The U.S. and Mexican governments have announced the resolution of a labor rights issue at Odisa Concrete Equipment, a manufacturer based in Hidalgo. The case was brought forward through a Rapid Response Labor Mechanism petition, which alleged the denial of workers' rights.
To address these claims, the Mexican government facilitated actions by Odisa. These included posting a neutrality statement, creating guidelines on freedom of association and collective bargaining, reinstating a dismissed worker with back pay, and refunding improperly withheld union dues. Additionally, the Mexican Ministry of Labor provided labor rights training to workers.
Deputy Undersecretary for International Labor Affairs Thea Lee stated, "We commend the actions taken by Odisa Concrete Equipment and the government of Mexico to resolve the alleged labor violations at the facility and ensure that freedom of association is fully respected." She emphasized that reinstating a worker involved in union activity shows a commitment to allowing workers to choose their union freely.
This marks the 29th instance where the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism has been used by both countries' departments to benefit workers.
Ambassador Katherine Tai remarked, "The successful resolution of this case reflects the RRM’s effectiveness as a tool for holding employers accountable and enabling workers to freely exercise their union rights." She praised both Mexico's government and Odisa for addressing labor rights denials. Tai also noted that nearly 42,000 workers have benefited from this mechanism under the Biden-Harris administration.
Odisa Concrete Equipment S.A. de C.V., established in 1976, produces concrete equipment and material-handling tools exported to over 35 countries.
