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Shocked MUA duo organize help for sacked electrical workers

12 August 2010

Two delegates from the Maritime Union of Australia, shop steward Tonia Kerns and river keeper from Port Hacking Fiona Thomson, are organising a collection for the 44,000 members of the SME electrical workers’ union.

They were sacked in October last year when the federal government closed down the state-owned LFC electricity-generating company. Kerns and Thompson were out walking on Avenida Reforma when they came across the SME’s protest camp by chance.

The MUA duo were shocked when they found out what had happened to the workers. The SME strongly opposes privatisation of Mexico’s energy industries. At LFC, police and military forces evacuated them at gunpoint and occupied all the power stations and substations. The workers had refused to accept pay-offs in return for relinquishing their trade union membership.

Yesterday, Kerns and Thomson addressed Congress and asked that all participants sign the solidarity flag and contribute to a collection to help the workers and their families to survive the difficult struggle ahead of them. A delegation will return to the camp tomorrow to deliver the flag and the money collected.

The SME has filed a complaint against the Mexican government, arguing that the decree to close the LFC company and sack its entire workforce constitutes a violation of International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98.

Members of the SME will be joining the ITF on the march and rally for trade union rights in Mexico later today.
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