In the complaint, USW accuses Mexican labor authorities of violating both Mexican and international law when they withdrew legal recognition from the Mexican union leader, Napoleon Gómez Urrutia, in February. The Steelworkers also blame Mexico for failing to carry out proper safety inspections at the Pasta de Conchos mine, where an explosion killed 65 mineworkers on February 17.

"The Mexican government saw Napoleon Gómez as a threat because he fought successfully for higher wages, because he engaged in international solidarity, and because he challenged the government-controlled labor federations," said Steelworkers president Leo Gerard in a press statement. "They decided to use any means necessary to eliminate that threat."

The International Metalworkers Federation has coordinated a global effort to protest the Mexican government’s ongoing attacks against the National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSRM). The IMF is working closely with the USW and other affiliates to press the Mexican government to stop all interference in union affairs. The IMF has launched a complaint with the ILO against the Mexican government citing violations of ILO convention 87 and has organised an international Call for Justice on December 11. In the spirit of International Human Rights Day (December 10) IMF affiliates from around the world will demonstrate at Mexican embassies and consulates on December 11 in protest of the government’s interference in union affairs and the unjust removal of union leader Napoleon Gómez. Posters and materials are available at: www.imfmetal.org/mexico

USW, which represents 850,000 industrial workers in the United States and Canada, signed a solidarity pact with the Mexican Mineworkers in 2004. In 2005, the Mexican union supported a strike by copper miners in Arizona against Group Minero Mexico, a Mexican multinational company.

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. To review their findings and recommendations, please see: www.imfmetal.org/mexico

“The IMF strongly supports this course of action taken by the Steelworkers,” said IMF general secretary Marcello Malentacchi. “Union autonomy is an international right that all workers must fight for and defend.”