The Deputy Secretary General of the Confederation of Workers of Mexico (CTM), Tereso Medina, expressed his concern over the imposition of a 25% tariff on Mexican steel and aluminum exports to the United States. Medina warned that this measure could affect the productive sector and lead to job losses in industries such as automotive, auto parts, metalworking, and metallurgy.
In his statements, Medina emphasized the importance of protecting the labor and human rights of Mexican workers and called for the unity of the productive sector to defend national sovereignty. Despite the presence of companies like General Motors in Mexico for decades, there is concern about potential production reductions and job cessation.
The union leader also highlighted Mexico's commitment to becoming a competitive place for the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing, robotics, and automation. He also emphasized the skill, ability, and commitment of Mexican workers in these fields.
Amid collective negotiations between unions and companies, Medina suggested pausing contract reviews until after March 3, when the agreed suspension of tariffs between the U.S. government and President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration expires. This situation of uncertainty has also raised concerns about job stability and retroactive salary payments.
The Secretary General mentioned recent cases of canceled job positions in companies like General Motors and Joyson Contra, which have affected the automotive industry and its suppliers. In light of this situation, Medina advocated for finding solutions through dialogue with companies to ensure job stability. He also highlighted a national meeting of unions from various sectors as an important step towards a unified position in the face of the potential imposition of tariffs.
