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Article

1 Apr 2019

Author:
Vox

Mexico: Workers strike for higher wages in factories run by US companies and subcontractors

“Thousands of workers at US factories in Mexico are striking for higher wages”, 28th March 2019

…Since January, thousands of factory workers have been striking for higher wages in Mexican border cities, which are home to hundreds of factories run by US companies and subcontractors. Factory workers, who generally earn about $2.50 an hour, make car parts, washing machines, appliances, and even soda for American consumers across the border. Workers are angry with their employers for paying them poverty wages, but they’re also upset with their labor unions, which are often controlled by businesses and government officials. So far, union officials have been unable to stop the strikes, which began in January in Matamoros…The strikes have been so successful that they’ve sparked what is now called the 20/32 Movement, based on the 20 percent pay raise and 32,000 peso annual bonus (about $1,600) that striking factory workers in the city initially demanded, and eventually won. The movement is now spreading beyond factories in the border region, with cashiers at US-owned supermarkets and fast-food chains demanding raises too. That includes Sam’s Club stores and Walmart stores…Dozens of workers at one of Coca-Cola’s largest bottling and distribution plants have refused to go to work for almost two months, demanding the same 20 percent increase with a $32,000 peso bonus…