Mining Union Asks Authorities to Audit Fertinal

The National Union of Mining, Metallurgical, Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic (SNTMMSSRM) is asking for an audit of PEMEX subsidiary Fertinal after unionized workers decided to go on strike. The union argues that the company hides the truth regarding its activities from President López Obrador.

Almost two weeks after workers of Fertinal went on strike, arguing that the company violated the collective bargaining agreement, representatives of SNTMMSSRM demanded an internal audit to determine what kind of products the company produces, since they allege that the company provides incomplete information to the president. The union has made the audit an essential requirement to finish the strike.

In a letter to the Governor of Michoacan, Alfredo Ramírez, Local SNTMMSSRM Secretary Enrique Rivera and Filiberto Castañeda, President of the union’s Strike Committee, asked the governor to audit the company.

Fertinal is part of a program launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), which aims to distribute fertilizers produced by the company. Fertinal argues that much of the production is destined for that program. Nonetheless, SNTMMSSRM said that the company produces fertilizers that are exported to Spain, Brazil, Chile, Australia, the US, Ecuador, Guatemala and Romania. 

In 2021, Fertinal exported over 650,000t of mono ammonium phosphate (MAP). That same year, the company produced over 300,700t of low and high-density explosives that are commonly used in the Mexican mining industry. Every year, the company produces over 150,000t of nitric acid, 39,500t of phosphoric acid and 151,000t of ammonia. Unionized workers said that the company refused to share its profits with workers, arguing that it did not make any profit in 2021, but the union members believe this to be incorrect. 

Workers demand that the company respects the collective bargaining agreement, ensure safer conditions for workers and clarify tax declarations. The union members decided to go on strike on Aug. 26, 2022. On Sep. 5, 2022, the Federal Labor Board declared the strike invalid, but the union obtained an amparo that allowed workers to continue. 

Fertinal is a fertilizer producer focused on phosphate products, acquired by state-owned oil company PEMEX in 2015. Currently, the company owns two assets: the Industrial Center in Michoacan and its Mining Center in Baja California Sur.