Draxton Irapuato Workers Ratify CBA, End Labor Dispute

After more than two years of legal challenges and repeated voting processes, workers at the Draxton automotive plant in Irapuato, Guanajuato, voted to maintain the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) under the representation of the employer-aligned union CONASIM, concluding one of the longest labor disputes linked to the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism.

The vote, held March 12 inside the plant under the supervision of Mexico’s Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration (CFCRL), resulted in 200 votes for CONASIM and 154 for the National Independent Union of Workers of the Automotive Industry (SINTTIA). A total of 420 workers participated in the process, which was organized to determine the titularity of the collective contract following the annulment of a previous vote.

The outcome reverses the result of an earlier union election held Nov. 30, 2023, in which SINTTIA secured approximately 60% of the vote, with 243 ballots in its favor compared to 151 for CONASIM. That result was invalidated by the Fifth Collegiate Labor Court after granting an injunction to CONASIM. The employer-aligned union argued that SINTTIA’s filing lacked the signature of its secretary of labor, despite the union maintaining that its general secretary had the authority to represent the organization.

The annulment triggered a renewed legal process to determine representation, extending the dispute and requiring a new vote. According to union representatives, the original result had been overturned “due to a legal formality,” prompting SINTTIA to initiate a new titularity claim before the Federal Labor Court for Collective Affairs.

“This time we are only seeking that the will of the majority be respected and that the vote takes place without employer interference,” said Alejandra Morales, general secretary, SINTTIA, in remarks made prior to the March vote. Morales had also emphasized that the new vote represented an opportunity for workers to reaffirm the decision expressed in 2023.

The recertification process experienced multiple delays. Among them was the inclusion of a third union affiliated with the National Federation of Independent Unions (FNSI), which SINTTIA said complicated and slowed the proceedings. Despite these challenges, the final vote proceeded under federal oversight, as required under Mexico’s labor reform framework.

With the latest result, CONASIM retains the collective bargaining agreement at the Draxton Irapuato plant, while SINTTIA loses its bid to regain representation. This marks the third instance in which SINTTIA has failed to secure CBA title in a major automotive facility. Previous unsuccessful attempts occurred at General Motors in San Luis Potosí and at the Yazaki plant in León, Guanajuato.

The Draxton facility employs between 420 and 500 workers, according to the available reports, and is part of the automotive supply chain in the Bajío region, one of Mexico’s main industrial corridors. Due to its role in the sector and the extended nature of the dispute, the process attracted attention from labor organizations monitoring compliance with Mexico’s labor commitments under the USMCA.

The case stands out not only for its duration but also for its procedural complexity. The initial 2023 vote, the subsequent legal challenge, and the requirement to repeat the election highlight the role of judicial review in union representation disputes under Mexico’s reformed labor system. The involvement of federal authorities, including the CFCRL, reflects the institutional framework established to ensure transparency and legality in union elections.

SINTTIA’s leadership had repeatedly referenced its earlier electoral victory as evidence of worker support. “After nearly four years, what we are looking for is for the majority decision to finally be respected,” Morales said during a press conference ahead of the vote. Despite those assertions, the new vote produced a different outcome, with CONASIM securing a clear majority among participating workers.

The dispute originated as a titular conflict over the collective bargaining agreement, a process in which workers choose which union will represent them in negotiating labor conditions. Under Mexico’s labor reform and international commitments, such votes must be conducted through personal, free, and secret ballots.