The AFL-CIO condemns yesterday's decision by a Mexican appeals court to allow the Grupo Mexico mining company to terminate the employment of 1,200 members of the National Union of Mine and Metalworkers (SNTMMSRM) at the Cananea mine.

In the proceedings, the mining company argued that it had a right to fire the striking workers because the strike had allegedly left the facilities inoperable.  However, no evidence of inoperability was ever presented to the courts; indeed, the mine remains operable to this day.  In finding the strike illegal, despite the lack of evidence to support its decision, the court effectively eliminated the right to strike in Mexico.  Notably, this case also represents the first time that inoperability was cited as the basis to fire striking workers.

The AFL-CIO affirms the strong support of the US labor movement for the SNTMMSRM and condemns the Mexican governments four-year long campaign to destroy this independent union.  We call on the Mexican Government  to withdraw its earlier threat to use military force to dislodge the strikers and to negotiate with the SNTMMSRM to peacefully resolve this conflict.

We condemn the threats of the Mexican government to repress the democratic and independent union movement  in this and other current cases. Such attacks on the trade union movement thoroughly undercut the promise made years ago to US, Mexican and Canadian workers under the NAALC that fundamental workers rights would be fully respected in North America.

We call on the Obama administration and Congressional leadership to take immediate and decisive steps to hold the Mexican government accountable for its systematic violations of fundamental worker rights and its effort to dismantle independent unions. We also request our Government to urge the Mexican authorities to peacefully resolve the situation in Cananea and to completely refrain from the use of military or police force.

Contact: Amaya Tune (202) 637-5018