LABOR MOVEMENT IN MEXICO: HISTORY AND MOVEMENTS - HISTORY - 2024

The labor movement in Mexico originated in the second half of the nineteenth century and had its first manifestations in the early twentieth century, during workers' strikes. These were the tobacco workers' strike of 1905, the Cananea miners' strike in 1906, and the Rio Blanco textile workers' strike in 1907.

The antecedents of the Mexican labor movement go back to the first attempts at industrialization in the country, after the War of Independence and the end of the French intervention in Mexico in the second half of the century. It was born precisely in the most powerful industrial sectors in the country: mining and textiles.

Workers' demonstration of May 1, 1913 in Mexico City.

From these sectors emerged the first organized groups of workers. It was a type of organization of a non-claiming mutual nature; In other words, it was intended to support each other in case of need but not to fight for better wages or work.

The Mexican labor movement became one of the most powerful and influential in the country between the 40s and 60s of the last century, due to its political ties. However, in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries it has lost bargaining power and popular support.

History

The first anarchist outbreaks in 1865, of groups of workers fighting in isolation for demands, were neutralized.

The successive governments of Benito Juárez, Sebastián Lerdo and Porfirio Díaz fiercely fought any type of union organization or protest struggle.

As the most important antecedent of the union organization is the Great National Circle of Workers of Mexico, which was formed in 1872.

This labor union integrated the majority of workers' societies throughout the country, but the Porfirian regime quickly acted to penetrate and divide the nascent labor movement.

To better illustrate the history of the Mexican labor movement, it can be divided into the following periods with their respective most important characteristics:

First organizations (1860-1906)

During this period the first craftsmen organizations were created and trade unionism was prohibited. Due to the persecution of the trade union organizations as such, only mutualist or anarchist craftsmen's unions existed.

However, the State did not intervene in the structuring of labor relations. During this period the workers began to demand better working conditions and started small struggles.

Birth of the labor movement (1906-1910)

The formation and organization of the labor movement itself begins, despite the prohibitions and strong government repression. The Mexican State assumed a more active role in the labor sphere to prevent the growth of union groups.

However, strikes and union struggles grew and achieved their objectives with the end of the Porfiriato.

First trade union organizations (1910-1917)

The first trade union organizations that grew hand in hand with the Revolution were created, laying their legal and social foundations. An alliance was established between the Casa del Obrero Mundial (COM), based in Mexico City, and the government of Venustiano Carranza.

During this period, important labor demands enshrined in the Constitution of 1917 were also reached.

Political unionism (1918-1928)

The labor movement acquired another dimension. The workers' struggles were linked to political action as well as economic action. The strengthening of the unions and their political weight led them to join political parties, or even to form their own organizations.

During this period, a legal-labor framework began to be defined and each union central took sides with their related ideology.

Union reorganization (1928-1937)

It was a stage of reconstruction of the country and relative calm in the workers' struggle, in which a union reorganization takes place. New trade union centers emerged that displaced older ones, and the national industrial unions were created.

There was a kind of agreement or understanding with President Lázaro Cárdenas; his government opened the compass of participation to workers in the labor reforms introduced. In addition, the first Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) was created in 1936.

Union subordination (1938-1947)

It was in this period when the CTM was strengthened, which was born with a markedly socialist ideology, proclaiming nationalist and anti-imperialist positions. The advanced sector was displaced by internal conflicts.

However, the need to attract foreign investment led the State to adopt a policy that benefited such investment but not wages. Then again unionism was subordinate.

Union repression and “charrismo” (1947-1951)

During this period the union bureaucracy consolidated itself in power and assumed an anti-worker attitude in almost all the centrals and unions in the country. Those who did not submit or tried to create new organizations were harshly repressed.

Hegemony of the union bureaucracy (1952-1957)

The so-called "charrismo" was consolidated in the leadership of the workers' centrals but, at the same time, unionism entered a phase of reorganization.

In 1954 the Bloque de Unidad Obrera was born, which brought together most of the trade union organizations; however, the economic crisis produced new conflicts.

The workers emergency (1958-1962)

The movement of telegraphers and railroad workers was joined by the teachers' movement and other sectors to demand better wages.

Some of these, like the teachers, were brutally repressed. In this period, the National Central of Electrical Workers was created.

Union stability (1963-1970)

Due to the economic growth achieved between the 50s and 60s, the economy together with the labor movement entered a phase of stability. In addition, there was a reorganization in the labor movement that brought a relative social tranquility.

While there were some isolated conflicts in some sectors, it was a quiet period from a union point of view. In 1966 the Labor Congress was created.

Workers' conflict (1971-1977)

This period was marked by constant conflict in the Mexican labor movement. The electricians, miners and railroad unions, along with other small independent unions, staged a series of strikes and work stoppages.

Then, the State again intervened as an arbitrator in union struggles to try to reduce labor unrest.

Decline (1978-present)

From the 1980s to the present, trade unionism entered a new phase, as has happened throughout the world. The wear and tear produced by their participation in political activity together with corruption diminished their power.

For example, in 1992, in the industrial sector, unionized workers constituted 22% of the workforce. In 2002 that figure had decreased to only 11.6%. The workers' organizations lost political influence and bargaining power, as happened throughout Latin America.

In some sectors dependent on the State, such as the teachers' movement and others, its influence continues to be important. However, they have had to rebuild their strategies and struggles.

Main movements

Mexican Regional Labor Confederation

The CROM was founded in May 1918, immediately after the armed struggle ended and as a result of the trade union conflicts of the time. It was the first workers' confederation in Mexico; from this the Mexican Labor Party was born.

General Confederation of Workers

It was born in 1921 by the split of the Regional Mexican Workers Confederation. They were of a socialist-revolutionary tendency.

Confederation of Mexican Workers

The CTM is one of the oldest trade union centers in Mexico. It was founded on February 24, 1936 and had the support of President Lázaro Cárdenas. It is linked to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

Magisterial Movement of Mexico

He was born during the struggles of the teachers of Mexico City in 1958 in demand of wage demands. It was led by the Revolutionary Movement of the Magisterium (MRM).

Railroad movement

This movement was born as a consequence of the railroad strike of February 1959, to demand salary improvements from the incoming government of Adolfo López Mateos.

Telegraph operators movement

In 1957 this movement was born, inspired by the struggles of teachers, to demand a salary increase in view of the economic situation of the country.

References

1. Mexican unionism: between marginalization and recomposition. Retrieved June 12, 2018 from nuso.org
2. History of the labor movement in Mexico, 1860 (PDF). Consulted of rtrejo.files.wordpress.com
3. History of the Mexican labor movement (PDF). Consulted of memoriapoliticademexico.org
4. Mexican Worker History. Consulted of nexos.com.mx
5. Workers' Movements in Mexico. Consulted of ri.uaemex.mx
6. Mexican labor movements. Consulted of monografias.com
7. The Cycles of the Mexican Labor Movement in the 20th Century. Consulted from sgpwe.izt.uam.mx
8. The Mexican Revolution and the Labor Movement. Consulted of process.com.mx