MEXICAN WORKERS PICKET THE CONGELADORA DEL RIO PLANT FOR A FAIR CONTRACT. Fed up with the companys excuses, since Friday Sept. 17th, the workers at Congeladora del Rio have set up a picket line outside their plant to demand a fair contract.
On July 15 of 1999, 200 workers, the majority women and young teenage girls, went on strike demanding a settlement of their contract. The Mexican Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration decided to table the demands of the strikers, leaving the workers without the legal protection which Mexican labor law mandates to striking workers. The workers union, which is afÞliated with the Frente Autentico del Trabajo (FAT), demands legal protection for its striking workers. The strikers, who are suffering economicly, are frustrated with the behavior of the company and its representativeses. Hence, two workers have made the decision to sit outside the factory gaits until the contract is signed. The rest of the workers are also picketing at different hours. The company, once again, has called on the police to intervene and use force if necessary. The police immediatley responded to the call of the company by sending armed guards to watch over and thus intimidate workers with their presence.
The strikers ask; why does the company insist on denying the right of workers to have an independent union, to have collective bargaining rights, and the right to strike? Why does Congeladora del Rio continue to pay miserable salaries and utilize child labor? The company has recently bused in 25 workers from another town, the majority underage females, to cross the picket line and work at Congeladoa del Rio.
Given that Congeladora is a U.S. based company, the FAT is seeking international support. We ask that you send an e-mail, fax, and/or phone to Arthur Price who is President of Global Trading Inc. which owns Congeladora del Rio. Ask him to sign the contract with the workers at Congeladore del Rio and to stop his direspectful treatment of Mexican workers, especially women and children.
Arthur Price
< arthur@globaltrading.net >.
fax: (864) 234-5815
tel: (864) 288-7332
Please send a copy of your e-mail to Arthur Prices representatives in Mexico at:
< gene@globaltrading.net > and
< jaime@globaltrading.net >.
We also ask that you send a message to the local government in Mexico asking that Mexican labor law recognize the strike at Congeladora del Rio. Send e-mails to Govenor Ramon Martin Huerta and Lic. Antonio Obreson Padilla. Their e-mail is the same at:
< rpuente@guanajuato.gob.mx >.
fax: (001 47) 31-12-55 ; (011 47) 31-12-96 Thank you compaeros, your solidarity is not taken for granted. The FAT
Robin Alexander
UE Director of International Labor Affairs One Gateway Center, Suite 1400
420 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
PGH., PA. 15222-1416
412-471-8919
412-471-8999 FAX