US Urges Investigation on Labor Rights Violations at Tizapa Mine

The US government has urged Mexico to investigate potential violations of labor rights at the Minera Tizapa mine, owned by Industrias Peñoles, in the State of Mexico. This request follows a petition filed in early March by the Miners Union, affiliated with the National Union of Miners, Metallurgists, Steelworkers, and Similar Industries (SNTMMSSRM), led by Napoleón Gómez Urrutia. The petition states that Industrias Peñoles infringed upon workers' freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

The union also accuses Industrias Peñoles of allegedly favoring the FRENTE Union over their activities, suggesting that Minera Tizapa grants benefits solely to FRENTE members, thereby putting SNTMMSSRM miners at a disadvantage.

Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs, US Department of Labor, emphasized that actions impeding workers from choosing their union representation constitute a direct attack on their rights.

The United States’ request falls under the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism, a dispute resolution procedure established under the trade agreement. The Mexican government has a 10-day period to decide on whether to conduct an investigation and a subsequent 45-day period to investigate the claims and provide its findings, as specified by the US Department of Labor.

This marks the second time that the SNTMMSSRM has requested a labor procedure against a mining company. In August 2023, at the union's request, the United States called for activating the labor mechanism against the San Martín mine in Zacatecas, owned by Grupo México. The case remains disputed as the Mexican government did not acknowledge it.

The Tizapa mine has been operational since 1994, producing lead, zinc, and copper concentrates. Peñoles claims a 51% ownership stake in the mine, with Dowa Mining and Sumitomo Corporation holding 39% and 11%, respectively. Industrias Peñoles asserts that Tizapa ranks among Mexico's Top 4 zinc mines and employs 586 workers. The concentrates extracted are sent to Japan for processing.