Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 12:07:44 -0400
Subject: AUT: URGENT!!! POLICE VIOLENCE AGAINST DURO WORKERS


Dear Union brothers and sisters and other activists:

>This information was just received from CJM.  This is an important 
>struggle and support is critical.  Thanks in advance for your solidarity,

Robin Alexander


>IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NEEDED!!
>
>POLICE ARRIVE IN THE EARLY MORNING, THREATENING
>WORKERS WITH MACHINE GUNS AND BEATING THEM
>
>SEND YOUR FAX IMMEDIATELY!!
>CALL THE GOVERNOR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING!!
>
>ENDING THE VIOLENCE AND ARRESTS OF WORKERS DEPENDS ON YOUR SUPPORT!
>
>At 8:00 PM Sunday night Duro workers hung strike banners with the
>objective of establishing their own union.  By 1:15 AM thirteen police
>patrols arrived at the factory, surprising the workers gathered in the
>streets who were guarding the strike. The police began the repression
>against the workers by cocking their pistols and R15 machine guns and
>insisting that the workers leave.  When the workers resisted these
>threats, the police  attacked them.  Five workers were beaten, four of
>them women. One of the injured women is eight months pregnant and she
>has been hospitalized.  Mark Horowitz, an international observer who was
>present at the scene, was arrested. When the workers asked the police
>what the charges against Horowitz were, they said he was not arrested
>but was only being detained for interrogation.  When the workers asked
>the police chief to identify himself, he refused.
>
>Later when the police tried to arrest some of the workers, one woman
>worker confronted them and told them that the federal police department
>and the governor know about the situation at Duro and that the workers
>already have scheduled an appointment with the governor.  (Finally the
>workers do have an appointment with the governor who they are scheduled
>to meet on Tuesday at 1:00 PM.)
>
>With the protection of the police, the company tried to remove the buses
>from the parking lot in order to be able to transport the workers for
>the first shift at 6:00 AM, but the workers blocked them.
>
>These events demonstrate that when workers try to enforce their
>constitutional rights the police attack them because the police are
>under orders from the corporate state.  Indeed, the Mexican government
>has given the corporations the guarantee that they can rely on police
>protection.
>
>It is urgent that you send letters to Governor Yarrington and to
>President Zedillo to protest this outrageous violation of workers'
>rights under the Mexican constitution.  In two weeks the presidential
>elections in Mexico will take place and it is urgent to take advantage
>of this political opening.  Send your faxes, e-mails, and phone calls
>demanding justice for the workers!
>
>To the Governor
>Tomas Yerrington 
>Rubalcaba                                      Tel:  01152 (1) 312-1144
>Gobernador, Estado de Tamulipas
>Fax: 01152 (1) 312-3492
>Web page (from which you can send an email, but a fax is more likely to
>get attention more quickly):
>http://www.tamaulipas.gob.mx/gobernador/contacto.htm
>
>Sr. Gobernador
>Tenemos conocimiento de lo que esta pasando con las trabajadores de la
>maquiladora Duro en Río Bravo Tamaulipas. 13 patrullas de la policía
>local y judicial llego en la madrugada sorprendiendo a l-AT-s trabajador-AT-s
>que estaban pacíficamente haciendo guardia en su huelga. Los amenazaron
>con pistolas y ametralladoras. 5 trabajadoras y trabajadores fueron
>golpeados. Una de ella embarazada. En sus manos esta detener la
>violencia contra los trabajadores de Duro, que lo único que quieren es
>formar su sindicato en su propia empresa, solicitamos que se respeten
>sus garantías individuales y sus derechos constitucionales y se les
>otorgue el registro de su sindicato en su empresa. Le solicitamos que
>intervenga inmediatamente para seguridad de los trabajadores.
>Atentamente,
>[Your name]
>
>(translation)
>
>Dear Mr. Governor:
>We are aware of what is happening with the workers from the Duro factory
>in Rio Bravo Tamaulipas.  As you may know by now, thirteen police
>patrols arrived in the early morning Monday, surprising the workers who
>were peacefully guarding the strike.  The police threatened them with
>pistols and machine guns.  Five workers were beaten, among them one
>pregnant woman worker.  It's in your hands to stop the violence against
>the Duro workers. The only thing the workers want is to form a union at
>the company where they work. We ask that you protect their safety as
>individuals, guarantee their constitutional right to free association,
>and intervene to insure that the registration for their own union at the
>company be granted.
>Sincerely,
>
>Send the above letter to President Zedillo:
>Ernesto Zedillo de Leon
>Fax: 011 52- (5) 515-5792 0 (5) 516-5762
>Email: dmelo-AT-presidencia.gob.mx
>
>To Duro:
>Charles Shor,                                   Tel: 1-800-879-3876, 
>606-581-8200
>Executive Manager
>Duro Bag Manufacturing
>Ludlow Kentucky
>Fax:  606-581-8327
>Dear Mr. Shor;
>I am writing regarding the situation at your plant in Rio Bravo, Mexico.
>The situation is now at a critical point. In the early morning of Monday
>June 19 police arrived on the scene of the strike.  They threatened
>workers with machine guns and beat several of them, including one
>pregnant woman who is now hospitalized. One international observer has
>been arrested.  Obviously this violence and repression of workers who
>are peacefully acting within their constitutional rights leaves a stigma
>on your company.
>You have the responsibility to recognize the workers' right to a union
>of their own choosing. Taking action to stop the violence will support
>the rights of the workers and restore your company's tarnished image.
>On behalf of the [name of your organization, if any], I urge you to act
>quickly, decisively and morally in this matter.
>Sincerely,
>
>Please send copies of your faxes to:
>The Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras
>Fax: 210-732-8324               email: cjm-AT-igc.org
>
>The Duro workers are in dire need of support for food and other
>necessities.  Send donations to the following bank account:
>Broadway National Bank, San Antonio, Texas Branch
>Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras Emergency Support Fund, Acct #
>0382167
>Routing #114021933
>
>Checks can be mailed to CJM at 530 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78228


Robin Alexander
UE Director of International Labor Affairs
One Gateway Center, Suite 1400
420 Fort Duquesne Blvd.
PGH., PA. 15222-1416

412-471-8919
412-471-8999 FAX

Labor and related news from Mexico is reported bi-monthly in Mexican Labor 
News and Analysis.  Check it out on our web site: 
<HTTP://www.igc.apc.org/unitedelect/>




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