21 February, 2012February 19 saw the start of a week of action in defence of freedom of association in Mexico. A ceremony in the main square of Mexico City commemorated the 65 miners who died in the collapse of the Pasta de Conchos mine on that date.
MEXICO: February 19 was the anniversary of six years of struggle by the miners' families for the recovery of the 63 bodies still in the Pasta de Conchos mine, owned by Grupo Mexico. Mexico's independent trade unions and the international trade union movement, together with international human and labour rights organisations, have called on the government to improve workplace safety and observe freedom of association.
On February 19 2006, at 2.20am, number 8 shaft of the Pasta de Conchos mine collapsed and trapped 65 miners. Only two bodies were recovered. That date also signalled the start of a campaign of persecution against the Mexican National Miners' Union (SNTMMSRM) and its leaders, including Napoleón Gómez Urrutia. Nobody has yet been brought to justice for the tragedy and there have since been more deaths in the country's mines.
The day of action on February 19 was symbolic and emotional. A wake for the bodies of the miners was held at the Zócalo, the central square in México City, from 2am until 12pm. As a reminder that they have yet to receive a decent burial, 63 wooden crosses, each with the name of one of those who died, were placed alongside the helmets of the dead miners, while candles lit the scene.
Those present called on the government and on Grupo Mexico to recover the remains of those who died and reminded them that this is technically possible.
Jorge Almeida, IMF Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, attended the ceremony and conveyed the IMF's total solidarity with the miners' demands. He said the event signalled the start of six days of action and struggle throughout the world in defence of the Mexican miners and their basic rights. He reiterated the IMF's support for the miners' leader, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, and for the struggle to stop the persecution of workers by the Mexican government and irresponsible companies.
He highlighted the participation in the week of action of global union federations, such as the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), with its 20 million members; the United Steelworkers (USW) of the United States and Canada and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and its 157 million members. He said that the voices and demands of the Mexican miners would be heard throughout the world and that unions offered unconditional international solidarity in the fight to stop the political persecution against the miners' union. He also expressed support for the prompt return to the country of the union president, Napoleón Gómez Urrutia.
The IMF is also attending the international solidarity meeting, organised by the Tri-National Solidarity Alliance of Mexico, Canada and the United States, that takes place on February 21 as part of the week of action. Jyrki Raina, IMF General Secretary, will address the meeting, in a recorded message, and the IMF's regional representative will also make a speech.