TRW in Reynosa Mexico must be accountable to the Workers

John C. Plant, President and Chief Executive Officer
TRW Automotive
[email protected]



12025 Tech Center Drive
Livonia, Michigan 48150
United States
Phone/Tel: +1.734.855.2600

Dear Mr. Plant,

We are writing to you because we are concerned about TRW Vehicle Systems behavior in Reynosa, Mexico. We understand that TRW is transferring 800 workers from the Industrial Park del Norte to the Industrial Park Reynosa, which is across town. This means that the workers would spend two more hours getting to their jobs. Transportation is not being provided, there is no daycare nearby for their children, workplace conditions are not safe, and because of the size of the facility, the 800 workers would potentially face layoffs or displace workers already working at the TRW Reynosa plant.

The TRW workers in Reynosa formed the TRW Workers Coalition and tried to negotiate with TRW management. The result was that TRW unjustifiably fired the leadership of the TRW Workers Coalition and blacklisted the Coalition members. For this reason, the Workers Coalition presented more than 300 complaints including the demand for back pay, against TRW.

We urge you to respond to the following workers demands: 1) that TRW follow the process established in Mexican labor law for transferring workers; 2) that TRW provide them a) an adequate space to work, because there is not adequate room in the TRW Reynosa Industrial park plant; b) that working conditions be safe; c) that transportation be provided; d) that child care be provided; and 6) that a transfer bonus be awarded to the workers.

The workers are simply asking to be fairly compensated for the transfer and to have the same rights and conditions in the new facility as in the former one. If TRW does not respect workers rights, including the right to freedom of association, then TRW must provide a severance payment to the workers to comply with Mexican Labor Law. TRW should not be allowed to act with impunity and abandon the workers without paying them severance.

We urge you to intervene immediately and demand that TRW in Reynosa, Mexico should be accountable, respect workers rights, and negotiate the terms of the transfer with the TRW Workers Coalition, or pay them severance and back pay.

Sincerly,

The Undersigned


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President Barack Obama


Dear Mr. President,

We are writing to call your attention to a serious case of labor violations at a Mexican factory operated by the U.S.-based company TRW Automotive. . Unfortunately, this is only one of many cases that the Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras (CJM) has documented since NAFTAs implementation in 1994. CJM is dedicated to supporting workers and their families as they struggle for respect for basic human rights - a living wage, safe working conditions, job security and the right to organize.

TRW Automotive employs 61,000 workers in 200 facilities in 26 countries. In Mexico, TRW Automotive has 10 facilities, three of which are located in Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas. The workers from the TRW Industrial Park Del Norte in Reynosa, Mexico, produce seatbelts and other automotive safety equipment for GM, Chrysler and Ford.

The workers in Reynosa began organizing in March 2009 after TRW Vehicle Systems gave notice that the workers would be transferred to the TRW plant located in the Reynosa Industrial Park on the other side of town. For the workers, this meant two extra hours commute to work, as well as higher transportation costs. Poverty wages at the plant of $60 to $65 for a 48-hour week do not cover basic living expenses. Moreover, workers who drop their children at daycare would be hours away from them, should there be an accident or illness. In addition, the 800 workers would potentially face layoffs or displace workers already working at the TRW Reynosa plant, where there is not adequate room for the extra workers.

The workers first questioned the Confederaciуn de Trabajadores Mexicanos (CTM) union leader about whether the union had negotiated their transfer to the other company location. The CTM union leader, Reynaldo Garza, told them there was no choice, because the company can do whatever it wants, since it has the support of the Mexican government at the local, state and federal levels. Given the CTM union representatives failure to stand up for the workers interests, on April 10th, 600 TRW workers decided to form the TRW Workers Coalition to defend their rights.

Since then, the company has fired the leadership of the TRW Workers Coalition and refused to comply with Mexican law, which requires that a transfer of workers be preceded by a process of negotiation through the Conciliation and Arbitration Board.

We urge you, Mr. President, to open an inquiry into practices at the TRW factory in Reynosa, and to investigate the six other major cases of labor rights violations in Mexican factories operated by U.S. or international corporations with U.S. ties that CJM has documented: Sony, Custom Trim, Han Young, Duro, Lajat and Key Safety Systems. These cases make clear the failure of NAFTA to respect workers' rights, and argue for the need to put people and human rights first in all U.S. government policies, including those regulating trade.

We look forward to your reply concerning the pattern of abuses of labor rights, as well as threats to public health and the environment, food sovereignty and economic stability that NAFTA represents for millions of people in Mexico, Canada and the U.S. We call on you to use your authority to guarantee respect for the human rights of all people who are impacted by the unjust NAFTA regime, and especially for those maquiladora workers who produce goods for U.S. consumers under appalling conditions.