News Release
US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative seek review of alleged labor rights denial at munitions manufacturer in Cuernavaca, Mexico
WASHINGTON – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico review an allegation that workers’ rights are being denied by Industrias Tecnos, a munitions manufacturing facility in Cuernavaca. The U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Trade Representative co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee
The request for review follows a petition filed on May 23, 2024, by the union Sindicato Metálicos and its union confederation, the Unión de Federaciones y Sindicatos de Mexico.
Filed under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, or RRM, the petition alleges Industrias Tecnos, in collaboration with the incumbent union, Sindicato Químico, discriminated against workers who did not choose to join Sindicato Químico, subjected them to harassment and pressure to reaffiliate with Sindicato Químico, and used pretextual reasons to justify their illegal termination.
After the committee found sufficient and credible evidence supporting the company’s denial of workers’ rights, the U.S. government invoked the RRM by submitting a request to review to Mexico.
“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring that workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining are upheld, as mandated by Mexico’s labor laws and the USMCA. Our investigation into Industrias Tecnos revealed evidence of interference in worker organizing efforts and retaliation against workers for their union activity, which violate these commitments,” said Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee. “We look forward to working with the government of Mexico to ensure that workers at Industrias Tecnos can exercise their rights without fear of retaliation.”
“The USMCA empowers workers to organize freely and support the union of their choice. Through today’s invocation of the RRM, we are again reaffirming this right and our intention to continue using this tool to advocate that workers’ rights are respected,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “Measures taken through the RRM have directly benefitted over 35,000 workers, and we look forward to collaborating with the Government of Mexico to deliver for the workers represented in this matter as well.”
Mexico’s government has 10 days to decide whether to conduct a review and 45 days to investigate the claims and present its findings.
Industrias Tecnos is an ammunitions manufacturing company that operates under the brand Aguila Ammunition. The company produces ammunition for the sport shooting industry, government, military, and law enforcement institutions, with authorized distributors of Aguila Ammunition in 28 countries, including the U. S.
