(Pittsburgh) — The United Steelworkers (USW) today lauded the decision of the Mexican Supreme Court to restore legal recognition to Napoleon Gomez, General Secretary of the National Union of Mine, Metal and Steelworkers (Los Mineros).
The Court’s Second Chamber ruled 3-1 that the Mexican Labor Secretary acted illegally when he withdrew legal recognition from the union leader in 2008.
“This is a major victory for Los Mineros and all Mexican workers,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
The decision comes one day before the opening of the Mineros Convention inMexico City, which will be attended by leaders of the USW and other labor unions from around the world.
Last week, another Mexican court threw out the last criminal charge against Gomez, who has lived inCanadawith USW support since 2006.
“Today’s decision should sound the death knell for the Mexican government’s vicious and illegal persecution of Napoleon Gomez and Los Mineros,” Gerard said.