SINTTIM, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Representative: Raquel Espinoza
SINTTIM (el Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de la Industria Maquila—the Independent Union of Workers in the Maquiladora Industry), Baja California Sur, Mexico. The leaders and supporters of SINTTIM began organizing together and succeeded in achieving legal recognition and collective bargaining agreements in the Baja maquiladora industry over twenty years ago. The union is led by workers and supporters who volunteer their time and resources.
Raquel Espinoza is the Secretary General of SINTTIM. In January 2005 Raquel also became president of the recently formed Centro de Investigaciones Sociales, Sindicales, y Laborales, Asociación Civil (Center of Social, Union, and Labor Research, Civil Association). Since 1973 Raquel has worked in a number of maquila factories and has led many struggles to defend workers’ rights and to promote the right of workers to form and join independent unions.