> Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers > Craftsmen Hall, 3909 Centre Street, Ste. 210 > San Diego, CA 92102 > phone (619) 542-0826; fax (619) 295-5879 > > June 2, 1997 > > E M E R G E N C Y A L E R T > Maquiladora Workers Demand Union Recognition! > Faxed Letters Urgently Needed > > Workers at the Han Young de Mexico maquiladora which produces chassis and > platforms for tractor trailer trucks for Hyundai Precision America > refused to enter the plant in Tijuana for work today to demonstrate their > unified demand for union recognition. While the company's failure to pay > utilidades, the 2% profit-sharing bonus as required under Mexican labor > law, was the immediate impetus for the work stoppage, the workers' > overriding concern is health and safety problems in the plant. Workers > are often not provided with appropriate facial shields, gloves, coveralls > or safety shoes. Some workers are losing their vision and many > experience a burning sensation in their eyes due to constant exposure to > lead fumes. Workers exhibit burns on their hands, chest, arms and clothing. > > While the workers assemble and weld at least 26 chassis daily that sell > for $1800 each, they make between 280 and 360 pesos ($33-$46) weekly. > Workers complain this is not enough to cover basic necessities. Han > Young employes 125 workers. Current production involve a large contact > Hyundai has to produce trucks for the U.S. Marines. > > The Han Young maquiladora, like most maquiladoras in Tijuana, pays a > government connected "union" known as the Confederacion Regional de > Obreros Mexicanos (CROM). Workers do not participate in any meetings of > the "union" and have never seen a copy of its contract with the company. > It is a standard practice by the maquiladora industry to pay for > "protection contracts" against independent organizing by the workers. > > It is clear that international pressure can play a key role in the > Mexican government's determination to recognize the workers' right to > organize a union of their own and in the company's decision to bargain > with the union. The Support Committee urges you to send letters > immediately to the Mexican Labor Board with copies to the Governor of > Baja California and Hyundai and Han Young expressing your solidarity with > the striking workers. > > DEMAND RECOGNITION OF MAQUILADORA WORKERS' > RIGHT TO ORGANIZE THEIR OWN UNION! > > PLEASE FAX LETTERS (see sample) ASAP to: > Antonio Ortiz, Presidente > Junta de Conciliacion y Arbitraje > 011-52-66-86-33-00 > If the above number does not answer, call 011-52-66-86-32-14 and > say that you want to send a fax. > > Please fax copies of your letter to: > Governor Teran Teran 011-52-65-58-11-78 > Ted Chung, President, Hyundai Presicion America (619) 293-7264 > Won Young Kang, Gerente General, Han Young de Mexico > 011-52-66-80-44-81 > Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers (619) 295-5879 > > ================================================== > SAMPLE LETTER > > Sr. Antonio Ortiz, Presidente > Conciliacion y Arbitracion > > By fax: (66) 86-33-00 > > Senor Ortiz: > > I am writing to express my support for the Han Young maquiladora workers' > demand for union recognition. > > The Han Young maquiladora workers suffer numerous health and safety > problems due to the company's continual failure to provide adequate > safety gear. Such injuries include burns, and, due to constant lead > exposure, failing vision. After years of unfulfilled promises of safety > shoes and other protective devices, and the company's failure to pay > utilidades in compliance with Mexican labor law, the workers felt they > had no choice but to withhold their labor. > > Most Han Young workers are petitioning for their own union because they > feel the CROM has not assisted them in any way, nor has it represented > their interests. The workers have never had union meetings and have yet > to see their employer's contract with the CROM. In the interests of > these workers' right to organize and choose their own union > representatives, we urge you to expedite registration of the Han Young > workers' union and facilitate the positive resolution of this dispute. > ======================================================== > > Added note: Given that their pay is less than a dollar an hour, the Han > Young workers have not been able to build up a substantial strike fund. > They are currently soliciting donations. > DONATIONS to purchase food and support the families of striking workers > can be sent to: > Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers > Craftsmen Hall, 3909 Centre Street > San Diego, CA 92103 > > Please make your check payable to "SCMW" and write "Han Young Worker > Strike Fund" in the memo section of your check. > > Thank you for your support!!! > > > > > <---- End Included Message ----> > >
