TRADE/NAFTA: Mexican and U.S. Unions Lose Opening Round

SEATTLE, Dic 15 (IPS) - The first ruling on a labour dispute under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) sent a reassuring message to transnational businesses and the Mexican government: the United States will not pressure Mexico to enforce its labour laws.

But as economic integration spreads from tundra to jungle, a Mexican labour leader says trade unions in both countries need to work toward a "unionism without borders for the next century."

The U.S. Labour Department ruled Oct. 12 that there was no evidence the Mexican government had failed to enforce its labour laws in the dismissal of some 40 pro-union workers at Mexican plants of the U.S. corporations General Electric and Honeywell.

The decision said the workers were able to pursue remedies through the Mexican judicial system. But it acknowledged that "the timing of the dismissals appears to coincide with organising drives by independent unions at both plants."

General Electric said the workers were fired for violating regulations, while Honeywell said its employees were laid off to reduce costs. Both denied any violation of Mexican laws.

Labour organisers north and south of the border say the ruling effectively gives companies operating in Mexico carte blanche to fire employees for union organising. Another case involving a Mexican plant of the Japanese Sony Corporation is pending.

"What we saw through the entire process was a lack of willingness to even conduct a competent and thorough investigation," said Chris Townsend of the United Electrical Workers, one of the U.S. unions involved.

A labour side agreement to NAFTA, negotiated by the Bill Clinton administration, required the United States, Mexico, and Canada to establish National Administrative Offices (NAOs) to investigate the failure of other governments to enforce labour laws. But the offices are not empowered to intervene in the actual disputes.

U.S. labour opposed NAFTA and has criticised the side agreement as toothless -- "a second thought thrown into NAFTA as a vote catcher" in Townsend's words. Most Mexican unions, however, are tightly tied to the ruling party and supported the agreements.

Gaye Williams of the Teamsters recalls the words of U.S. Vice President Al Gore when he debated NAFTA critic Ross Perot.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service