Various productive sectors in the Comarca Lagunera of Durango have alleged that they are victims of extortion by the Autonomous Confederation of Workers and Employees of Mexico in the State (CATEM), led by Morena representative Pedro Haces.
According to the statement released on social media, the 20 signatory organizations assert that they are victims of extortion and illegal charges by members of CATEM and organized crime groups.
The sectors assert that the floor fee has been disguised as union dues and state that those who fail to pay are attacked or threatened.
“We demand that President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, intervene immediately to dismantle this network of extortion and collusion, as well as a broad investigation by the federal government into the possible links between these events and organized crime, as well as protection for the victims,” they demand.
In the statement, they outlined some of the payments they claim they are being forced to make, including transportation of materials, livestock movement, appropriation of public and private works, payments to merchants, illegal water diversion, illegal control of irrigation modules, and the sale of poultry manure, as well as irregular breathalyzers.
They also stated that if they want to use the water, they must pay up to 20,000 pesos per hectare to the union.
In addition to the statement shared in local media, on August 4, one of those affected told local media that the productive sectors are fed up with the constant abuses, which he attributed to CATEM.
“We are fed up with this union group that has unfortunately penetrated the very depths of the families here in La Laguna, specifically in Gómez Palacio,” the man stated.
Source: latinus.us
