The dispute over union representation at General Motors escalates: SINTIIA vs. Carlos Leone

Guanajuato.- On the eve of May Day, the SINTTIA and Carlos Leone unions , which are competing to represent workers at General Motors (GM) in Silao and other companies in the Bajío region, transferred their interests to GM in San Luis Potosí, where they continue their battle for representation at that company.

The fight between the two unions escalated when, on Thursday, April 24, union representative Carlos Leone was attacked while broadcasting live on social media while asking for workers' support.

In the live broadcast, a worker affiliated with the Carlos Leone union, identified as Carlos Alfaro, was attacked while asking for support from the workers entering the plant .

He accused members of the National Independent Union of Automotive Industry Workers (SINTTIA) of intolerance.

"Comrades, we're inviting you to help us with your signatures so we can represent the General Motors workers. People are here supporting us. We only have a few days to reach the goal of 2,500 signatures. They spent three years collecting signatures, but we only have a few days. That's why we're here today collecting signatures, because we know many people support us," said the worker while calling for support.

Suddenly, he was hit. The phone he was recording with fell to the ground. "What are you doing recording? Put your fucking thing down," a woman's voice was heard, followed by an altercation.

"What rights? You can't record. SINTTIA is the boss here," another person heard shouting, along with other insults.

They point out courses of fear

Workers from the Carlos Leone Union claimed to have collected more than 1,000 signatures and asserted that SINTTIA uses false promises and fear mongering to lure employees into their union, promising them job improvements and protections that will never be delivered, as they have failed to do at the GM plant in Silao.

They asserted that SINTTIA is attempting to discredit a legitimate union process. They also clarified that it is false that privileged information related to workers' personal information was received from the company, since the signature collection was conducted voluntarily by the workers, in full view, without threats or false promises.

"We do not manipulate or use fear-mongering," they stated.

Accused of facilitating registration

For its part, SINTTIA reported that the company facilitated the registration of this union, Carlos Leone, by providing worker data to former members of the Labor Council.

At GM San Luis, a Labor Council operates to represent workers before the company; however, SINTTIA has requested a certificate of representation from the Federal Center for Labor Conciliation and Registration, which will allow it to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

But they didn't count on the emergence of a workers' movement called the Carlos Leone union, as an organized response from the bottom up, without impositions, without intimidation, and without shady alliances with those in power or with foreigners.

SINTTIA stands out

Alejandra Morales, a leader of SINTTIA, denied that members of this union participated in an alleged attack on union representative Carlos Leone, as reported in a video.

He even suggested it was a setup to get the workers' attention.

He clarified that his union representatives are properly identified when collecting signatures with their ID card, T-shirt, and backpack.

"It wasn't us, it was a show put on by the same colleagues from the other union to play the victims," ​​he said.

He also questioned the fact that those who appear in the video are GM San Luis workers, since those who do work there normally arrive wearing safety helmets, industrial boots, and a jacket for the cold, but they appeared only wearing a GM shirt and sneakers.

Morales also stated that they already have the signatures of 30% of the General Motors San Luis workforce—around 2,500 signatures, collected over several months—to seek to win the Collective Bargaining Agreement in the near future.

RAA