- The United States sent the Government of Mexico a request to review whether labor rights are being complied with at the Panasonic plant in Reynosa.
- Now, the Ministry of Economy announced that the request was admitted.
- Panasonic Corp of North America says the company “respects and supports” the right to free association and collective bargaining.
A couple of weeks ago, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR for its acronym in English) sent to the Government of Mexico a request for it to review whether labor rights were being complied with at the Panasonic plant located in Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
After the request was analyzed, finally on May 30, the Ministry of Economy announced that accepted the request of the neighboring country.
Specifically, Mexico will review whether employees at Panasonic Automotive Systems were denied the right to free union association and collective bargaining.
The USTR assures that this happened and that it is contrary to the commitments assumed with the signing of the T-MEC, the free trade agreement that replaced NAFTA.
“The Ministry of Economy, in coordination with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, and other agents involved, will review the case in order to determine whether or not there is a denial of labor rights in accordance with the provisions set forth in T- MEC”, says the text released by the federal government.
In the new free trade agreement between Mexico, the US and Canada, the Mexican government accepted different labor commitments. One of them was free trade union association, the same article that was incorporated into the Federal Labor Law, after the international agreement was signed.
From the Ministry of Economy, they said that the Government has “a total commitment” so that “all the provisions established in the agreement, as well as in national legislation” are applied.
The Mexican union that called for the US investigation, SNITIS accuses Panasonic of having signed a contract behind the workers’ backs and of firing several dozen employees who protested.
Panasonic Corp of North Americameanwhile, said that the company that owns the plant in Reynosa “respects and supports” the right to free association and collective bargaining and that he does not understand that rights have been violated.
The Japanese company said it will cooperate with the Mexican authorities to clarify the fact.
Historical voting in Panasonic of Mexico
In April 2022, with more than 75% of the votes, the Independent National Union of Workers of Industries and Services Movement 20/32 (SNITIS) obtained a historic representation of the workers of Panasonic de Reynosa.
It is a triumph that marked a turning point in the history of this industrial sector, since it defeated the Autonomous Industrial Union of General Maquiladora Operators of the Mexican Republic (Siamarm), affiliated with the CTM, the Confederation of Workers of Mexico with more than 85 years old.
The SNITIS won 1,200 votes, out of the 391 received by Siamarm.
Panasonic manufactures vehicle audio and display systems in Reynosa, primarily for the US and Canadian markets.
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