The silver mines in Real de Monte had dangerous conditions, with workers using mercury and hazardous materials to mine resources, while in return received low pay.

European workers (“white” by United States demographic standards), Mestizo (“Mixed-race”) and Native Americans made up the majority of the workers, while a small contingent of enslaved African heritage workers were also present at the mines.

From August 1st, 1766, to August 15, 1766, workers filed grievances to the Spanish viceroy. A work stoppage happened at this time. In response, the Spanish colonial government sent 300 soldiers to end the strike and force workers back to work. The strike was broken by the Spanish government, and the mines were reduced in scale by 1767. British leadership later took over operation of the mines.

Workers in Mexico celebrated this strike last week, also stating:

Yesterday, we commemorated the 260th anniversary of the first strike in Latin America, led by the brave miners of Real del Monte in Hidalgo.

Today, more than ever, we must keep their legacy alive within our miners’ union, “Los Mineros,” as we continue to fight—with strength, unity, and solidarity—for the rights, dignity, and justice of miners and the entire working class.

Long live the miners of Mexico!
Long live the workers’ struggle!
Long live dignity and labor justice!

The post First Workers Strike in North America Commemorated first appeared on Labor Today.

The post First Workers Strike in North America Commemorated appeared first on Labor Today.

The Mexican government has formally recognized the independent miners’ union, Los Mineros, as the legal bargaining agent for workers at the Canadian-owned Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. However, the mine’s owner, Orla Mining, has pressured workers to instead join a pro-employer “protection” union.

Over the summer, workers who were involved in the efforts to join the Los Mineros union reported being intimidated with violence, threats of dismissals, and eventually death threats for their organizing. In the most recent escalation, armed gunmen broke into the home of one such worker, Jaime Pulido Leon.

The Los Mineros union responded by requesting a meeting with the Canadian embassy and protection for Mr. Pulido Leon’s family. On October 21, union members demonstrated outside of the Canadian embassy in Mexico City.

Last week, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO), and the United Steelworkers union (USW) co-signed a letter to the Departments of Labour of Mexico, Canada and the US, as well as to the Canadian embassy in Mexico, denouncing the situation. The letter requested immediate action to protect the life and rights of Mr. Pulido Leon.

“Mexico has seen a history of corrupt corporations using violence, intimidation and even murder to quell workers’ resistance,” said Marty Warren, United Steelworkers Canadian Director.

“It would be unacceptable for a Canadian mining company to be associated with these tactics. Workers must be able to organize and join unions without fear,” Warren said.

“Recent news that a worker at the mine survived an apparent attempt on his life is alarming to us all,” states the letter from Canadian unions. “It is imperative that workers in Canada, Mexico and the USA be able to exercise their right to affiliate to a democratic union of their choice without fear of violence or reprisals.”

The letter urges the three governments to respond with due urgency, and to work with Los Minerosto ensure protection and a just resolution for workers at the Canadian-owned mine.

Originally published in People’s Voice.

The post MEXICO: Workers Assaulted and Sent Death Threats for Unionizing at Canadian-Owned Mine first appeared on Labor Today.

The post MEXICO: Workers Assaulted and Sent Death Threats for Unionizing at Canadian-Owned Mine appeared first on Labor Today.