During the 40-day UAW strike of General Motors, numerous workers at the GM Silao, Mexico GM plant resisted constant pressure by the corporation to increase productivity — a show of solidarity with US workers that led to the termination of seven Silao employees. The corporation insisted on increasing productivity in order to offset the losses the company would take in the United States during the UAW strike in regards to Chevrolet and GMC truck production.
These seven workers have still not been brought back, and have now released a letter reaching out to UAW workers asking for financial assistance via donations in order to help them make ends meet while they are still unemployed and fighting to get their jobs back.
“We, the group of fired workers at General Motors Silao Complex who joined hand in hand and strongly supported our fellow workers in the strike at General Motors in the United States, are continuing our struggle against the employer and our union leaders, resisting their pacts and alliance with the authorities. Our struggle is not over, and we are not willing to take a step back, which is why we are requesting your solidarity and your support for our defense fund. The economic situation is hitting us hard, and the main purpose we are asking for your help is to keep going, fighting for our reinstatement and for a democratic movement of workers at GM Silao.
The labor authorities in Mexico have not shown any willingness to address the lawsuits we have filed against the transnational corporation General Motors at the Silao Complex. Those same authorities have deals with the conciliation and arbitration boards to obstruct our lawsuits and close our path. That is why we request your support for our workers’ movement and our fight for the livelihood of those workers fired at General Motors Silao Complex.
In advance, we thank you for your solidarity and understanding.
We are still fighting!
For the international unity of workers at GM!
Not one step back!
Signed,
Dolores Israel Cervantes Córdova
Pilar de la Luz Torres Rosales
Ramón Rodríguez Gutiérrez
Arturo Martínez Fernández
Javier Martínez Mosqueda
Mauricio Negrete Pérez
María Guadalupe Ibarra Ramírez
The seven workers, who call their group Generating Movement, have set up a PayPal account where donations can be made to help their cause.
https://www.paypal.me/israelcervante
UAWD offers our full support to these brave Mexican GM workers who stood in solidarity with UAW members during the longest nationwide strike at General Motors since 1970. We understand that in a global economy, transnational corporations such as General Motors are not only able to whipsaw GM plants against one another within the United States, but across the world as well. This underscores just how vital of a role international solidarity between workers factors into the ultimate success of labor.
We call on our International leadership at Solidarity House to do everything in their power — both financially and politically — to offer the Silao Seven assistance, as well as to help get them back to work as soon as possible.
We would also ask that any of our fellow UAW members who are able, would support the Silao Seven by making a donation, in a true showing of International Solidarity with our GM Brothers and Sisters from Generating Movement.
They were willing to stand with us– even at the risk of their own livelihoods. UAWD believes it is the UAW’s time to stand with the Silao Seven.