Conciliation: The Path to Follow

The national miners’ union has taken the first step – through conciliation based on dialogue and respect – in the process of repairing the profound differences that prevail in labour relations between employers and workers in Mexico. This took place on 8 November 2012, when the union invited companies from the mining, metalwork and steelwork sector to an exchange of ideas in Vancouver, Canada, to revise the state of these relations. Over 40 businessmen and women attended this meeting, and together with union leaders and advisers they took an active part in the analysis of the issues that were raised. It is worth mentioning that the number of companies represented make up the biggest possible nucleus of the companies in this sector that is crucial for Mexico’s economy.

The results of this exchange were very positive and supported the common perception that the path to follow both for companies in the sector and workers can be no other than the path of rational, civilised and constructive understanding between both production factors, with full mutual respect for the interests of both parties. It was made clear that the wrong path, which would lead to disaster, is that of rigid confrontation between workers and employers.

Now, at the beginning of 2013, the constructive example set by mining, metalwork and steelwork employers and workers stands out in the social and economic panorama of Mexico. We must remember that the aim of this meeting was to reach a compromise that would allow stability and certainty in labour negotiations within the sector, and thus contribute to Mexico’s sustained economic development, based on justice and fairness. The businessmen and women in attendance responded positively to this meeting convened by the union, and with their contributions they ratified their will to move in the same direction now that new political perspectives are opening up in this country.

Mexico needs something similar, but with much larger scope, covering the whole country. The experience from Vancouver shows that this path is the correct one not only for this specific sector, but also for labour relations across the entire country. There is no other path that will make plans such as the Pact for Mexico bear fruit, and to ensure that their suggestions do not get pushed to the margins in big decisions about the change that is needed. This is the way to abandon once and for all the irresponsible improvisation of the National Action Party governments, who for 12 years corrupted Mexico’s true economic, social, political and legal development, as well as the previous exclusive policies that bent electoral preferences towards conservatism.

At the Vancouver meeting it was confirmed that consultation with and agreement of all social groups in Mexico must be the fundamental tool of all new government policies. The decision to move along this path should be put before all other considerations. This country is in desperate need of a real politics that corrects our existing serious imbalances and inequalities, based on ongoing, responsible, serious and in-depth consultation. This is the wind of change that should blow through Mexico.

We miners, and workers in general, are waiting for this inclusive politics to materialise. We want absolutely all social or employment conflicts to move towards solutions through a new governmental conduct a clear change in the judicial system. Workers, the middle classes, campesinos, indigenous people, students, women, and young people must not be excluded. The interests of a wealthy few should no longer be have the privilege of government protection, and a fair, equitable politics of wealth distribution must really, truly be set in motion. In Mexico we are hungry and thirsty for justice.

If this does not happen, the country can only expect prospects like those in certain European countries at the moment, where social equilibrium and fairness between all sectors of society have been forgotten. These are the notable cases of Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal, with unemployment rates at around 26 percent, and around 56 percent among young people without opportunities for education or employment. In those countries, the crisis needs only a nudge to become a social uprising. But there are also examples from other continents, where underdevelopment and need have continued to prey on their populations and institutions. And where the major world financial organisations only concentrate on cutting budgets and reducing consumption, tightening the belt of the most needy. They fail to see that very close to them there are real models of stability and growth, like the Scandinavian countries – Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark – where a fairer social balance enables government efficiency linked to the common benefit of the population, as well as high standards of education, unionism and justice, which translates into social peace through ongoing dialogue for the resolution of difficulties and conflicts.

Mexico has already voted for the path it will follow in this six-year presidential term. Our elected representatives must now assume their roles with a sense of true political responsibility towards the population, and enable Mexico to rise from the ashes to which it was reduced by previous governments. Conciliation is of utmost importance in the first steps that the government must take. The alternative path is that of social, political and  personal confrontation, which would lead to continuing crises.