2 May, 2011IMF delegates from Latin America and the Caribbean took part in the march to commemorate Workers' Day in Mexico, in solidarity with Mexican miners and the country's independent trade union movement.
MEXICO: During the IMF's Regional Conference for Latin America and Caribbean affiliates, held in Mexico, about 50 trade unionists from the region joined the Workers' May Day march in solidarity with miners to call for the freedom of association. ICEM representatives from the Geneva office and some affiliates also took part.
The IMF delegation, led by its General Secretary, Jyrki Raina, marched together with the Mexican miners from the Fine Arts Museum to Zócalo, Constitution Square, where a commemorative rally took place.
The IMF once again showed its support and solidarity for the miners and reiterated its demands to the Mexican government:
- Bring to justice the employer responsible for the explosion in the Pasta de Conchos mine and the government officials implicated in the tragedy.
- Stop the systematic violation of the freedom of association, including the "protection contracts" imposed by employers and interference in trade union elections.
- Stop the repression and political persecution of Mexican trade unions by the state and the private sector.