Democrats Who Worked to Change USMCA Ask Mexican President to Share Progress on Labor Reform
Democrats who worked to change the USMCA to make it palatable to their colleagues in the House of Representatives wrote to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador about their concerns that abusive union practices are continuing, and they asked him to keep them updated on efforts to change the culture in his country.
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Lopez Obrador visited Washington July 8, but Congress was not in session, so he did not meet with any Democrats during the trip.
The July 8 letter, led by Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., said they're hearing that protection unions, which are allied with employers, are still signing new contracts before employees are hired, and that workers who are trying to form independent unions are still being illegally fired.
“Employer and protection union manipulation of workers throughout the election process continue to be reported,” they said, and they said that allowing workers to petition for a new contract vote, providing public information about who is calling for an election, and when and where it will be, would “reduce serious vulnerabilities in the current process.” They also said that establishing an anonymous worker hotline would be helpful.
They also raised the case of labor advocate Susana Prieto, who was ordered to leave northern Mexico, where she had been protesting the health protections of workers when factories reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.
“These actions against Ms. Prieto send a chilling message to all workers and activists,” they said.
“[I]t will be our dedication to the dignity and protection of our workers that will help both Mexico and the United States honor the commitments made in this landmark agreement. These hardworking men and women represent the economic backbone of our nations. They’re counting on us to keep our promises to them. And we must not let them down. At your convenience, we would appreciate a response in writing to these concerns.”