The Government of Oaxaca announced it will initiate a legal review of unions operating in the state following various complaints regarding alleged coercive practices, fee collection, and forced affiliations affecting merchants, taxi drivers, handcart operators, street vendors, and workers across various sectors.
The measure aims to ensure that no organization acts outside the law or infringes upon citizens’ freedom of association.
As part of actions agreed upon by the Security Cabinet, authorities will verify that union organizations possess articles of incorporation, official recognition of leadership (toma de nota), legal registration, and good standing regarding tax obligations, and that their members have joined voluntarily, in accordance with labor laws.
Additionally, the review will determine which groups hold official recognition and which operate merely as civil associations or organizations.
Addressing the issue, Secretary of Government Jesús Romero López stated that in Oaxaca, no one can be forced to join a union or make financial contributions under threat or coercion.
He noted that the right to freedom of association is constitutionally protected and reiterated that the State Government supports worker organization, provided it takes place within the legal framework and without infringing upon the rights of others.
The official warned that the state administration would not tolerate acts of extortion, protection rackets (cobro de piso), or intimidation used to force individuals to join a union.
In this regard, he urged merchants, transport workers, and other employees who have been victims of such practices to file formal complaints, assuring that security forces would take action to prevent abuses and uphold the rule of law.
Romero López also reported that the review would cover unions linked to transportation, construction, commerce, and other sectors, aiming to confirm compliance with legal and tax requirements.
Finally, he maintained that the government would continue to engage in dialogue with all organizations but made it clear that none would stand above the law, and that freedom of association and respect for workers’ rights would prevail in Oaxaca.
Source: nvinoticias
