Update on Matamoros garment

Dear friends,

18 March 2003, Thanks to all of you who have participated in the activities supporting the Matamaros Garment workers in Mexico.

Below you will find an update from the CAT, and based on this we call upon you to continue supporting the workers and:

• Contact the Mexican embassy in your country to ensure that the Union gets it’s legal recognition and that the harassment of the workers stops. See point 4 and 5 of the update, and find a sample letter for embassies and consulates at the end of this message.

• Contact PUMA and ask them to provide proof of placing new orders (see
  point 6 of this update). PUMA should also come to an agreement with the CCC and the CAT about independent verification of the situation at Matamoros. The CCC has asked PUMA why the proof of orders was not forthcoming and has requested a meeting, a discussion is scheduled for this Friday, we will keep you posted.

MATAMOROS GARMENT CAMPAIGN UPDATE ­ March 14, 2003

1. Factory Establishes Bogus Worker Commission
2. Workers Illegally Sent Home on Forced Time Off
3. Workplace Accident Highlights Poor Working Conditions
4. Due Date to Legally Recognize Union Approaches; International Solidarity
   Necessary
5. Harassment and Intimidation Continue; International Help Needed to Defend Workers’ Safety
6. PUMA Still Hasn’t Proven New Orders; International Pressure Critical

Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, México

The Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador (CAT) writes to our supporters to bring you the latest developments from the Matamoros Garment Campaign. The Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores de la Empresa Matamoros Garment (SITEMAG) continues its struggle to represent the factory’s workers in the face of denial of freedom of association and other labor and human rights violations. Now exactly two months since their work stoppage, SITEMAG has successfully drawn national and international attention to the plight of hundreds of Matamoros Garment workers and remains firm in its fight to legally recognize the independent union and improve working conditions, despite intimidation on all sides from factory management and the incumbent company-selected, government-controlled union. SITEMAG and the CAT ask for your continued support as the struggle to protect the workers and hold PUMA to its commitment to resume production intensifies.

1. Factory Establishes Bogus Worker Commission

Matamoros Garment director John Whittinghill and his management staff have handpicked a worker commission to supposedly take into account the workers’ voices. This commission, clearly lacking real authority and blatantly excluding SITEMAG supporters, was hurriedly thrown together the day of the workers’ February 27 press conference scheduled to denounce intimidation and harassment of SITEMAG leaders, most likely by the government-controlled Sindicato Francisco Villa of the C.T.M. federation or the factory itself. Management gave the workers ballots to vote for the company commission, without any prior notice, and the majority of workers declined to nominate anyone at all. It was created to assuage the workers’ fears about the company’s viability and recuperate lost support for the incumbent, company-selected union. Coming at a time when thef actory is suffering from financial difficulties and a shortage in production, as well as experiencing a desperate attempt by the Sindicato Francisco Villa to defend its protection contract, it’s clear management would rather co-opt workers’ voices then allow them authentic representation. SITEMAG demands that local government and management recognize their union and quit wasting time with the bogus worker commission.

2. Workers Illegally Sent Home on Forced Time Off

For almost two months Matamoros Garment has regularly sent workers home on forced time off or descansos, promising them 50% of their salary. Management has cited a lack of production for the effective reduction of the workforce. Workers have reported that the factory has not made good on its promise to pay the workers 50% of their salary. Particularly targeted by this has been SITEMAG leader Agustina García Reyes who, for over three consecutive weeks, has been on a forced descanso. “The first week management paid me half of my regular wage, but in the past two weeks I haven’t received a single cent,” says Agustina. “Every day I go to the factory to find out if there’s work or when they can pay me, and each day I run into more of my co-workers in the same situation.” According to Article 123 of the Mexican Constitution, Section XIX, a reduction instituted by management due to a lack of production has to be first approved by the Local Labor Board. Matamoros Garment has not shown workers any proof that the Local Labor Board has authorized the forced time off. On the day of the workers’ January 13 work stoppage, approximately 250 employees worked at the factory. Now two months later only 100 employees are working full-time, and between 30 ­ 70 more are on descansos.

3. Workplace Accident Highlights Poor Working Conditions

Matamoros Garment workers have included unsafe working conditions among the many hardships they face on a daily basis. Again last week a painful reminder was felt. On March 6 SITEMAG leader Liliana Tejeda Hernandez was working on her sewing machine when the fabric slipped and the needle punctured her finger. The 22 year-old assistant supervisor has four years of experience at the factory and has always operated her equipment successfully but carefully. However, sufficient protective gear is unavailable and the sewing machines are not well maintained. Upon feeling the stick of the needle and seeing the blood, Liliana reflexively jerked her hand away and the needle broke off, part of it still imbedded in her finger. Liliana immediately sought medical treatment, only to find that there was no First Aid kit available. Instead she had to go to the equipment room where she removed the broken needle herself with a pair of pliers. “I didn’t realize at first that I had been stuck,” said Liliana, “but then I thought how am I going to remove the needle without proper First Aid?” Thankfully Liliana is recovering okay, but no excuse can be made for the lack of emergency preparedness at Matamoros Garment and the negligent disregard for proper workplace safety measures.

4. Due Date to Legally Recognize Union Approaches; International Solidarity Necessary

Nearly two months ago SITEMAG supporters filed the necessary papers with the Local Labor Board to legally recognize their independent union. Now the 60-day waiting period is nearly up, and on March 20 Matamoros Garment workers will know for sure if their right to freedom of association will be legally protected. Given the confluence of factors surrounding the Matamoros Garment ownership, local politics, and the strong influence of the government-controlled C.T.M. union federation, SITEMAG supporters are not expecting that the government will give them their registro. Therefore, it will be essential for our international supporters to pressure the Mexican federal government to demand that freedom of association is guaranteed and that the workers’ legally-protected right to form an independent union is protected. Please contact the Mexican consulates and embassies around the world to ensure that the Local Labor Board does its job according to Mexican labor law. Only with your help can Matamoros Garment workers obtain legal recognition, force a vote at the factory, and become the workers’ true legal representative.

5. Harassment and Intimidation Continue; International Help Needed to Defend Workers’ Safety

In our last update we informed you that for over a month now at least 12 different men have been following SITEMAG leaders home from work and union meetings. Despite a promise from the local police department to increase security and meetings with state and city officials, nevertheless the harassment and intimidation continue. The perpetrators have changed their tactics somewhat from appearing in the Izúcar de Matamoros town square to waiting outside workers’ homes, following them on the town buses, and getting off at the same bus stops. Over 70% of Matamoros Garment workers are women, and the vast majority of SITEMAG activists are women in their early twenties. According to SITEMAG leader Ricarda Vazquez Martinez, “When we go to take the bus, some of the men that we have identified follow us and take our pictures…We aren’t sure if they come from the maquiladora or the Sindicato Francisco Villa.” The intimidation has not defeated the spirits of the workers, but it certainly has caused everyone to take extra safety measures. US/LEAP has taken up the call to contact the Mexican Embassy in the United States to denounce the harassment, calling on the Mexican government to intervene to protect the workers of Matamoros Garment. Please join US/LEAP in denouncing the harassment before the Mexican embassies and consulates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and beyond. For a sample letter, see below.

6. PUMA Still Hasn’t Proven New Orders; International Pressure Critical

Two weeks ago PUMA promised to place new orders with Matamoros Garment and discuss independent verification of its Corporate Code of Conduct. Today we’re still waiting for the proof… It’s no secret that Matamoros Garment has experienced recent financial difficulties, and much less a secret that workers’ rights at the factory constantly hang in the balance. PUMA must prove that it indeed placed new orders, begin production, and agree to verification of its activities as soon as possible. For the financial health of the factory, the promise of continued employment, and to live up to its responsibility to the workers who have sewn its clothes, PUMA must be pressured to respect its commitment. Please continue contacting PUMA and make sure they know that we will not let them off the hook.

Contact : Reiner Hengstmann at reiner.hengstmann@puma.com and Jochen Zeitz
at jochen.zeitz@puma.com.

Sample letter for Mexican embassies and consulates (thanks to US/LEAP):

Date

Adress

Dear Mr. or Mrs.

We write to you at this time in regards to the security of members of the Sindicato Independiente de Trabajadores de la Empresa Matamoros Garment (SITEMAG) and staff at the Centro de Apoyo al Trabajador (CAT). For more than a month these workers have reportedly been targeted for their efforts to exercise their basic right to form a trade union.

As you may be aware, workers at the Matamoros Garment factory in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla have been attempting to establish a democratic trade union since the beginning of the year. On January 13, 2003, 162 of the factory’s 250 workers signed the proper documents to found the independent union SITEMAG. The workers have reported unpaid wages, forced overtime, being locked in the factory, verbal abuse from various managers, unhealthy cafeteria conditions, sub-minimum wages, and the denial of freedom of association due to a protection contract signed between the factory and the CTM-affiliated union, Sindicato Francisco Villa de la Industria Textil y Conexos.

An international effort has been launched to support these workers, including a successful campaign to persuade the sportswear brand PUMA to return production to the factory. However, a resolution has not yet been reached with management (nor have the appropriate government agencies legally recognized SITEMAG).

Meanwhile, SITEMAG leaders report that for the past several weeks they have been followed home from the factory and union events by 12 different men on separate occasions. CAT personnel also report being followed in many small towns near Izúcar de Matamoros during this same time period. The workers stated that these same men have conducted surveillance of union meetings and taken pictures of union leaders. The workers believe the men responsible are either from the Sindicato Francisco Villa or the factory.

In response, the CAT and SITEMAG leaders met with the government of Izúcar de Matamoros, the Puebla State government, and the Office of Public Security on February 25, 2003 to discuss the issue. These governmental organizations pledged to take steps to increase police protection to ensure the safety of the union leaders. We are pleased to report that initial accounts indicate that police protection has increased. Nevertheless, we remain concerned for the safety of these workers. You may recall the unfortunate incident that took place at the Kuk Dong factory (now Mexmode) two years ago when workers were beaten in an apparent alliance between local thugs and security forces. Intimidation of workers who are seeking to exercise their basic rights is, as I am sure you would agree, completely unacceptable. Matamoros Garment is apparently one of Izúcar de Matamoros' top sources of foreign investment and intimidation measures such as these negatively affect the business climate there. Legal recognition of the workers' union would be another step to ensure a nonviolent, stable investment setting.

We would greatly appreciate it if the embassy could alert local authorities in Puebla that concerns about the security of the Matamoros Garment and CAT workers have been conveyed to you in the U.S. Please let them know that we appreciate the commitments that have been made to provide security for the workers thus far, and that the embassy has been asked to stay informed of the situation in the coming weeks. Given that the goods produced in this factory are exported to this country, we believe we have a responsibility to lend our support to the workers who are seeking to exercise their basic rights.

Thank you for your consideration of our views.

Sincerely,