Mexico City – Several thousand members of labor unions demonstrated on the main streets of this capital to demand the resignation of Labor Secretary Francisco Salazar, whom they accuse of not respecting their autonomy.
The simultaneous demonstrations Friday in various strategic points of the city caused huge traffic jams on important thoroughfares that lasted for hours.
The representatives of some 27 labor unions taking part in the protest were showing solidarity with the SNTMM miners and metalworkers federation and demanding the government recognize the deposed leader of that entity, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia.
Gomez Urrutia, who is said to be hiding in Canada, is not recognized by the federal labor ministry and is being investigated by President Vicente Fox’s administration for the alleged diversion of $55 million from a trust for workers. The ministry instead recognizes dissident-backed Elias Morales as head of the SNTMM.
The SNTMM workers have also demanded Salazar’s resignation because of his “poor” leadership following a February mine collapse in northern Mexico that left 65 miners dead.
They also denounced his failure to intervene in the failed government attempt to dislodge protesting workers from the Sicartsa steel complex in the western port city of Lazaro Cardenas, an April 20 incident in which two workers were shot and killed by police and 30 more were wounded. The occupation of Sicartsa, owned by Grupo Villacero, was launched to protest the government’s refusal to recognize Gomez Urrutia.
Salazar, meanwhile, has refused to step down.
The protest, which blocked main capital thoroughfares including Periferico, Reforma, Revolucion, Patriotismo, Circuito Interior and Marina Nacional, lasted more than four hours and involved the participation of several thousand workers, the unions said.
The UNT labor federation and unions representing telephone workers, electricians, tram operators, airline workers, health care employees, teachers and took part in the demonstrations.
The protesters said basic services were provided to capital residents despite the rallies.
