March 07, 2008 |
While the Key Safety Systems CEO tours plants in Valle Hermoso, Mexico, KSS managers fire workers affiliated with the Workers Coalition for defending their rights to improve working conditions You can stop KSS abuses! |
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*** “We are saving 1,800 lives daily at the cost of our own lives,” a KSS worker said. She was fired today. “We are producing 1,800 seatbelts daily and we are exposed to gunpowder, toxins and solvents without the appropriate safety equipment at Key Safety Systems. We are saving lives in the US at the cost of our own lives,” a worker said. *** Perla Cruz, a KSS worker from Valle Hermoso, Mexico, is seeking support for the workers’ struggle. KSS has unjustly fired ten of her co-workers. See the following link to the tour and protest Teamsters 805, Protesta Hyundai March 5th, the next day, Alfonso Castillo, the KSS lawyer, fired Rolando Pérez Piñon, José Angel Espinoza, Teresa Valdez and Carmen Mendez of plant 1. Later, he fired David Rangel of plant 3. Castillo asked workers in plant 1, “Do you know why you were fired?” Workers answered him, “It’s because we tried to approach the CEO, or because we are members of the Workers’ Coalition, and we are defending our lives and our rights.” Castillo told them, “It’s because you are agitating your co-workers. KSS is acting in accordance with the law, and if you are not in agreement, I’ll see you at the Conciliation and Arbitration Labor Board.” While KSS lawyer Castillo was firing workers in plant 1 and 3, the CTM management-friendly union held a meeting in plants 4 and 2, telling workers that CTM and KSS had agreed to a 4% increase in salary, and those who were not in agreement would be fired. Workers asked the CTM union delegates for new union elections to elect new delegates in all KSS plants. The members of the Workers’ Coalition who confronted the union delegates were fired the next day. On March 6th, the president, secretary and treasurer of the Workers’ Coalition were fired by Alfonso Castillo, who told them again, “You are no longer working for KSS, and you know why you were fired. You are agitating your co-workers.” María Guadalupe Vázquez, Ernesto García Insauste, Judith de la Cruz, Diana Almaguer, and Reynaldo López of plant 4 were fired. KSS has been firing workers unjustly, simply for trying to improve their working conditions and salaries. Please support the KSS workers’ struggle by joining the protests in front of KSS, GM, Ford or Chrysler headquarters, or any dealer. Write a letter to Jason Luo, KSS CEO. You may refer to the sample letter below, or call the KSS headquarters demanding that:
Key Safety Systems Inc. Cc: pennera@keysafetyinc.com; Managers in Valle Hermoso, Mexico Dear Mr. Jason Luo: We are writing to you because we are concerned about the 15 unjustly fired workers in the KSS plant of Valle Hermoso, Mexico. We are deeply troubled to learn that the workers were fired because they tried to approach you during your visit to the plants to talk to you about the dangerous, unsafe conditions in which they are working. The workers who formed a Workers’ Coalition in accordance with Mexican Law to improve their working conditions, salaries, and to defend their rights were also unjustly fired. KSS has been violating their rights to freedom of speech and association, and their right to demand corporate compliance with Mexican occupational health standards. We urge you to resolve the situation immediately and to reinstate the following workers with back pay in the KSS plant of Valle Hermoso, Mexico: Teresa Valdez, Rolando Pérez Piñon, José Ángel Espinoza and Carmen Mendez of Plant 1, María del Refugio Briseño, Juan Manuel Martínez, Ángel Espinoza and David Rangel of plant 3, Guadalupe Vázquez Camacho, Diana Almager Correón, Ernesto García Insauste, Javier Resendez, and Judith de la Cruz of plant 4. We also urge you to respect the workers’ rights and address grave concerns about working conditions and salaries. Respectfully,
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