SEARCH
AFL-CIO Condemns Attacks on Mexican Miners
 |
||||
|
||||
The AFL-CIO today strongly condemned the violent federal assaults against striking miners and their families at Grupo Mexico’s Cananea and Pasta de Conchos mines in Mexico.
On Sunday, some 400 federal riot police attacked striking miners standing guard at mine entrances at the Cananea mine. Hours later, at the Pasta de Conchos mine, police removed families working to recover the bodies of 63 miners still trapped underground after a deadly explosion killed 65 workers and forced the closure of the mine in 2006.
Workers at Cananea and two other Grupo Mexico mines have been on strike since July 2007 to demand safer working conditions.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:
Sunday night’s assault is yet another example of the Mexican government’s unjustified persecution of miners who are bravely taking a stand against the country’s largest mining company, Grupo Mexico. U.S. support to Mexican security forces is enabling the Mexican government and Grupo Mexico to violate workers’ most basic rights. As long as the Mexican military and police continue to violate the fundamental rights of workers, the U.S. Congress should freeze current funding for these forces and any proposals for future support.
Read the full statement here.
 |
Become a Fan on Facebook |  |
Follow Us on Twitter |  |
Subscribe to YouTube |  |
Subscribe to Blog RSS | ||||
5 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I visited with the Mineros a month ago. These people aren’t radicals, they are working folk who want fairness. The mines in question were struck for 2 main reasons, number 1 and it’s the biggest , the miners aren’t provided minimal breathing apparatus and literally are dying from their lungs being filled with silica dust, killing several a month and disabling dozens. #2 they want a whole whopping $5.00 an hour in wages for the extremely dangerous work. The average Minero won’t live until they”re 60 because of the conditions. The urban legend that it is cheaper to live in Mexico is just that, an urban legend, gas costs the same, food costs the same, a car costs the same, only the labor is cheaper because of the governments actions. The powers that be in Mexico have decided to violate these folks rights in that collective bargaining is as here, a right guaranteed by law, to which they ignore. We’re next folks, these conglomerates backed by their bought politicians and the republican party here, are determined to forget about the human factor and demand maximum profits at minimal costs to them, and that’s what they want us to “compete” with on those type wages and benefits, health and safety matters here–guess who loses–we all do.
It is not just republicans, it is some democrats as well. I think labor needs to broaden it reach to those republicans who would like to support its agenda, but because we do not support those who would stand with labor we will not get there support. I think Scott Brown (and those like him in the republican party) would be a good candidate because he knows the next election will be even tougher than his last one.
Great post bopper, well stated.
http://vimeo.com/12369247
This is being done with our tax dollars too. $1.4 billion of our money has already gone to Mexico’s security forces to fund Plan Mexico. The Foreign Operations subcommittee of Congress is currently considering $310 million dollars more.
and all you anti-immigrant people can’t figure out why Mexicans keep trying to get the hell out of Mexico…
A terrible situation, However, I believe the AFL/CIO needs to spend less effort worrying about foreign nations receiving our manufacturing jobs and more time exposing details about Which political figures are helping in sending those jobs away, how much funding is spent . After all I do believe the A in AFL/CIO is for AMERICAN.