3 February, 2022Ninety per cent of the 6,232 workers at General Motors’ plant in Silao in Mexico have cast their votes to elect new union representatives. With an overwhelming majority – 76 per cent – SINTTIA won, leading the way for democratic unions in Mexico in the wake of the country’s labour reform.
In August last year, workers rejected the collective agreement signed by the old Miguel Trujillo López union, affiliated to the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), accusing that union of siding with GM and putting the company's interests before those of its workers. The rejection of the agreement meant holding elections to choose a new union.
After the votes were counted on 3 February, it was clear that Sindicato Independente Nacional de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de la Industria Automotriz (SINTTIA) had won a crushing majority, with 76 per cent of the workers voting to be represented by the independent union.
IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie says that this is an incredibly important victory and proof that the labour reform implemented by the Mexican government in 2019 can indeed have a positive effect for workers as it provides them with a real chance to cast their vote in free and fair elections.
“We congratulate SINTTIA whose massive win shows that Mexican auto workers want to be represented by an authentic, uncompromised, independent and transparent trade union. There are more elections to come and this win will strengthen the democratic structures.
“We now call on General Motors to enter into a fair and transparent process of collective bargaining with SINTTIA.”