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5/6/1983 - Rank and File: In Tow? by Kimberley A. Conroy

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CUKR ENT WOILD AFFAItLS KAC Rank File In Tow Paseo Reforma Col Cuauhtemoc Mexico D F C P 06500 Mexico Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs Wheelock House West Wheelock St May Hanover New Hampshire Dear Peter To appreciate fully sophistication skill Mexican government political machine close labor Confederation Mexican Workers CTM The CTM which under leadership Fidel Velasquez three decades powerful AFL CIO It represents million workers seventy percent country skilled industri laborers legal right general strikes In restraining influence CTM formidable power patro government The unions affiliated CTM their leaders popularly ferred charros literally means cowbpys everyday speech denotes servility selling When CTM leader Fidel demand fifty percent increase recently unions affiliated labor federation parroted threatening And weeks later Fidel decided recant demand despit forty percent increase inflation since beginning faithful charros acquiesced In short means CTM Mexico party government middle class working class under control But there unions independent CTM While these unions represent sixth workers CTM their vociferous demonstrations against government austerity program could spark CTM docile discontented workers oppose government severe economic measures It early Mexico multifacetted labor crucial The following vignettes answer insight issues characters involved Charro Jorge Rivera Jorge Rivera agreed because president Local Federation Mexico City Government Employees I supposed already lunch The second command phone Senor Rivera number three union hierarchy agreed So asked while looking I explained I journalist trying worker generally andhsQhimhanics m0niparticular weregettingon these times economic crisis Kim Conroy former Fellow Institute Current World Affairs A generalist interested economic problems Mexico Central America found newsletter among things moving Argentina mailed approxi mately months after writte AC Hmph retorted It better discuss things office Let there The office unventilated filled stuffed black vinyl furniture Trophies cheap souvenirs small painted plaster animals covered president tables Evidently there little space office paperwork The artificial paneling lined honorary plaques Mexican equivalents Elk Club large television cluttered corner Senor Rivera ohkj0id dresed shiny black polyester Nearly hidden behind large black plastic glasses I started interview seemed reasonable enough question since August Local membership dropped His answer evasive round about unconvincing For variety reasons unusual circumstances number plants Of course management began firing first explain their interest Once business picks would spend quantities money train mechanics replace those fired Agreeing argument firms state owned Racirim Company decided their workers payroll though weren producing anything And workers entertain courses given human relations family other things And there Philips Mexicana electrical They agreed their workers board And something quite creative They taught stuffed animals But expensive companies Philips paying their skilled workers stuffed animals I asked incred uously Well But I situation Senor Rivera interrupted himself light cigarette making answer distasteful question You there factory So Philips market This strategy other companies adapted I wanted interrupt appeared total nonsense Senor Rivera Then there industry industry which fired workers Our union controls leading motor parts companies Productos Moresa They people invented their workers In workers actually implying their volition temporary employees And there those wanted leave either because working there whatever reason The union offered great opportunity those wanted leave Regardless their reason going desire return birth place decision build ensured compensation I workers benefits think court struggle While million Mexicans their living hundred percent With risky market difficult times believe workers would voluntar leave their undertake major expenses building house Unfortunately better careful because there going period during which found That exactly happening I definitely difficult I Why asked Well obviously because devaluations That really affected companies All sudden Mexican value Given Mexican workers acations abroad imported goods I thought perhaps Senor Rivera confusing devaluation inflation No nlation entirely different problem roots decision President Luis Echeverria Just because wanted popular decided orkers twenty three percent increase The workers asked He That whole inflation thing started I others government granted minimum hundred pesos equal U S everything would And exactly happened President Echeverria changed things there annual salary reviews every other It caused prices But think salary increases enough cover prices I asked knowing increase approved CTM about annual inflation If I speak theoretically sitting further vinyl armchair labor minimum should cover necessities provide little something amusement But truth living uncontrolled inflation everyone doing whatever feels knows happen Senor Rivera tiring inquiries I decided questions conversation And twelve months Local Mexican workers general Those unionized seventh heaven They problems really The problems peddling street corners Do think getting increases No senorita That I union seventh heaven because union stands behind gives advice where And workers fired We tried hired again union their So where But I before temporary workers anyway May Mexican Style Mexico City May celebration organized CTM therefore indirectly financed government The CTM hires hundreds buses bring workers thousands factories around Mexico City While march square doesn underway until after workers dropped there shortly after sunrise They wages taking march refuse however docked Most CTM unions outfit their people matching marching Some provide their workers bright track suits while others provide traditional T shirt baseball adorned union insignia When asked May Ist workers theywere marching older people there could required years One mechanic outfitted union uniform brown pants beige shirt We support president Miguel Madrid support But added because I talked workers while waiting parade start All expressed discontent Despite CTM claim already percent increase workers I spoke received Instead complained price goods rising three times faster their salaries Inflatio which percent already reached percent April As metal worker explained We still enough money table about Perhaps while I afford bottle there enough money clothing family needs Yet dissatisfaction voiced workers apparent placards banners their unions carry Senor President We working stability Mexico Senor President We petroleum workers defenders loyalty planters friendship workers nation support restructuring country another With exception May Day festivities celebrated Moscow Red Square probably world could competed Mexico terms sheer turnout estimated million workers fanfare Massive 40x50 banners laiming workers support President draped colonial buildings lining capital square Huge speakers poles scattered throughout plaza No sooner announcer blared union local about below presidential balcony national palace Miguel Madrid visibly puffed pride greet loyal subjects smile stiff salute The workers would cheer loudly their local number loudspeaker Orchestrated looked cheering President In cheering themselves But perhaps first history Mexico May Ist marches opposition labor movement present force Ignoring orders contrary I0 members independent CTM unions marched carrying banners chanting government slogans while raising their fists defiance They chose slogans catchy rhythm Petroleum Country people without money Let PRI government party bourgeoisie KAC National strike against austerity The loudspeakers herald arrival independent unions below presidential balcony The President maintained smile seemed eager salute hostile crowd When first large CTM contingent filed Independent Electrical Workers Union President occasionally looked preferring share anecdotes cabinet members tottering CTM leader Fidel Velazquez Miguel Madrid considerably harder ignoring larger contingent university nuclear workers because workers positioned selves below balcony wouldn budge Suddenly crowds filled stands either balcony quietly while CTM unions passed began clapping wildly They joined independent workers chanting raising their clenched fists President direction Move forward please please forward allow other fellow workers thank President solidarity class cried announcer desperately The dissidents their ground another minutes booed hissed ridiculous statement Within seconds workers chanting We parade protest The President trying ignore those below balcony awkward attempt greet CTM docile railroad workers wearing briaht conductor white shirts kerchiefs moving along beyond protesters further grand stand Miguel Madrid stood hours watching union members For subjected indignation ependent workers While their presence barely recorded newspapers Excelsior capital prestigious daily praised government allowing dissidents march respect which President treated adverse demonstrators No doubt there dissidents popular support government anticipated While government restraint admirable endure humiliation again Between May hundreds thousands Mexicans prices percent purchasing power working class eroded further In short unless government decides force independent workers CTM May parade ranks dissidents swelled previously loyal CTM workers Kimberley Conroy Received Hanover