TRW Workers Press Conference

Feb 4, 2011

CJM Press Release on behalf of TRW Workers in Reynosa.

Contact: Amelia Simpson- CJM President: Cell: 619.952.5568

Press Release

For Immediate circulation

Challenging the winter storm blast, the TRW Workers’ Coalition in Reynosa

is commemorating the anniversary of the Mexican Constitution by demanding a new vision for trade and development.

The incoming local government should respect the Mexican Constitution by promoting jobs with dignity, not cheap labor and disposable workers, and must guarantee that multinationals will be socially responsible.

Press Conference by TRW Workers’ Coalition

When: Friday February 4th, 2011, at 12:00 (noon)

Where: In the main plaza in front of the City Hall in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

To celebrate the anniversary of the Mexican Constitution, which was promulgated on February 5, 1917, and which recognizes the 8-hour workday, freedom of association, the right to a job and a living wage, we are calling for the vindication of our rights and our history and reclaiming our dignity as Mexicans by promoting FAIR TRADE instead of FREE TRADE. NAFTA has been exploiting people for the past 17 years, concentrating wealth in the hands of a few, increasing poverty and migration, detonating violence and social instability AND leading the world to a global crisis.

We have full confidence:

In the Appellate Court and in the judges reviewing our legal appeal of the Labor Board (CAB) resolution that absolved the TRW corporation three months ago.

We trust that the Court will resolve our case in accordance with the law, and that justice will finally prevail for so many families that were sacrificed by TRW.

We trust that the Tribunal will resolve the dispute by reinstating 600 workers, many with more than 15 years seniority, who were unjustly fired and blacklisted by TRW, thereby violating our labor, human and constitutional rights.

We know that the Tribunal recognizes that our collective rights must be respected, and therefore will rule in favor of the workers and defeat the resolution of the CAB that absolved TRW.

We are looking forward to a positive resolution by the Appellate Court in accordance with labor law and the Mexican Constitution.

In addition, we demand that the Mexican government require that corporations investing in Mexico allocate funding to guarantee that workers’ rights are respected in cases where a company leaves or violates workers' rights.

The global economic crisis is an opening for foreign investment and development in Reynosa because of Reynosa's strategic location near the US market. We, the TRW Workers’ Coalition, strongly believe that the Mexican government should promote not just infrastructure to improve roads and bridges for transporting goods, but also should promote jobs with dignity and living wages, instead of unsafe jobs, cheap labor, poverty wages, and inadequate benefits.

We urge Mexican development agencies to require multinational corporations operating in Mexico to deposit funds to guarantee that workers’ rights are respected.

NO MORE FREE TRADE, POVERTY, AND EXPLOTATION!!

NO MORE IMPUNITY BY MULTINATIONALS LIKE TRW!!

NO MORE CORRUPTION OF LABOR AUTHORITIES (CAB) AND FRIENDLY COMPANY UNIONS!!

NO MORE BLACKLISTS!!

YES TO FAIR TRADE AND JOBS WITH JUSTICE!!

FOR OUR CHILDREN, FOR WOMEN AND MEN WORKERS, FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR REYNOSA!!

TRW Workers’ Coalition –Reynosa, México

CONTACTS:

Jovita Mendo Valazquez: 899- 111-26 -74.

Olga Martinez Gonzalez: 899-246-68-158.

Antonio Vazquez Zamora: 899-187-93.52

Ernesto Lizcano Ortiz: 899-106-01-34