For the third time in 2024, and twenty-first time overall, the United States has sought Mexico’s review under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism.
WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced today that the United States has asked Mexico to review whether workers at the Servicios Industriales González, S.A. de C.V. facility, which specializes in fabricating steel components, are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. The United States has suspended liquidation on unliquidated entries of goods from the facility. The request, which was made in response to a petition, marks the twenty-first time the United States has formally invoked the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
“Today’s action reflects the United States’ unwavering commitment to ensuring every worker has the right to freely associate with the union of their choice, guaranteeing their voices are heard, and requiring that their rights are protected,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “We look forward to working closely with the Government of Mexico to resolve the issues present in this RRM matter.”
"The right to form and join the union of their choice without fear of reprisals is a bedrock principle of worker’s freedom of association,” said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the government of Mexico in addressing this matter.”
Background
The United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC). On February 29, 2024, the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores del Ramo de Transporte en General, La Construcción y sus Servicios (SNTTYC), an independent union, filed a Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) petition alleging a denial of rights at Servicios Industriales González, S.A. de C.V. (SIG) in the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
The petition alleged that SIG dismissed workers in retaliation for undertaking union organizing activity, interfered in union affairs, and provided preferential access to its facility to its preferred union to the detriment of other labor organizations. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days.
The ILC determined that there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms. As a result, the United States Trade Representative has submitted a request to Mexico that Mexico review whether workers at SIG are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. Mexico has 10 days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from today to complete the review.
A copy of the request for review can be found here.
A copy of the letter to the Secretary of the Treasury can be found here.
Information about previous requests can be found here.
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