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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | March 2006 
Mexican Workers Plan March to Support Miners' Union Leader
 Bloomberg
| | Coal dust covers a figure of Baby Jesus on an alter near where family members of trapped miners waited at the Pasta de Conchas coal mine in San Juan de Sabinas, Mexico. (AP/Gregory Bull) |
Mexican union leaders will hold a march in Mexico City to support the leader of the miners and steelworkers union, who kicked off a two-day strike last week after the government recognized an opponent as head of the union.
"We're going to march for the respect and independence of unions and we're going to march to support the miners and steelworkers union," said Eduardo Torres, a spokesman for the National Workers Union, which represents 1.5 million workers in 200 unions.
The union leaders, who organized a march through downtown Mexico with 30,000 workers tomorrow at 5 p.m. New York time, said they don't recognize Labor Minister Francisco Salazar as the government's negotiator with labor.
"We're asking that he be removed from negotiations," said Torres, referring to Salazar. "He's not a valid negotiator."
Union leaders accused Salazar of interfering in the miners and steelworkers union's affairs after the ministry recognized Elias Morales as temporary leader over Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, said Torres, who group represents 1.5 million workers in 200 unions. Salazar said last week Gomez was removed as leader by union officials who responded to workers claims for part of a $55 million fund the union received.
The unions may consider a nationwide strike, Torres said.
The labor ministry declined to comment, a spokesman said.
The dispute over the union's leadership has overshadowed efforts to uncover the bodies of 65 miners who died in a Feb. 19 explosion in a coal mine owned by Grupo Mexico SA in the northern state of Coahuila.
The labor ministry only took note after the union's oversight committee denounced Gomez for being corrupt and didn't interfere in the union's affairs, said presidential spokesman Ruben Aguilar in his morning press briefing.
Investigation
The Attorney Generals office is investigating an "extreme degree of evidence" of corruption involving the $55 million fund, Aguilar said.
"I would find it strange that any worker who defends the working class could defend someone who is being question over his honesty and where there exists evidence of corruption," Aguilar said.
Torres said Gomez may not participate in the march out of concern of being arrested by authorities.
Thomas Black in Mexico City: aemery1@bloomberg.net |
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