SITESABES Elections

Excellent news! Finally the SITESABES union teachers are seeing the fruits of their labor.  Thanks to the bravery and resistance of the leaders and your support, the workers have won a written agreement with the Labor Board (Junta de Conciliación y Arbitraje), which includes the following:

· The union elections will take place on the 31st of May, 2005

· The election will be done by SECRET BALLOT, something never before seen in Mexico

· There will be international observers

This victory is historic.  Unfortunately, Mexico has a history of violence, manipulation and blackmail associated with the “charro” or company unions.  The common practice in elections is the following: all the workers individually pass by a group of henchmen who threaten them before voting, “if you don’t vote for the company union then you know what awaits you” and then one-by-one they have to say aloud who they are voting for in the presence of 3 or 4 company unions and the independent union.  This has been the prevailing practice for years.  But this time, workers will be voting by secret ballot in the presence of international observers. The local government has also pledged police protection for the workers. This decision is an amazing achievement that can change the history of unionization in Mexico.