SITESABES (FAT) Campaign against SABES

Enlace supported SITESABES of the Frente Auténtico de Trabajo (FAT) and the teachers of the SABES program of the state of Guanajuato, México, where independent union SITESABES was able to secure the first secret ballot union election ever ordered in México.  While they were unable to win the election due to intense opposition by the government, they are re-organizing for another election in March 2006. 

Background
In coordination with the FAT and the union UE, Enlace participated in strategy meetings to support the teachers of the SABES program in Guanajuato in their unionization efforts. Thanks to the Enlace members who helped coordinate a speaking tour by one of the SITESABES leaders to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Portland—we were able to find allies and money for the SITESABES campaign.  Enlace was a point of communication between SITESABES and allies in the U.S.

On May 31 we also participated as an international observer in the first ever secret ballot union election in Mexico ordered by the Junta de Conciliación y Arbitraje (Conciliation and Arbitration Board). SITESABES lost the election because the government hired 600 new workers right before the election, but this was an achievement that has had positive repercussions, specifically in the case of DIF, an affiliate of the FAT, which was able to secure a union election that also was by secret vote.

Enlace also helped translate the report of the international observers and was the conduit of communication between the observers and the Junta de Conciliación y Arbitraje.  Click here for the full report.

In July 2005 a leader of SITESABES participated in the Enlace coach training in which the leader developed a plan to reorganize co-workers for a new election in March 2006. Enlace will continue to support SITESABES’ organizing efforts.