Introduction to the New Labor Model and Its Impact
Under the new labor model, 10,000 new collective bargaining agreements have been added to the previously legitimized 30,538, bringing the total number of active contracts to over 40,000 across the country. These agreements were approved through free, secret, and direct voting by workers.
The Role of Existing Unions
According to Alfredo Domínguez Marrufo, head of the Centro Federal de Conciliación y Registro Laboral (CFCRL), this increase is primarily due to existing unions expanding their reach. While only around 50 new contracts have been promoted by newly formed organizations, there has been a proliferation of union sections, including large unions gaining dominance in key sectors like automotive and manufacturing.
New Union Formation and Recognition
Of the new contracts, only about 50 have been promoted by recently created unions. Approximately 80 new unions have received a Constancia de Representatividad (Recognition Certificate), but only 42 are titular of a new initial collective bargaining agreement.
Contract Validation Process
Domínguez Marrufo explained that after a thorough review, it was found that there were only around 140,000 real collective bargaining agreements. The rest were temporary or part-time contracts, or outdated agreements not reviewed in over a decade. Of these, only 30,538 were approved through personal, free, secret, and direct voting.
Challenges in the Second Stage of Labor Reform
Despite progress, the CFCRL faces various challenges in the second stage of labor reform. There is resistance from both unions and companies regarding comprehensive contract reviews every two years, beyond mere salary adjustments.
Contract Review Deadlines and Consequences
Domínguez Marrufo warned that the Federal Labor Law stipulates that if a contract is not reviewed within four years and the corresponding deposit isn’t made with the labor authority, the right to that contract is lost. This opens the possibility for another union to request the Recognition Certificate and sign a new agreement.
Accountability of Labor Unions
Although there has been improvement, many unions still resist providing the CFCRL with a complete and detailed semi-annual report of union funds. In response, the CFCRL plans to launch campaigns encouraging workers to demand compliance from their union leaders, promoting transparency and legitimacy.
Promoting Union Importance
Domínguez Marrufo emphasized that a significant challenge is convincing over 90,000 workers of the importance of unionization. The CFCRL aims to strengthen dialogue with all labor world actors and enhance registration platforms for collective and union contracts.
