News Release
US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights’ denial at Hidalgo manufacturer
WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Mexican governments have announced the successful resolution to a Rapid Response Labor Mechanism petition alleging the denial of workers’ rights at Odisa Concrete Equipment, a manufacturer in Hidalgo.
To remediate workers’ claims, the Mexican government facilitated a resolution with Odisa taking several actions, including posting a neutrality statement, creating guidelines on freedom of association and collective bargaining, reinstating a fired worker with back pay and refunding improperly withheld union dues to workers. In addition, the Mexican Ministry of Labor provided labor rights training to workers.
“We commend the actions taken by Odisa Concrete Equipment and the government of Mexico to resolve the alleged labor violations at the facility and ensure that freedom of association is fully respected,” said Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee. “The reinstatement of an improperly dismissed worker involved in union activity underscores a commitment to ensuring that workers can freely choose their union and engage in collective bargaining.”
This is the 29th use of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism by the department and the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative to benefit workers in partnership with Mexico.
“The successful resolution of this case reflects the RRM’s effectiveness as a tool for holding employers accountable and enabling workers to freely exercise their union rights,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “We commend the government of Mexico and Odisa for their actions to remediate the denials of labor rights that occurred. The Biden-Harris administration celebrates this outcome and recalls that nearly 42,000 workers have directly benefited from the mechanism to date.”
Founded in 1976, Odisa Concrete Equipment S.A. de C.V. manufactures and exports concrete equipment and material-handling equipment, including sheet metal and aluminum goods, to more than 35 countries.
