Napoleon Gomez, the democratically elected general secretary of the National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSRM) was forcefully removed from his position in March 2006 after speaking out against the Mexican government and mining company in response to a tragic mine accident in Pasta de Conchos that left 65 miners dead.

The government then imposed a handpicked general secretary, who is not a member of the union, and seized all assets of the SNTMMSRM and Gomez.

In March, the IMF launched a complaint with the ILO against the Mexican government citing violations of ILO convention 87.

Despite growing international pressure from the IMF and our affiliates, the Mexican government has yet to fully investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion, the company has yet to recover 64 of the 65 bodies, and neither party has taken responsibility for the devastating explosion --- the country’s worst in over 30 years. Meanwhile, a damaging report by the Mexican National Human Rights Commission, an independent body that investigated the accident, confirmed gross government negligence regarding mine safety.

In July, an IMF delegation visited Mexico to investigate both the circumstances surrounding the accident at the mine and the interference of the government in union affairs. Findings of the mission are posted on the IMF website: www.imfmetal.org/Mexico as well as more information about the situation in Mexico.

“By participating in the December 11 Call for Justice, affiliates around the world can reassert our overall global power as metalworkers and trade unionists,” said general secretary Marcello Malentacchi. “The fight for union autonomy is not just an issue for Mexican workers, but all unions around the world.”