News From USW: Steelworkers Show Support for Mexican Mine Blast Victims, Union Leader

Business Wire, Feb 20, 2007

PITTSBURGH -- News From USW: Steelworkers from the United States and Canada joined leaders of the Mexican Mineworkers' union and family members to remember the victims of the explosion that killed 65 miners one year ago today and call on the government to restore the union's elected leader.

"The Mexican government must end its attacks on the mineworkers and their elected leader, Napoleon Gomez," said USW President Leo W. Gerard. The government removed Gomez from office in February, 2006, igniting a labor conflict that has cost the lives of two union members killed by police and millions of dollars in lost production.

The Steelworkers joined an international delegation of mine and metal union leaders who are seeking a meeting with President Felipe Calderon to urge him to resolve the union conflict. "Until this government decides to respect the right of workers to elect their union leaders and democratically govern their unions, Mexico will be the focus of international condemnation," warned Ken Neumann, Steelworkers National Director for Canada.

"We are here at the Pasta de Conchos mine to demand justice for the victims and their families," said Jim Robinson, USW District 7 Director. "Despite clear evidence that the government failed to enforce safety regulations and the Grupo Mexico mining company ignored inspection reports, no one has been held accountable."

In November, the Steelworkers filed a complaint against Mexico with the U.S. Department of Labor alleging violations of the labor side agreement of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Unions have also brought the case to the International Labor Organization.

"The Mexican workers have suffered under Grupo Mexico, and workers in the United States have suffered as well," said Manny Armenta, USW Sub-Director from District 12 in Arizona. Armenta represents workers at Asarco, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico in Arizona and Texas that is now in bankruptcy proceedings. "Most of the miners who were killed were making less than a dollar a day," he added. "As long as the Mexican government lets companies get away with that, people are going to keep heading north, no matter how high a wall you build."

NOTE TO EDITORS: There is an accent mark over the "o" in the last names of Gomez and Calderon. This symbol may not appear properly in some systems.