15 February, 2010The caution to Mexican authorities follows a court decision on February 11 to end the 31-month strike by the Mexican Miners' Union and terminate its collective agreement with Grupo México.
MEXICO: Two global union federations are urging the Mexican government and Mexican armed forces to use restraint in any attempt to secure Grupo México's Cananea copper mine in Sonora State. The International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine, and General Workers' Unions (ICEM) and the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) are deeply concerned that a court ruling last week will precipitate violence between armed Mexican troops and miners represented by an affiliate of the two Geneva-based labour federations, Mexico's National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union (SNTMMSRM).
The caution to Mexican authorities comes following an February 11 decision by a labour appellate court upholding a Federal Conciliation and Arbitration Board declaration to end a 31-month strike by the union, and terminating the collective agreement between SNTMMSRM and Grupo México.
The ICEM and IMF are aware that federal troops have been dispatched to northern Sonora State. The ICEM and IMF are also in direct contact with the Mexican trade union and believe miners at Cananea are resolved to continue occupying the mine until a fair and equitable labour agreement is reached.
"This week is a very critical time at Cananea and we urge the Mexican government to order its forces to use prudence and abeyance in dealing with workers," said ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda. "If the mine is to reopen, we insist that Grupo México, the government, and the union engage in honest dialogue to address the issues that are unresolved, and to recognise the union in a productive spirit."
"The use of violence of any kind will serve only to further isolate the parties," said IMF General Secretary Jyrki Raina. "We understand that the legal process has now been exhausted, so we urge respect and balance and hopefully a negotiated resolve can occur that will put the miners back to work in a region of Mexico that desperately needs income-generating jobs."
Together, the ICEM and IMF represent 45 million workers globally. The ICEM serves as the umbrella global union federation for 467 trade unions in 132 countries, while the IMF represents the interests of 200 trade unions in 100 countries.