in the labour movement in general. Ongoing Occupational Health and Safety training for the Families of Gerdau workers has created more awareness of the importance of safe workplaces and clean working conditions.
The Canadian Labour Congress works in tandem with Frente Autentico de Trabajo (FAT), United Steelworkers / Steelworkers Humanity Fund (USW) and the Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada Humanity Fund (CEP)
Mexico