San Francisco salutes the SME - the Mexican Electrical Workers Union!

Mexican Labor Law under the Mexican Constitution has very strong rights and protections for workers and severe obligations and sanctions for employers (on paper), a direct result of the origin of the constitution: The Mexican Revolution 1910-1917.

Thus, the "toma de nota" as applied in Mexico is a control mechanism which is rarely, if ever, denied to "charro" unionists (aka – sellout or boss unionists in the U.S.) but routinely used to challenge union leaders not favored by their bosses.

For Mexicanos this is a familiar tactic employed by the government to deny strong labor rights enshrined in the Mexican Constitution.

In mid December the SME conducted elections to remove any doubt of the legitimacy of their elected leaders. The elections demonstrated overwhelming support by affected workers/retirees (approximately 30,000 votes) and the “toma de nota” was certified by the Secretary of Labor to the SME’s Executive board.

Faced by a combative, fierce, effective, and determined resistance of 14 months on the streets, the unity and determination of SME electricians demonstrated "ni un paso atras" (not one step back) yet again.

SFLC/SME solidarity activist San Francisco protest was called to demand the Mexican Government comply with its requirement as an employer and to continue to pressure the government to agree to a negotiated settlement of the SME's demands.

--Frank X. Martín del Campo