Media Advisory - Unifor National President to visit site of striking Mexican miner murders

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - Unifor National President Jerry Dias will visit the site where two striking Mexican miners were brutally murdered near the Media Luna mine in Guerrero State, Mexico.

"I am saddened and angered that these workers were murdered for standing up for their right to join the union of their choice," said Dias. "Unifor joins Los Mineros in the call for justice and the demand that those responsible for the murder of the Peña brothers be held accountable."

Brothers Víctor and Marcelino Sahuanitla Peña were killed on November 18, 2017 when striking miners were attacked by an armed group believed to be affiliated with the corrupt Confederación de Trabajadores de México (CTM) union.

Approximately 600 workers at the mine, owned by Canada's Torex Gold Resources, went on strike after they were prevented from leaving the CTM to join Los Mineros (the National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic).

This terrible act of violence occurred as the Mexican government continued to reject labour reform at NAFTA talks just a few hours away in Mexico City.

"I challenge Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to show courage and to do the right thing by accepting the proposed NAFTA labour reforms to guarantee the right to free association and free collective bargaining," said Dias.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor