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MichMan

(11,778 posts)
Sun Jan 27, 2019, 10:36 AM Jan 2019

More than 25K strike at Mexican border factories

Source: Detroit News

Mexico City – More than 25,000 Mexican workers at dozens of factories south of Brownsville, Texas, went on strike Friday after owners of the plants that assemble for export refused union demands for a 20 percent pay hike and an annual bonus.

The Union of Maquiladora Industry Industrial Workers of Matamoros, the SJOIIM, said that by late Saturday nine companies had agreed to meet the salary and bonus demands.

The strikes affect factories that make auto parts, medical equipment, plastics and other goods.
The labor strife comes on the heels of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s promise to double the minimum wage in communities along the U.S. border to 176.2 pesos a day, the equivalent of $9.28 at current exchange rates.

However, workers who were making more than minimum wage in Matamoros factories would not have benefited from the hike in the minimum wage, sparking discontent. The workers are also demanding a one-time bonus of about $1,685.

Read more: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2019/01/26/strike-mexican-border-factories/38961091/

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More than 25K strike at Mexican border factories (Original Post) MichMan Jan 2019 OP
$9.28 a day? El Mimbreno Jan 2019 #1
Yeah, there was a big drop in prices to consumers when corporations moved their factories there dalton99a Jan 2019 #4
But...but at one time Cessna aircraft was buying them breakfast too!!! Bengus81 Jan 2019 #6
The workers would be better off if they pushed for "Right To Work" (for less) laws. 3Hotdogs Jan 2019 #2
It's a capitalist dream. Scruffy1 Jan 2019 #3
Mexico has universal healthcare Farmer-Rick Jan 2019 #7
Go UNION! SunSeeker Jan 2019 #5

El Mimbreno

(777 posts)
1. $9.28 a day?
Sun Jan 27, 2019, 11:31 AM
Jan 2019

These exploitative companies are parasites! At this wage, the workers live in shacks, no running water. All for corporate profit.

Bengus81

(6,907 posts)
6. But...but at one time Cessna aircraft was buying them breakfast too!!!
Sun Jan 27, 2019, 02:51 PM
Jan 2019

And that was 15 or so years ago when they probably made $5.00 per day. That breakfast was just a cheap ass come-on to get them to come to work each day. Meanwhile after American workers went down and taught them their particular job skill they were laid off.

3Hotdogs

(12,197 posts)
2. The workers would be better off if they pushed for "Right To Work" (for less) laws.
Sun Jan 27, 2019, 11:54 AM
Jan 2019

Unions only take their dues and give nothin' in return.











Yes, its sarcasm.

Scruffy1

(3,239 posts)
3. It's a capitalist dream.
Sun Jan 27, 2019, 12:17 PM
Jan 2019

Not only are the wages below poverty,if you get hurt on the job you are screwed. This largely could have been avoided with an actual fair trade deal. Many manufacturers use a "third party" to lease buildings and actually run their operations which makes things very tough to deal with. If the third party has a contract set on a fixed price then its very hard to negotiate for wage increases. All these trade agreements need a serious overhaul to include a living wage and decent worker protecrions before they get duty free status.

Farmer-Rick

(10,071 posts)
7. Mexico has universal healthcare
Mon Jan 28, 2019, 12:53 PM
Jan 2019

So, when corporations moved their facilities to Mexico they got to keep all that money they were using to pay for US workers' healthcare. So not only do they pay marginal subsistence wages but they pay practically no benefits.

But for a poor country, it's amazing Mexico can afford to provide universal healthcare but the US can NOT.

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