The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement has requested a review by the Mexican government regarding alleged labor rights violations at Vidrio Decorativo Occidental, a decorative glass manufacturer in Matamoros, Mexico. This request was initiated following an October 10, 2024 petition filed by Sindicato Nacional Independiente de Trabajadores de Industrias y de Servicios (SNITIS) along with other unions and organizations from both Mexico and the United States.
The petition claims that Vidrio Decorativo Occidental (VDO) attempted to discourage workers from supporting SNITIS by retaliating against union supporters. It also alleges interference with workers' right to strike through incentives offered to those who did not participate in a May 2024 strike. Furthermore, it accuses VDO of retaliating against striking workers and trying to replace SNITIS with a company-controlled union.
Upon reviewing the petition, the Interagency Labor Committee found sufficient evidence to support these allegations and consequently submitted a request for review under the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM).
Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee stated, "Company interference that undermines the standing of workers’ duly selected representative union is a serious violation of both Mexican labor law and the labor provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement." She expressed anticipation in working with Mexico to resolve this issue.
Ambassador Katherine Tai remarked on the significance of this action: “This is the 30th time the United States has invoked the RRM, and the first time we’ve done so in the glass manufacturing sector. This is how the Biden-Harris administration continues to hold corporations accountable and uses trade to drive a race to the top, across a wide range of sectors.” She emphasized that previous applications of RRM have brought substantial benefits to workers and their communities.
The Mexican government now has ten days to decide whether it will conduct a review. If they proceed, they will have 45 days to investigate these claims and report their findings.
Vidrio Decorativo Occidental produces decorative door glass for markets in both the U.S. and internationally, employing approximately 450 workers.
