News Release
Statement by US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh on vote by workers at GM’s Silao, Mexico auto plant to approve collective bargaining agreement
WASHINGTON – In response to a vote by workers on May 25-26, 2022, at a General Motors’ facility in Silao, Mexico, to approve a recently negotiated collective bargaining agreement, U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh issued the following statement:
“This vote marks an important milestone in the realization of labor rights in Mexico. It shows what labor protections in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and Mexico’s labor reform can mean for workers. Just a year ago, some 6,000 hard-working men and women who produce General Motors’ vehicles in Silao had no real voice at work. Now, these same workers have elected their union leaders and voted to approve a new agreement drafted and negotiated by their peers. This agreement improves real wages and gives workers a process to regularly review their workload and scheduling to ensure workplace safety and health protections, as well as protections from gender-based discrimination and harassment. We look forward to continuing our strong cooperation with the Mexican Labor Ministry to raise the floor for workers across our two countries.
“This vote comes after workers in Silao rejected a previous collective bargaining agreement in August 2021 and chose a new union in February 2022 to represent them in collective bargaining negotiations. The August vote occurred pursuant to a detailed course of remediation negotiated by the U.S. and Mexico.”
