After 65 workers died last week in a coal mine blast, Mexican miners have gone on a nationwide strike in order to support their union president and to demand better working conditions. Tuesday, February 28, 250'000 workers from 70 companies followed the request of
Mexico's Mining and Metal workers union and went on strike. The strike includes miners at Mexican steel giant Altos Hornos de
Mexico SA. and the Mexican unit of Mittal,
Mexico's biggest steel maker with annual capacity of 3.8 million tons of steel
slab. Workers are rallying to support their union president Napoleon Gomes Urrutia, who is being challenged by Elias Morales, a union dissident who claims to be the new leader. The union says it will continue to strike until the government retracts its recognition of Morales and accepts Urrutia. The union is also demanding better working conditions. Mexican Labor Minister Francisco Salazar called the national strike illegal and said the government will only deal with Elias Morales. Urrutia's position as union leader came under attack after 65 coal miners died in an underground gas explosion on February 19. Urrutia waited over a week before visiting the mine and then rushed into the mining company's office to avoid the hoards of angry families.