National College Players Association - United Steelworkers

14 USW@Work • Fall 2011Delegates to the USW Conventionleapt to their feetin standing ovation whenInternational President LeoW. Gerard signed an enhanced allianceagreement with Los Mineros, the Mexicanunion of mine and metal workers.The new agreement has its roots in a2005 USW strike against ASARCO coppermining and smelting operations inArizona when members of Los Mineroscrossed the border to join Steelworkerrallies and express their solidarity.There is a shared corporate connectionbetween the American and Mexicanminers. Many Mineros members workat mines and other operations owned byGrupo Mexico, a politically-connectedcompany in Mexico that owns ASARCOin the United States.The cross-border cooperation in2005 led to the USW and Los Minerossigning a strategic alliance later thatyear, and ever since the two unions haveworked to improve their relations.In 2007, for example, when minersin Mexico struck Grupo Mexico inCananea over health and safety conditions,Steelworkers organized solidarityvisits and aid to the strikers.Unification exploredJust last year, the two unions agreedto create a joint commission to exploreunification and increase strategic cooperation.The reasoning goes beyond solidarity.Achieving better wages and workingWe believe weneed to create anintegrated organizationthat will defendworkers in themining and metalsindustry from thesouthern tip ofMexico to thenorthern part ofCanada.“”conditions in Mexico could ultimatelyprotect jobs in the United States byeliminating the large disparity in laborcosts exploited by corporations underthe North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA).This year’s agreement reaffirmedthe 2005 pact, and, Gerard said, bringsthe USW “one step closer” to building aunified North American union that canconfront multi-national corporations inthe United States, Canada and Mexico,the countries party to the devastatingNorth American Free Trade Agreement.“We believe we need to create anintegrated organization that will defendworkers in the mining and metalsindustry from the southern tip of Mexicoto the northern part of Canada,” Gerardtold delegates.Leader pulled off planeLos Mineros leader Juan Linares,who had hoped to sign the agreementwith Gerard, was pulled off an airplaneas he attempted to leave Mexico forthe Convention. The pact was insteadsigned by Los Mineros officer SergioBeltran Reyes.