Department of Labor, Office of US Trade Representative find denial of labor rights at Pirelli facility in Silao, Guanajuato

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement today requested the government of Mexico conduct a review based on its finding that a denial of workers' rights occurred at the Pirelli Neumáticos rubber tire manufacturing facility in Silao, Guanajuato.

The Rapid Response Labor Mechanism request follows a July 22, 2024, petition filed by the Liga Sindical Obrera Mexicana and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network alleging the rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining are being denied at Pirelli.

The petition alleges the company is unlawfully applying a facility-specific collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the incumbent Miguel Trujillo union - an affiliate of the Confederación de Trabajadores de Mexico - rather than the industry-wide contract covering the rubber industry. The petitioners allege the benefits received by workers under the CBA are below the minimum protections provided for under the contract law.

"The request for review in this case provides an opportunity under the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism for Pirelli workers to benefit from the application of the rubber sector-wide agreement, consistent with Mexican labor law," said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. "We look forward to continuing to work with the government of Mexico to secure workers their fair compensation under the law."

"As the second Rapid Response Mechanism matter dealing with Mexico's sector-wide agreement for the rubber industry, this case demonstrates that the tool is raising awareness among workers in the sector about their labor rights and providing a pathway for their concerns to be addressed," said Ambassador Katherine Tai. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Government of Mexico to protect workers' rights at the facility."

Mexico's government has 10 days to decide whether to conduct a review and 45 days to investigate the claims and present its findings. 

A multinational company based in Italy, Pirelli employs about 3,250 union workers who produce automotive tires at a plant in Silao for export to the U.S. and Canada for automakers, includingAudi, BMW and Tesla.

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