MEXICO CITY, March 16 (Reuters) – Mexico’s government said on Thursday it had concluded that “serious irregularities” at US auto parts maker VU Manufacturing’s operations in northern Mexico were hindering free association and collective bargaining.
Following an investigation by a US labor complaint under the North American trade agreement known as the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), Mexican officials said they would begin a 10-day consultation period with US counterparts to develop . treatment plan.
“It was determined that there have been serious irregularities and decisive action has been taken on the part of the company to impede the free exercise of the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining within VU Manufacturing,” the government said in a statement.
It added that it will try to ensure that workers can fully exercise their collective rights without disrupting bilateral trade.
Michigan-based VU Manufacturing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The plant under investigation is located in the northern Mexican city of Piedras Negras, across the US border from Eagle Pass in Texas.
The US government previously said it had received a petition in December from two Mexican labor unions alleging that workers at Vue Manufacturing were being denied free association and collective bargaining rights.
This latest investigation follows another complaint at the same plant, which the two countries were asked to resolve in September, noting that workers at the facility were able to elect the union of their choice after workers attacked the company. accused of interfering.
Reporting by Sarah Moreland and Carolina Police; Editing by Diana Beth Solomon and Kim Coghill
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