US launches labour review of Yokohama Mexico tire plant

Washington – The US government has launched a formal review of alleged labour-rights violations at Yokohama Tire's plant in Coahuila, Mexico, and suspended liquidation of imports from the facility.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) said 25 Sept it had invoked the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement's 'rapid response labour mechanism' (RRM) to determine whether workers were being denied rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The action follows a complaint filed in August by Mexican independent workers union Liga Sindical Obrera Mexicana (LSOM) and the International Lawyers Assisting Workers Network. (ERJ report)

The petition alleged retaliation against workers for union activity, including “unequal treatment” of LSOM supporters, denial of plant access to LSOM representatives, irregularities ahead of a union representation vote and unlawful dismissals.

It also alleged non-compliance with the rubber industry's sectoral collective bargaining agreement, known as the ‘contrato ley’.

Following an initial review, US authorities determined there was “sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights” to invoke the enforcement mechanism and requested that Mexico investigate the allegations.

Mexico has 10 days to decide whether to conduct the review.

Meanwhile, the US authority said it will "suspend liquidation of all entries of goods from the Yokohama facility until further notice”. 

The USTR also noted that the latest developments in Mexico follow Yokohama's recent closure of its tire manufacturing plant in Salem, Virginia, which resulted in the loss of 600 US jobs.