GM workers in Mexico defeat union in first test of U.S. trade deal

© Reuters. The General Motors plant is seen as its workers are to vote on whether to reject or keep the collective bargaining agreement, marking the first major test of labor rules under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), in Silao, Mexico August 17,

By Daina Beth Solomon

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Workers at a General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) pickup-truck plant in central Mexico have voted to scrap their collective contract, opening the door for them to oust one of Mexico's largest labor organizations as their union under a new trade deal.

The vote, with safeguards agreed upon by Mexico and the United States to ensure a fair vote, was the first test of labor rules under an accord https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-autos-town-labor-rights-falter-despite-us-trade-deal-2021-05-03 that replaced the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The outcome marks a defeat for one of the most powerful unions in Mexico while representing an opening for workers to freely choose independent groups they feel will best fight for their interests.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the vote results demonstrated the role of the trade accord's rapid-response mechanism and congratulated the Mexican government for overseeing the vote.

"Free and fair union votes are a critical component of freedom of association and collective bargaining and the related labor provisions of the USMCA," Tai said in a statement.

An initial vote in April was suspended after Mexico's labor ministry found irregularities in the process, prompting the United States to lodge the first complaint under the labor enforcement mechanism of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which took effect last year.

The unionized workers will keep the same terms for pay and benefits as they seek new representation or create a union from scratch. Choosing a new union will require another vote, in which the current union could also vie to take back the contract.

Of 5,876 GM employees who cast ballots in the Tuesday-Wednesday vote at the plant in the city of Silao, 3,214 workers rejected the bargaining agreement while 2,623 workers voted to keep it, the labor ministry said.

Many workers who campaigned for the "no" vote said their current union did not fight hard enough https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/gm-workers-historic-vote-mexico-tests-new-trade-deal-2021-08-17 for better salaries at the plant that produces thousands of profitable pickup trucks a year.

"It's a huge peace of mind knowing we're no longer tied to this union," said G.D., a plant employee for more than 25 years who said he reached the top salary level for his position years ago, and who asked not to disclose his name for fear of reprisals.

The ballot count was led by the plant's Miguel Trujillo Lopez union - part of the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) - alongside observers from the Labor Ministry, Mexico's National Electoral Institute (INE) and the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO).

GM said it respected the outcome and would continue production under the terms of the current contract until a new one is negotiated.

The Miguel Trujillo Lopez union said it respected the will of its workers who voted against keeping the contract.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which represents thousands of GM's U.S. workers, said the vote would create a fairer playing field in Mexico, marking a win on both sides of the border.

Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, said the vote modeled what USMCA had aimed to achieve by giving workers a voice.

Mexico's labor ministry said the vote took place "without incident" and would help set a precedent for best practices.

Such votes are required at unionized workplaces across Mexico under a labor reform that underpins USMCA labor rules and is geared at eliminating so-called sweetheart contracts between business-friendly unions and companies.

GM workers and labor activists hailed the outcome, saying it could inspire workers at other auto plants or elsewhere to follow suit by ousting unions that have long held power.

Richard Neal, chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, and other top Democrats said the vote showed how "vigorous enforcement" of labor standards in U.S. trade agreements could help dismantle pervasive obstacles to freedom of association and other workers' rights.

Still, the GM vote was only a first step on what could be a long path for workers to establish a new union, said Willebaldo Gomez, a researcher at Mexican labor rights group CILAS.

"The other victory will be building an independent union, an organization that looks out for their interests and watches over their rights," Gomez said.