Call for international solidarity
Mexico, October 18, 2009.
Dear comrades of affiliated and friend
organizations to the World Federation of Trade
Unions
WFTU
On Saturday October 11, 2009, thousands of soldiers
and policemen entered in all electric work centers of Luz y Fuerza del Centro
(LFC) company responsible for the public service of electric power in the
central region of the country. Immediately, the federal government decreed the
extinction of the company and, consequently, the liquidation of all the
workers.
The government's measure affects to 44 thousand active
electricians and 22 thousand retired workers, all members of the Mexican
Electricians’ Trade Union (SME).
Under arguments of financial crash the Mexican
government has given to the workers the biggest blow in the last three decades
in a context of serious worsening of social and economic conditions which have
been derived of a persistent crisis.
From 1992, in the mark of the signature of North
American Free Trade Act (NAFTA), Mexican legislators approved regressive
reformations to the Law of the Public Service of Electric Power. Then, in this
way began a process of stealthy electric privatization that, to the moment, it
reaches 49.4% of power generation capacity in the entire country.
Contrary to the Mexican political Constitution,
transnational companies, headed by the Spaniards, they have been taking
possession of the nationalized power generation industry and they also seek to
privatize also transmission and electric distribution.
Luz y Fuerza del Centro carries out functions of
electric distribution basically, serving to 6 million users and it is the oldest
electric company in the country. Their activities are carried out in the Mexican
capital and neighboring places of the central region.
The SME is one of the oldest unions, founded in 1914,
it affiliates all LFC’s workers and it has a trajectory known in Mexico
and over the world.
When taking place the measure of the government's
force, the Mexican people went immediately to solidary action. However, the
government persists in its politics and doesn’t exist to the moment
neither dialogue and less agreement for a favorable solution to the workers.
In the capital and interior of the country has been
activated the popular resistance. Diverse organizations have been pronounced in
solidarity with the SME demanding to the Mexican government stop aggression
against electricians and a solution of the conflict.
The Mexican government insists on liquidating the
workers offering money in exchange for renouncement to the work and the
struggle. However, under difficult conditions the electricians stay
firm.
In such circumstances, the Energy Workers’ Front
(FTE) in Mexico, affiliated organization to the World Federation of Trade Unions
(FSM), calls to the affiliated organizations and friends, to express urgently
your solidarity with the electricians of the SME carrying out all the actions
within your reach.
The FTE will estimate received solidarity
publishing your messages for the workers' knowledge and of the Mexican people,
as well as, other measures that want to exercise before embassies of Mexico in
yours countries, including demonstrations and meetings.
Sincerely.
Energy Workers’ Front,
in Mexico
Congreso de la UIS de la Energía, México 2007
Comisión de Energia
