ITF calls for Mexico tram and light rail workers support

news 20 May 2016

The Alianza de Tranviarios de Mexico (ATM) says government officials are trying to depose its leadership – including general secretary Benito Bahena y Lome, a member of the ITF executive board – because they denounced the violation of tram and light rail workers’ rights and objected to disinvestment in the tram and light rail service, which is contributing to the city’s increasing pollution levels.

It says STEDF is banning union leaders from its premises and has suspended their wages. It added that the company is using a small group of workers and former union leaders – some armed – to take over the ATM’s leadership, prevent its officials from entering the union offices at STEDF and verbally and physically intimidate and harass union representatives.

In his 27 April letter to Dr Miguel Espinosa, head of the Mexico City government, ITF general secretary Steve Cotton said that when the ITF had held its world congress in Mexico City in 2010 “industrial relations were excellent”, and the ITF had been impressed by the government’s commitment to tackling the city’s pollution by strengthening the electric transportation system.

He continued: “Unfortunately we see that in addition to violations of freedom of association committed against ATM, there is a process of disinvestment in these transport systems in Mexico City. Because of this, the ITF executive board passed a motion of solidarity and support to ATM, and we are informing all our affiliates worldwide to act within the legal framework in each country to denounce these anti-union actions against ATM.

“We firmly believe that the law, respect for human and trade union rights and social dialogue are essential elements to improve labour relations. We therefore ask you to intervene to solve these terrible actions committed by your officials.”

The ITF is preparing a complaint to the International Labour Organization about the anti-union behaviour at STEDF.

Show your solidarity with the ATM. Use the model letter to express your concerns to the Mexico City government leader.

Read a news article about the ATM’s evidence to Mexico’s legislative bodies. (In Spanish only.)