US-Mexico RRM: (8) Unique Fabricating de México

  • February 2, 2023: Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Transformación, Construcción, Automotriz, Agropecuaria, Plásticos y de la Industria en General, del Comercio y Servicios, Similares, Anexos y Conexos del Estado de Querétaro files RRM petition regarding auto parts plant of Unique Fabricating de México in Santiago de Querétaro, State of Querétaro. Petition alleges that workers at this plant are being denied rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining.

  • March 6, 2023: USTR submits request to Mexico to review whether workers at Unique Fabricating plant in Santiago de Querétaro are being denied rights of free association and collective bargaining. Links: USTR press release; US Labor Department press release; USTR request to Mexico; USTR request to Treasury Department to suspend liquidation of entries from Unique Fabricating plant; El Economista on the background.

  • March 17: Mexico’s Labor Ministry and Secretaría de Economía issue joint communiqué stating that they will review US March 6 request. Deadline for response: 45 days. Links: Joint communiqué; report in El Economista

  • April 24: Labor Ministry and Secretaría de Economía announce successful conclusion of review; during review, workers at the Querétaro facility voted on their collective bargaining agreement and chose the union to represent them; also, intervention of the Ministry, Centro Federal de Conciliación y Registro Laboral and Querétaro labor court, including monitoring of voting process, guaranteed that these events took place in impartial conditions. Unique Fabricating issued a union neutrality statement and agreed with the new union to provide the new and existing unions with equal access to the facility, take steps to prevent potential freedom of association violations, and provide the new union with dues from its affiliates. USTR announces that as a result of these actions, the US agrees that there is no ongoing denial of rights; USTR Tai has directed Treasury Department to resume liquidation of entries of goods from Unique Fabricating plant. Links: Labor Ministry/Economía joint communiqué; US Labor Department press release; USTR press release; El Universal.