A-Infos (en) Han Young NAO hearing today

["Shawn Ewald" <shawn@wilshire.net>]

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[Information provided by the Support Committee for Maquiladora 
Workers, who ask that activists seeking updates contact Campaign for 
Labor Rights: (541) 344-5410, <CLR@igc.apc.org>]

NAO HEARING TO TAKE PLACE TODAY
February 18, 1998

Hearing to investigate accusations that
Mexican government defied labor accords
- - - - - - - - - - - -
This is the first complaint which could
lead to sanctions under NAFTA
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Violations of freedom of association and failure to enforce health and
safety regulations involving the Han Young maquiladora - the first complaint
that could lead to sanctions against the Mexican government under NAFTA's
labor side accords - are the subject of a hearing before Irasema Garza,
Secretary of the National Administrative Office (NAO) in San Diego today.
Workers from Han Young who produce tractor trailer chassis for Hyundai
Precision America as well as Mexican labor law experts and those involved in
the enforcement of health and safety regulations are expected to testify on
what petitioners claim is a "pattern of practice by local labor boards in
Mexico to defy Mexican workers' rights to form independent unions." Under
the side accords, sanctions up to the equivalent of 0.007 percent of the
involved countries' (U.S. and Mexico) total trade can be determined if a
government is found to be in defiance of its own health and safety laws.

The Han Young workers are the first maquiladora workers to have won
recognition for their own independent union in an historic direct challenge
to the "protection contract" system that prevails within the maquiladora
industry. However, according to workers, the Han Young company continues its
effort to destroy the union - unchecked by local government officials. For
example, workers charge, Han Young currently is recruiting at least 40 more
workers in Vera Cruz, Mexico in preparation to call for another election
against the independent union. The company is also engaging in many
discriminatory practices, including paying union members much less than
newer recruits who lack experience and seniority.

The complaint, filed by the Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers, the
National Association of Democratic Attorneys of Mexico, the International
Labor Rights Fund and the Independent Union of Steel and Allied Workers
(STIMAHCS), is part of an investigative process begun in November by the
NAO. The United Auto Workers, Canadian Auto Workers, United Steelworkers of
America, Worksafe and the Maquiladora Health and Safety Network have added
themselves as petitioners in recent weeks.

The Han Young complaint charges that, contrary to NAFTA's labor accords, the
Baja Conciliation and Arbitration Board (CAB) is not an impartial labor
tribunal. Rather, the complaint asserts, Governor Teran of Baja California
has given strict orders to the CAB to stall on any decisions and use other
pretexts as a means to defeat workers' efforts for union recognition.
According to the complaint, the Governor personally and unlawfully
intervened in labor board processes, demanding the resignation of labor
board President Antonio Ortiz on October 3 because he allowed for a union
election. According to Mary Tong, Executive Director of the Support
Committee for Maquiladora Workers, "This was just one example of the type of
actions the labor board has engaged in since August, defying the laws it is
supposed to uphold. Unfortunately, that's been the pattern not only in Baja
California but in every instance where workers have attempted to organize
their own unions in maquiladoras throughout Mexico."

The health and safety portion of the complaint charges that, despite
government inspections of the plant in June, September and December finding
multiple serious and dangerous violations that continue to this day, the
government did not issue fines against Han Young as provided under law and
took no other measures to enforce its won regulations. Han Young welders
have suffered burns, loss of vision and other injuries due to lack of
personal protective equipment and faulty cranes that have resulted in a
number of "near-miss" accidents that dropped chassis weighing more than a
ton inches from workers.


- - - - - - - - - - - -
The second International Nike Mobilization takes place on April 18. In the
United States, that event will join forces with "Hands across Borders," a
series of local activities throughout the countries of the Americas by
concerned citizens who place the rights of working people above
corporate-agenda free trade agreements. Local Han Young activists who would
like to link up with Nike and "Hands across Borders" activists in your
community should contact Campaign for Labor Rights at (541) 344-5410 or
<CLR@igc.apc.org>. Within the next few weeks, we will have an action packet
ready to send to local organizers. Please let us know of any local
activities in solidarity with the Han Young workers and alert us of your
plans for April 18. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Labor Alerts: a service of Campaign for Labor Rights
To receive our email labor alerts, send a message to CLR@igc.apc.org
Phone: (541) 344-5410       Web site: http://www.compugraph.com/clr
Membership/newsletter. Send $35.00 to Campaign for Labor Rights, 1247
"E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Sample newsletter available on
request.

------- Message History -------
Date:          Wed, 18 Feb 1998 19:34:16 -0800 (PST)
To:            clr@igc.org
From:          Campaign for Labor Rights <clr@igc.apc.org>
Subject:       Han Young NAO hearing today

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