US Requests Mexico to Review Possible Denial of Rights to MasAir Pilots

The US Government has asked the Mexican Government to investigate whether pilots at Mexican cargo airline MasAir are being denied their rights.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced on August 30 that a request had been made to review whether pilots at MasAir are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Labor co-chair the Interagency Labor Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement (ILC).

On July 31, the ILC received an RRM petition from the Asociación Sindical de Pilotos Aviadores de México (ASPA), a Mexican union. The petition alleged MasAir engaged in harassment, intimidation, and retaliation against workers because of their union affiliation.

The petition also alleges irregularities in connection with a May 9 legitimisation vote. The ILC reviews RRM petitions that it receives, and the accompanying information, within 30 days.

The ILC subsequently determined that there is sufficient, credible evidence of a denial of rights enabling the good faith invocation of enforcement mechanisms.

As a result, the United States Trade Representative has submitted a request to Mexico that Mexico review whether pilots at the Mas Air facility are being denied the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Mexico has ten days to agree to conduct a review and, if it agrees, 45 days from today to complete the review.

“Workers’ ability to affiliate with the union of their choice is a key tenet of the freedom of association and collective bargaining rights the RRM is designed to protect,” said Tai.

“Today’s action highlights the United States is committed to safeguarding the labor rights enshrined in the USMCA across industries and sectors, including in services. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Mexico to address the issues present in this matter.”

“This request for review is another example that compliance with the labor commitments under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a priority for the United States in all sectors the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism covers,” explained Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee.

“We expect to continue our good collaboration with the government of Mexico in addressing the fundamental issues raised in this request.”