Campaign Unavailable

We're sorry, this alert is no longer available. If you would like to learn more about ways you can take action, please visit United Students Against Sweatshops.

The short explanation of this alert was:
On May 21, the Antorcha Campesina organization, linked to the PRI political party, attempted to take over the independent union at the Mexmode (formerly Kukdong) factory in Atlixco, Mexico. According to eyewitness reports and video shot at the scene, several hundred supporters of Antorcha (a political organization with a history of paramilitary activity) held an "assembly" outside the Mexmode factory where they "elected" a slate to replace the existing, legally elected leadership of the Independent Union of Mexmode Workers (SITEMEX). While between one and two hundred workers from the factory participated in the assembly, the numbers were far less than the two-thirds of the union's 740 members needed to legally hold an assembly. The 50-100 unknown men carrying sticks, who appeared to patrol the assembly and the surrounding area, intimidated the workers. The Antorcha organization has carried out a campaign of intimidation over the last several months, issuing threats and extortion directed at the Mexmode company and the Sitemex union. These actions are an attempt to roll back the gains made by the independent union since it ousted a pro-government union, the FROC-CROC, in 2001.

If you would like to view details on this alert, please visit here.