Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the defeat of regressive Mexican labor bill:
The defeat of this disastrous bill keeps open the possibility that a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement can secure basic freedoms for all of North America’s workers. Working people must be able to join together in unions to negotiate for better wages and working conditions—a right denied in Mexico and under threat in the U.S. and Canada.
If passed, this bill would have further blocked Mexican working people’s freedom to organize democratic, independent unions and to negotiate a fair return on their work and adequate living conditions.
This proves that when working people join together across borders we can succeed in stopping legislation aimed at maintaining a rigged system that benefits corporations and the mega-rich.
The labor movement will continue to collaborate with Mexican working people, independent unions, allies and supporters to ensure that Mexico engages in real labor reform, not just slogans, and that any new North American trade deal rewrites the rules to eliminate entitlements for corporations and promote good jobs, fair wages and safe workplaces for all.
Contact: Gonzalo Salvador (202) 637-5018