The automotive industry workers in Mexico have added their voices to the multiplying global call for an in-depth inquiry launched by The International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) into the untimely demise of Ronald Adams Sr. at Stellantis Dundee Engine production facility on April 7. The outpouring of encouragement for such an investigation comes amidst the intensifying trade conflict initiated by Trump along with compliance from trade unions on both sides of the border. These unions are yielding to corporate calls for pay adjustments and changes in the work environment, including job assurances, within each nation to ensure sustained production.
In particular, Mexico, being its topmost exporter, experienced the consequences of these changes as General Motors along with the purportedly ‘independent union,’ SINTTIA, executed wage hikes that were around only 10 percent despite promises of 15 percent rise. The reduced wage hike was apparently a measure to counterbalance tariffs. Subsequently, General Motors declared a mammoth $4 billion initiative to relocate production from Mexico back to the U.S due to the trade conflicts.
The only way workers can safeguard their right to a safe workplace is by becoming part of a global movement that takes command of work conditions against multinational corporations, their allies in nationalist unions, and government bodies. In light of these circumstances, the expressions of unity and calls for action emerging from the workers in the territory south of the US-Mexico border assume vital importance.
Fernando, an assembler at the General Motors plant in Silao, Central Mexico, expressed empathy with Adams’s family and voiced indignation at the initial results, which showed that the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) had failed to interrogate the contractors in charge of programming the gantry and washer, the equipment Adams was handling when the fatal accident occurred.
The assembly complex in Silao has a past record of demonstrating international kinship. A ground-level group known as the ‘Generating Movement’ publicly voiced its opposition to the company’s union in 2019 and experienced layoffs for rejecting acceleration of production in a show of support for that year’s national GM strike in the US.
Fernando further commented on the investigation, putting forth the need for a widespread probe encompassing as many firms as possible. He emphasized that these issues are not localized but global in nature. As per Fernando, if individuals did not make their voices heard, these problems would remain unnoticed and would merely be faint whispers.
Ernesto Tolentino, a previous GM Silao worker who was unfairly dismissed following a prolonged workplace injury and received a meager compensation offer, proposed that Mexican automotive employees should support these initiatives. ‘Without a doubt, I believe the investigation is a splendid idea,’ he asserted, encouraging his co-workers in Mexico to rally behind the investigative effort.
Ernesto pointed out the high incidence of injury amongst his colleagues at GM Silao, drawing attention to the rising stress levels due to the extreme workload that workers are expected to handle. The negative impact of such stress, Ernesto warned, can lead to severe anxiety among employees, cause accidents, and in a worst-case scenario, lead to serious health conditions such as heart attack and stroke.
Efraín, yet another silo worker at GM, affirmed that he paid considerable attention to the detailed reports about the investigation into Adams’s death. He offered some sage advice on the conduct of the investigation, expressing his view that it needed to be entirely transparent and free from any potential corruption.
Efraín also warned of the investigation turning into a double-edged sword that could harm the workers if not handled appropriately. ‘The committee needs to be made up of individuals with strong values and principles to avoid any chance of bribery,’ he asserted.
A worker from Delta Staff textiles in northern Mexico’s Durango region also extended his support in the wake of the ongoing investigation, expressing his solidarity with Ronald Adams’s family. He emphasized the grim reality that worker fatalities due to plant mishaps are disturbingly common in the global manufacturing industry.
This Durango textile worker highlighted how workplace accidents consistently suggest equipment malfunctions or unresponsive safety features as culprits. However, blame is readily foisted on the worker while the employers conveniently evade accountability for any lapses in their safety systems that might have directly contributed to such unfortunate events.
With an additional viewpoint, he articulated that such incidents, which take thousands of lives around the world, invariably go unpunished. As he stated, employers typically escape consequences for their lax safety measures that potentially cause these unfortunate incidents. The textile worker ended his commentary by extending his condolences to Ronald Adams’s family and calling for the end of all workplace fatalities.
The prevalent consensus among workers is calling for a thorough examination of workplace conditions, along with an urgent plea for increased safety and improvements in treatment of workers. Efforts to challenge the status quo are mounting, as more workers worldwide unite to change the narrative around international labor rights and standards. These rallying calls demonstrate the growing international resolve to oppose detrimental labor practices and fight for every worker’s right to a safe and secure workplace.
The post Mexican Auto Workers Join International Call for Inquiry on Stellantis Worker Death appeared first on Real News Now.
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