Sicartsa workers threaten to strike again

While the strike at Mexican rebar mill Sicartsa ended last week, some on ousted Mexican Mine Worker Union leader Napoleon Gomez Urrutia's team say that the strike might resume if their demand to have Gomez Urrutia reinstated as the union leader isn't recognized. According to a representative of the union faction loyal to Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, the five-month strike ended on the condition that the former union leader be recognized by the government and the company as the true union leader within 15 days. Carlos Pavon, who represents Urrutia's loyal faction, told press last Thursday that the strike “was lifted on one condition, that if the recognition isn't granted in 15 days, we are going to have problems." Asked what they would do if that condition wasn't met, Mr. Pavon replied, “We are going to strike again.” However, neither the government nor the mill owner, Grupo Villacero, have yet recognized Mr. Urrutia as the union leader. The Labor Secretary Francisco Salazar told media last week that Mr. Urrutia's recognition had been denied on legal grounds. The Labor Department have recognized Elias Morales as the union's leader since February, as Mr. Urrutia is accused of misappropriating $55 million in funds. The other conditions of the agreement to end the strike, released last week, are that the company will grant the workers a 6 percent wage increase and 2 percent more in benefits, retroactive to May 1. The company will also pay wages for the period of the strike and give out a 7,500-peso ($700) bonus.