Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) accepting the Tridonex petition, the first formal submission under the United States–Mexico–Canada’s (USMCA's) “rapid response” mechanism:
Today’s announcement is an important step toward building a more worker-centered trade model. It will formally trigger an investigation into well-documented serious labor violations at the Tridonex factory in Matamoros, Mexico. We hope the process will result in justice for the many workers whose jobs and livelihoods were impacted by attempting to exercise their basic worker rights, as well as hold their employer accountable for violating their commitments under the USMCA. Employers need to be deterred from engaging with sham “protection unions,” whose leaders often receive kickbacks and negotiate secret deals with company bosses that undermine workers. The results of this case can send a clear message to other employers that respecting workers’ rights is an imperative.
Contact: Carolyn Bobb (202) 637-5018