Dissident labor unions staged a huge but peaceful May Day march through Mexico City in a show of workers' growing rejection of the official labor movement.
About 40 unions defied the ban, turning out a river of workers that flowed continuously for four hours along 25 blocks in the center of the capital. This year it included 21 unions that are members, along with the confederation of Velazquez, of a larger national umbrella organization, the Congress of Labor. They marched under a threat of expulsion issued by the president of the congress, Rafael Rivapalacio Pontones, a government supporter. Last year only three unions from the Congress defied the ban.
Among the fist-waving marchers were thousands of mainstream Mexicans, including teachers, employees of the social security union and telephone workers.
But despite the bruising Mexican workers have taken in the 18-month crisis, the mood in the march was light-hearted and the police reported only minor disturbances. We want justice, but we also want peace,said Aida Moncada, a 38-year-old member of a steelworkers' union.
For most of the last half-century, Mexico's major unions have worked closely with the government. The loyalty and control of the official labor movement was a key factor in maintaining decades of social peace. President Ernesto Zedillo succeeded in imposing severe economic cutbacks through a series of pacts with Velazquez, which held down wage increases.
Signs of discontent spilled over to a brief ceremony where Zedillo presided along with Velazquez, who has dominated the movement for more than 50 years. The president told several hundred workers that economic recovery has begun but still has a long way to go. There was no offer of any new social programs to ease the pressure, however. Though the audience was carefully chosen from official union stalwarts, some angry whistles rang out.
Some workers from the official unions were frustrated that they were not allowed to march. We want to show the president what's really happening. We don't see recovery anywhere, said Jose Luis Ramos, 26, a dairy worker.
Source: LatinoLink Enterprises, Inc. http://www.latinolink.com