INTERVIEW: Luisa María Alcalde3 January, 2019“People are buzzing with enthusiasm – you can feel it in the air,” says Luisa María Alcalde cheerfully. It is truly the start of a new era for the people of Mexico: Andrés Manuel López Obrador was recently elected president, bringing hopes of democracy, gender equality, youth inclusion and the end of poverty and corruption.It is also the first time a Mexican cabinet has achieved gender parity, with eight men and eight women of varying ages. Luisa María Alcalde is the perfect illustration of this new era. The 31-year-old is ready to head up one of the key ministries in the fight to protect workers’ rights – the ministry of labour and social welfare.
Mexican authorities bully Bata workers26 January, 2015In Mexico, a union leader was taken into custody last week and a further eight workers threatened with detention in an attempt by authorities to end workers' two-and-a-half year struggle to stop footwear giant Bata outsourcing to home workers.
Dialogue on union rights opened in Mexico24 September, 2013IndustriALL and ITUC open dialogue by meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, who recognizes the leadership of Napoleón Gómez and promises that his government will not persecute independent unions.
Stop the persecution of trade unionists at Honda Mexico!11 February, 2014Three leaders of the Honda workers’ trade union, the Sindicato de Trabajadores Unidos de Honda de México (STUHM) and an activist accompanying them, were detained while distributing leaflets outside the Honda factory. Police officers used excessive force when arresting them, held them incommunicado for hours and subjected them to physical and psychological torture.
Mexico remains under ILO’s spotlight10 September, 2015IndustriALL Global Union proposes critical measures to end the pattern of protection contracts in Mexico that destroys all possibility of genuine social dialogue. These measures must also address the tripartite system of Labour Boards made up of government officials, business, and corrupt official labour unions which obstruct workers’ self organization.
Empowering Mexican auto workers16 July, 2015Harnessing global solidarity and ensuring better coordination to change the rules of the game in Mexico’s booming auto industry, was the main goal of a workshop organized in early July by IndustriALL Global Union with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).
SME victory after a six-year campaign29 October, 2015The Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME) has won an important victory: after six years of struggle, resistance and negotiations, it has signed an agreement with the federal government that gives it control over a number of electricity generating plants. This will mean new jobs for thousands of workers who have been unemployed since 2009.
Recognition victory for Mexican metalworkers19 July, 2012The protracted battle of Mexican metalworkers at DMI to organize into STIMAHCS finally ended in victory on 6 July, after a patient and determined fight that illustrates the barriers to trade union freedoms in Mexico.
Dismissals continue at Honda Mexico as STUHM fights for workers’ rights18 October, 2012The Sindicato de Trabajadores Unidos de Honda Mexico (STUHM) is claiming the right (known as titularidad) to negotiate a collective agreement with the company on the grounds that it represents a majority of Honda workers. It is also demanding an end to the persecution of its leaders and the reinstatement of dismissed workers.
