1 December, 2011UNI Global Union has released a video in support of the workers at Atento Mexico fighting for their right to have a democratic and independent trade union.
GLOBAL: In October 2011 workers of the Mexican company Atento Mexico tried to vote for a democratic trade union, Sindicato de Telefonistas de la Republica Mexicana (STRM). Instead of respecting their choice the company, using thugs and a protection union, tried to influence the process and undermine the voting.
UNI contacted Atento's Spanish parent company Telefonica, with which it has a global agreement, to ensure that Atento management would not interfere with the election. However, the election was rife with such interference. Workers who wanted to vote for STRM were denied a fair chance to cast their ballots.
To support workers at Atento Mexico in their fight for a democratic and independent union UNI Global Union released a video. There is also a special page on Facebook.
IMF is actively fighting against the corrupt practice of protection contracts in Mexico. In February 2009 IMF submitted a complaint against protection contracts to the Committee on Freedom of Association of the International Labour Organization. Later, the complaint received support from International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and four Mexican unions including STRM.
In 2011 the ILO Governing body ruled on this case and demanded that the Mexican government conduct a social dialogue and redress the arbitrary functioning of the labour courts which makes it possible to manipulate workers' rights through the use of protection contracts.