Despite Winning Recognition, Mexico’s White-Collar Pemex Workers Still Repressed

The 30,000 technical and professional employees of PEMEX, Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company, finally won the right to unionize on their third attempt. The new union, Unión Nacional de Técnicos y Profesionistas Petroleros (UNTyPP), received its registration on 16 December 2009, and its leadership was officially recognized for the period 18 March 2008 to 17 March 2012.

The first two attempts at unionization, with union acronyms of ONTCIP and UNTCIP, were denied registration by the government and the leaders fired.

Following the successful court battle, culminating in registration from the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare’s office for the Registration of Associations (STPS), members of the new union were informed by company management that in order to retain their jobs, they would be required to sign two documents: one calling for the cancellation of the registration, the other a resignation from the union.

Those who refused, along with organisers of the UNTyPP, were fired and violently removed from their workstations by paramilitaries, including the entire National Executive Committee of the union. These workers must be immediately reinstated, and their rights respected under both Mexican and international law. PEMEX is also being urged by the international labour movement to accept union calls to come to the bargaining table and establish a working relationship with them.

UNTyPP organisers have faced continued intimidation and threats throughout their campaign for registration.

PEMEX is the 10th largest oil company in the world, and is the sole supplier of all commercial petrol and diesel stations in Mexico. Annual company revenue is US$78 billion.

Visit the Labourstart campaign website here to write to President Calderón and PEMEX management, condemning these violations of labour and human rights against the new UNTyPP trade union.