Labor turmoil following disaster draws in USW mining safety

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06253/720267-357.stm

Labor turmoil following disaster draws in USW
Accused by government of $55 million theft, leader of Mexican mine union flees to Canada with help of Pittsburgh-based labor giant

Sunday, September 10, 2006
By Jerome L. Sherman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The horrific Pasta de Conchos mining accident sparked a leadership crisis in Mexico's mammoth mine and steelworkers union, and officials with United Steelworkers of America are taking sides.

Soon after the Feb. 19 explosion, which killed 65 workers at the mine near the Texas border, the Mexican government accused union leader Napoleon Gomez Urrutia of stealing millions of dollars from his own members.

In March, the USW gave Mr. Gomez and his family asylum in Arizona, helping him escape arrest in Mexico. Union officials in Pittsburgh say the charges are bogus and describe Mr. Gomez as a fiercely independent labor leader willing to fight against entrenched power interests, both at home and abroad.

The conflict between the government and the union leader has sparked months of labor unrest across Mexico, with lengthy strikes and at least one deadly encounter between police and union members. Mr. Gomez's supporters are threatening a new round of nationwide strikes unless the government drops its allegations. Those threats come at a time when Mexico is dealing with the aftermath of a hugely contentious presidential election.

Gerald D. Fernandez, assistant to the USW president, said the Mexican government is trying to undermine the tough negotiating tactics and growing militancy of Mr. Gomez's union, the country's largest industrial union.

"So far, the government has not presented anything publicly that proves their case," he said. The charges against Mr. Gomez, he said, are nothing more than "political persecution."

Mr. Gomez, 60, and his family are now at an undisclosed location in Canada.

"I've never taken a single cent, dollar, peso or whatever," he said in a recent telephone interview. "These are false accusations meant to discredit me. But my members know exactly who I am. They strongly support me."

He insists that the union -- Sindicato de Trabajadores Mineros y Metalurgicos de la Republica Mexicana -- has extensive documentation for the money he's accused of taking and that the government has ignored that evidence.

Luis Raul Sarmiento, a regional director for the Mexican labor secretary, said his department acted only when it received complaints from union members.

FULL story at link above.