Evaluation Learnings Search

Learning Description

Differences in capacity among stakeholders/regions determined different results among the same. Issues such as differences in the size of union membership, financial resources, computer literacy, access to technology, and other factors affected implementation and the sustainability of project outcomes. These issues should be taken into account by U.S. Department of Labor and its grantees during the design and implementation of future activities.

Learning Description

Direct negotiation between unions and employers, whether individual and/or collective, was the most frequent and preferred way to address labor violations/complaints. Direct negotiation was a modality which, together with mediation and resources provided to the judiciary, was one of the legal mechanisms available to promote compliance with labor law. This modality should receive proper attention in future projects. The use of dispute resolution could be promoted by U.S. Department of Labor within tripartite projects.

Learning Description

Formulating, reviewing and updating risk assessment and mitigation plans is important in order to address challenges and adapt to changing contexts, especially in lieu of the lack of institutional capacities, the low level of ownership among government and employers, and the evolving (and protracted) COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing such situations requires a proactive approach to appropriately read the context and the ability to identify and allow for relevant adjustments when required.

Learning Description

Awareness-raising on relevant labor laws for workers, capacity building and organizational support are necessary and indispensable conditions for the creation of an autonomous, representative and democratic trade union "fabric." Laying the foundation for such “fabric” (through awareness-raising and capacity building) should be made a priority for the project in the remaining implementation period.

Learning Description

At present in the Mexican context, a "capacity-building" project approach is more relevant than the "complaints-based" approach that has been used so far. Prior to engaging in a productive dialogue with the government and employers, workers' organizations first need to be sufficiently structured in order to have a minimum degree of representativeness and legitimacy. The lesson learned is, thus, that in the current Mexican context, a “capacity building” project approach for unions would be more relevant for a larger number of workers than a "complaints-oriented" approach that attempts to address only a small number of specific violations. While important and relevant, such a "complaints-based" approach can quickly become very time consuming and resource intensive. In this regard, in view of the limited time that is left for the project, the priority for the remainder of the implementation period should be shifted towards the short-term outcomes and activities that pertain to capacity building. In addition, the success of the Solidarity Center's contribution to the project (or lack thereof) should be measured based on indicators associated with the specific medium-term outcomes and short-term outcomes that are related to worker outreach and capacity building, and less on the number of violations identified and complaints documented, filed, etc.

Learning Description

A phased approach would be appropriate in the Mexican context. Developing a phased approach that progressively establishes the conditions that allow autonomous and democratic unions to increasingly engage with the government and employers, in order to eventually improve the enforcement of labor laws, would be appropriate in the Mexican context since U.S. Department of Labor will most likely remain involved in supporting United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement labor law reform/implementation for a long period of time (beyond the life of one project).

Learning Description

Legitimation and collective bargaining agreement processes are not an "end" in themselves. The process of legitimation/collective bargaining agreements should not be seen as an end in itself, but rather as a means to identify, engage, train, and strengthen workers on a continuing basis, and as a process that extends beyond the duration of the project. It is true, however, that the achievement of collective bargaining agreement ownership by an autonomous, democratic and representative trade union is a desirable outcome.

Learning Description

Strengthening workers' organizations by supporting underserved communities. The project could help to strengthen workers’ organizations by adopting a specific focus on underserved communities (for instance, young people and women, or vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, migrants from other Mexican states and/or other countries, or indigenous workers) as this would allow organizations to become more representative and inclusive, better prepared for a generational renewal, and better able to advocate for/demand non-discrimination and equity with respect to employment.

Learning Description

Complex problems require long-term transformative processes. Very often, technical assistance/development cooperation projects are implemented in complicated and challenging contexts. Thus, the problems that they intend to resolve/address are often complex and multi-dimensional, especially when there are systemic power imbalances at play. Responding to these problems and addressing their causes and consequences usually require long-term, multi-stakeholder transformative processes that go beyond the life of one project.

Learning Description

"Quiet" support to activists. Solidarity Center strengthened the capacity of laid-off workers in Silao to conduct outreach and workers' organizing activities in preparation for the vote to legitimate collective bargaining at an automotive plant. This made it possible to provide “quiet” technical and strategic assistance to the workers organized around Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras de la Industria Automotriz (National Union of Workers in the Automotive Industry) in the days before the legitimation vote. This support was decisive in preventing punitive measures from employers and/or protection unions, and further allowed these workers to legitimately win the vote. Similarly, Solidarity Center provided technical assistance to a group of dismissed worker activists in San Luis Potosí, and strengthened their outreach and worker organizing capacities, which in turn contributed to a maintained and active union presence of Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores de Goodyear Mexico (Independent Workers Union of Goodyear Mexico).