U.S. rejects Mexican union petition for labor probe at BBB Industries

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – U.S. labor officers have turned down a Mexican union’s request for a probe into alleged employee rights abuses at BBB Industries in northern Mexico beneath the phrases of a regional commerce pact, the U.S. Commerce Consultant (USTR) workplace stated on Thursday.

Underneath the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA), which has more durable labor guidelines than its predecessor settlement, activists have more and more flagged alleged misconduct round union illustration and demanded increased wages after years of stagnate pay.

The petition from Mexican union SNITIS over BBB Industries within the border metropolis of Reynosa, which refurbishes auto elements, didn’t attain a typical of a “adequate, credible proof of a denial of rights” to set off USMCA enforcement instruments, the USTR stated in an announcement.

SNITIS had stated in a petition to the U.S. authorities final month that BBB Industries employees have been intimidated and threatened throughout a contract vote, amongst different irregularities.

The Alabama-based firm stated it respects the rights of employees to decide on a union of their selection and welcomes any authorities probe. It beforehand denied the allegations by SNITIS and stated it adopted process to make sure honest voting.

SNITIS stated it was upset by the USTR resolution.

“We’ll proceed demanding motion from the authorities to redress this denial of labor rights,” it stated in an announcement.

The U.S. authorities has filed 5 labor complaints beneath the USMCA since final yr, together with at a Normal Motors plant and a Stellantis-owned manufacturing unit.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; modifying by Richard Pullin)