Skip to main content
Advertise with the Morning Star
Workers’ representation in Mexico
TONY BURKE explains how unions are progressing in the North American country

MEXICAN and US unions are making great strides in winning union recognition by using the rapid response clauses in the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) for workers — winning representation by independent trade unions for workers who want to kick out yellow unions which back employers and hold down pay and working conditions. 

Shamefully, US and European companies have hidden behind the discredited Mexican labour laws to keep independent unions out of their companies in order to maintain compliant workforces undermining US workers’ wages and making it easy for US and Canadian companies to move jobs into low-tax, low-pay areas of Mexico.

Yellow unions such as the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) have a history of collusion in dismissing independent union reps and ignoring the wishes of the workforce.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
OMMUNITY OUTRAGE: Kurdish migrants march in Westminster to protest the raid on their north London community centre in police operations against the banned PKK organisation, December 2024
Features / 25 September 2025
25 September 2025

The move against alleged PKK members that sparked outrage as a community centre in north London was raided last year has now come to trial, writes TONY BURKE, but in the meantime, the peace process abroad has changed the situation almost entirely

covers
Music Reviews / 12 September 2025
12 September 2025

TONY BURKE reviews new releases from Cheikh Lo, Mishra & Deepa Shakthi, N’Faly Kouyate

HISTORIC: Amazon has long prevented workers from organising
Features / 2 September 2025
2 September 2025

TONY BURKE explains how an internationally significant breakthrough for workers’ organisation and recognition against two notoriously anti-union global mega corporations has been finally achieved in Canada

guthrie
Album Review / 14 August 2025
14 August 2025

TONY BURKE revels in the publication of previously unreleased tracks by the great US folksinger

Similar stories
NHS workers on the picket line outside St Thomas' Hospital, London, ahead of a march from the hospital to Trafalgar Square, May 1, 2023
Features / 19 July 2025
19 July 2025

The Bill addresses some exploitation but leaves trade unions heavily regulated, most workers without collective bargaining coverage, and fails to tackle the balance of power that enables constant mutation of bad practice, write KEITH EWING and LORD JOHN HENDY KC

Platform working
Features / 5 May 2025
5 May 2025

TONY BURKE says an International Labour Conference next month will try for a new convention to protect often super-exploited workers providing services such as ride-hailing (taxis) such as Uber as well as fast food and package delivery

WE WILL BE HEARD: Convenor for GMB Scotland Chris Mitchell s
Features / 22 March 2025
22 March 2025
The Employment Rights Bill is a vital opportunity to rebalance power between workers and employers. As it passes to the Lords, pressure must be brought to bear to strengthen this key legislation, argues ANDY McDONALD MP
A rally demanding changes to the Trump administration’s re
Features / 13 December 2024
13 December 2024
Global South governments’ sovereignty and ability to decide future economic policy are severely compromised by signing free trade agreements, whose terms are heavily weighted in favour of the already wealthy countries of the global North, writes BERT SCHOUWENBURG