[PEN-L:5137] URGENT ACTION: SUPPORT MEXICAN FORD WORKERS (fwd)

[D Shniad <shniad@xxxxxx>]

Forwarded message:
Date: Wed, 17 May 1995 14:03:22 -0700
From: Mary McGinn <tienortham@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: cispesfresno@xxxxxxxxxxx, 14165327688@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
        15192557361@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 18104661552@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: URGENT ACTION: SUPPORT MEXICAN FORD WORKERS

	  URGENT ACTION * URGENT ACTION * URGENT ACTION
		   PLEASE RESPOND IMMEDIATELY

Dear Brothers and Sisters,                           May 17, 1995

     We have just received this urgent action message from the
Ford Democratic Workers Movement at the Ford-Cuautitlan plant in
Mexico.  Just as UAW members are currently preparing for their
union convention, so too the Ford workers were preparing for their
CTM (Confederation of Mexican Workers) National Congress to be
held in May. Unfortunately, that democratic process has not been
respected.

     Yesterday, May 16, the CTM put out the call for the
convention--to be held this Friday, April 19. The announcement was
dated April 17. There have been no delegate elections nor
information prior to this announcement.

     The convention is supposed to bring together Ford workers
from the three plants in Hermosillo, Chihuahua and Cuautitlan.
However, for the last two weeks, Ford workers in Hermosillo have
been on a temporary lay-off which will continue through this week.
They have no idea that the CTM convention will be held.

     In response this undemocratic process, the Ford Democratic
Workers Movement sent members to Hermosillo to inform the workers.
Yesterday, they held a meeting in the parking lot of the
Cuautitlan plant to let workers there know about the situation.

     The Cuautitlan workers have decided that this Friday, May 19,
they will walk off their jobs to attend the CTM convention.
Repercussions for this action could include firings and violence.
The Ford Democratic Workers Movement is expecting 2,000 workers to
walk off their jobs.

     The Ford Democratic Workers are asking you to please send
immediate letters of protest against the undemocratic process of
union representation directly to the president of the CTM, Fidel
Velasquez. His fax number is: 011-525-705-0966. Please ask for a
"tono de fax" (fax tone).

     Please also send a copy of your letter to the Secretary of
Labor Santiago Onate Laborde at fax #011-525-645-5594. And a copy
to the Ford Democratic Workers Movement: 011-525-590-2021.

     Please feel free to distribute this information to other Ford
UAW locals or to other UAW locals. Thank you.

In solidarity,

Mary McGinn Tel: 313-842-6262 Fax: 313-842-0227