Thousands of unionists held solidarity
protests at Mexican embassies in 30 countries on Feb. 14 to Feb. 19 as part of a week
of action called for by the international labor movement. Unions across the
globe have condemned the Mexican government for repressing independent trade
unions.
The week of Feb. 14 was the fifth
anniversary of an explosion at the Pasta de Conchos mine, owned by Grupo México,
which resulted in the deaths of 65 miners. The Mexican Miners’ Union has been
demanding justice and compensation for the disaster, but the government has
responded by violently repressing the union. Miners in Cananea have been on
strike against Grupo México since 2007 to demand better working conditions. The
government sent soldiers to occupy that mine last June.
Angered by President Calderón’s moves to
weaken public education and divert money to schools for the rich, teachers are
also protesting.
International solidarity is one of the
strongest weapons of the working class because it exposes the criminality of
capitalism.
