WASHINGTON –Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released statements today following yesterday’s vote at the Tridonex auto parts facility in Matamoros, Mexico, when workers voted to choose which union will have the right to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement on their behalf.
“We applaud our colleagues in the Government of Mexico for assuring a fair and safe election, one where the voices of the workers could be heard. Yesterday’s vote demonstrates the strength of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s labor provisions,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “The Biden-Harris administration will continue to collaborate with our Mexican counterparts to ensure that all workers can exercise their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.”
“Workplace democracy is a cornerstone of the USMCA’s labor provisions. People on both sides of the border win when workers can choose their union representation in a free and fair manner, and without delay,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “We will continue to work diligently to advance labor rights as a core part of the Biden-Harris administration’s worker-centered trade policy.”
Following initiation of a matter related to Tridonex in August 2021 under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, the U.S. reached an agreement with Tridonex. Among other commitments, Tridonex agreed to support the personal, free, and secret vote of its workers, including by welcoming election observers, being neutral in the election, implementing a zero-tolerance policy for intimidation and reprisals related to the vote, and reporting any unlawful activity related to the vote. The U.S. government will monitor certification of the results of yesterday’s vote.
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