Pirelli Workers to File USMCA Labor Complaint for Better Wages

Workers at Pirelli's Silao, Guanajuato plant are gearing up to file a labor complaint under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), demanding better wages and the enforcement of the Rubber Industry Contract Law. The complaint, to be filed through the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRLM) of the USMCA, addresses issues of low wages and poor working conditions.

Francisco Retama, a national advisor,? Mexican Workers' Union League (LSOM), announced at a press conference, "We have colleagues at Pirelli who have decided to demand the application of the Rubber Industry Contract Law in their company and exercise their right to free unionization." Retama added that they plan to meet with representatives of the US and Canadian governments to present their complaint.

Previously, LSOM filed a complaint over a year ago, alleging the denial of collective bargaining rights at Goodyear's plant in San Luis Potosi. This led to a remediation plan for workers and a mandate for the Mexican government to enforce the law across all tire manufacturing companies in Mexico. Currently, the Rubber Industry Contract Law is enforced at Bridgestone, Firestone's Cuernavaca plant, JK Tornel in the State of Mexico, and Goodyear in San Luis Potosi.

Retama stressed the importance of labor improvements and independent union representation for over 4,000 workers in Silao. "We have started a campaign for the vote and formation of new union representation," he said, aiming to replace the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) with independent representation.

The workers will also seek titularity of the collective contract to secure representation and demand the application of the Rubber Industry Contract Law. Retama explained, "To seek union representation, we need to meet the labor tribunal's requirement of demonstrating membership of at least 10% of the workers covered by the contract."

Highlighting the economic importance of the plant, Barrientos stated, "Of the 19 factories Pirelli has worldwide, the Silao plant is the second most profitable and has the highest production. Eighty-five percent of our output is exported to the United States and Canada. It is hard to understand why we have the lowest wages in the tire industry."