Unions mobilize against Mexican Labour Law reforms

MEXICO/GLOBAL: The 50,000 workers, students and human and labour rights activists who took part in the February Global Days of Action are gearing up for another round of mass mobilizations to fight proposed labour legislation that further strips Mexican workers of the most basic internationally recognized labour rights.

News of the proposed regressive reforms comes just weeks after unions from more than 40 countries participated in an active week of massive rallies, marches and high-level government meetings to shine a light on the Mexican government's failure to uphold international commitments to respect basic labour rights and worker protections.

The proposed legislation which greatly undermines freedom of association, job security, and work conditions, fails to include any of the many changes to Mexican labour legislation that have been repeatedly called for by the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations and more recently, by the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association.

In Mexico, preparations at the national level are underway. Public events planned in Mexico this week include:

* rally on March 24 at 1pm,

* forum on March 30 - debate regressive nature of reform and strategies for resistance and change,

* educational material development and strategic meetings are being held throughout the week.

To join the campaign, the IMF is urging affiliates to send letters to their local Mexican embassy or consulate or government representative, especially those individuals who took meetings with union groups during the February Global Days of Action. See IMF's letter here.

If you have not already sent a letter to Mexican President Felipe Calderón through the Labourstart campaign page, go here: http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=863Mar 24, 2011 – Kristyne Peter