The Toronto Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World presents,

Justice in the Maquiladoras Speaking Tour

Sunday, March 16th 3pm, at the Concord Cafe (937 Bloor St. West, two blocks west of Ossington Subway station)

Come learn about the grassroots movement of maquiladora workers, their struggles against some of the world's most powerful corporations (including Sony Electronics, Chrysler and Levis), their challenges, and inspiring victories. The Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras is currently focused on a campaign to form an independent union at the automotive parts manufacturer Key Safety Systems, employing over 2 000 workers in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Workers here are organizing to raise their wages above the current $8 per day, institute meaningful health and safety measures and ensure women's rights are respected. The company has responded by firing five of the rank and file leaders. Workers in the plant are increasing their organizing, while the CJM has mounted an international speaking tour to organize support. Key Safety Systems is a leading supplier of steering wheels and airbags for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.

For more information about this event contact Paul Bocking at paulbocking@gmail.com

About the speakers:

Martha Ojeda is the Executive Director of the CJM, based in San Antonio, Texas. She is the primary liaison between
the core grassroots committees of workers and community activists living in the communities surrounding the maquiladoras (production for export factories), and the broader network of Mexican, Canadian and US unions and NGOs that support the work of these groups. Martha was originally a production worker at a Sony Electronics plant, she was fired after helping initiate a strike for higher wages and improved working conditions. Facing threats to her life, she fled to the United States, where she was instrumental in forming the CJM in the late nineties.

Israel Monroy works at the Key Safety Systems auto parts plant in Valle Hermoso, a small town dominated by maquiladoras on the northern border of Mexico. He is a key activist and leader in the CJM's campaign to improve working conditions in this factory, as well as other local maquiladoras.

Perla Cruz was recently fired by Key Safety Systems in Valle Hermoso for being an outspoken activist on health and safety concerns and women's rights within the plant. This speaking tour is being organized specifically to build support for the CJM's campaign at KSS.

About the CJM:

The CJM was founded in 1997 as a Mexican-Canadian-US-Dominican network of labour, religious, women's and environmental organizations committed to supporting the organizing efforts of maquiladora workers.

The centre of the CJM are grassroots groups maquiladora workers and local community members based in northern Mexican cities including Matamoros, Valle Hermoso, Juarez, Mexicali, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa and Tijuana. Supporting organizations assist with fundraising, legal support, solidarity campaigns, training and public awareness.

The CJM was instrumental in pressuring Levis Jeans to recognize an independent union at its plant in northern Mexico in 2006, an almost unprecedented achievement in the maquiladoras. Local CJM affiliates have mounted numerous campaigns to train maquiladora employees in their rights, organize against the dumping of toxic waste from the factories and advance women's rights and equity. A current major campaign of the CJM is to win improved working conditions at the Key Safety Systems factory in Valle Hermoso, Mexico, employing over two thousand workers assembling components for GM, Ford and Chrysler.

For more information on the CJM visit coalitionforjustice.net