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UAW Leaders Call on GM to Treat Mexican Workers Fairly

17 July 1997

UAW Leaders Call on GM to Treat Mexican Workers Fairly

    DETROIT, July 17 -- In the wake of a strike in June by
Mexican autoworkers at four General Motors Delco plants in Reynosa,
Tamaulipas, Mexico, in which it was reported that plant guards mistreated
workers and reporters, and workers were fired or pressured to resign, UAW
leaders have strongly urged GM to behave more responsibly towards its Mexican
workforce.
    In a letter sent on Wednesday to GM Chairman Jack Smith, UAW President
Stephen P. Yokich and Vice President Richard Shoemaker stated, "The treatment
of GM workers in Reynosa, and in all GM facilities in Mexico, is an important
issue for us and for all UAW-GM workers."
    The four Reynosa plants are part of a large and growing GM presence in
Mexico which totals about 70,000 workers.  According to reports from the
Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras, the strike occurred at four Delco
plants on June 11 and 12 over the inadequacy of a profit sharing payment to
the workers which amounted to about $30.
    "The situation in Reynosa reflects the situation throughout much of
Mexico:  economic hardship and reduced buying power for Mexican workers
contribute to lower labor costs and higher profits for multinational
corporations operating there," Yokich and Shoemaker continued.
    The UAW leaders pointed out that, "As a major Mexican employer, GM
benefits substantially from the policies that have produced this result.
The announced revised profit sharing payment of 350 pesos (about $44) and the
250 pesos food coupon bonus (worth about $32) do not come close to making up
for the advantage GM derives from the low level of wages in Reynosa."
    "The UAW believes that GM must behave responsibly toward its Mexican
workers and compensate them fairly," Yokich and Shoemaker stated, concluding,
"We will speak out strongly and support Mexican workers whenever GM fails to
meet this test."

SOURCE  UAW