Humberto Montes de Oca To Speak In San Jose On Mexican Labor Lockout

Bay Area Tour of Humberto Montes de Oca
Interior Secretary, Mexican Electrical workers Union (SME)
January 18-28, 2010

Forty-four thousand electrical workers in central Mexico have been locked out of their jobs since October 10, 2009, when the government of President Felipe Calderon, who was imposed by fraud in the July 2006 election, closed the public utility company Luz y Fuerza del Centro with the aim of privatizing this nationalized corporation and destroying the powerful and militant Mexican Electrical Workers Union (Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas, or SME).

Learn first hand from one of the central leaders of this union, Humberto Montes de Oca, about this struggle which is being waged by these energy industry workers and their union - with the support of hundreds of thousands of others who have taken to the streets for more than three months to protest the firings at Luz Y Fuerza and the attack on the SME union.

Learn about the history of SME and how it has spearheaded the movement across Mexico against NAFTA, privatization, and the entire predatory corporate agenda. And learn what we can do to help these workers in their struggle -- which, in many ways, is our fight too.

The ten-day tour is sponsored by the San Francisco Labor Council, supported by the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council, Santa Clara County Building Trades Council, Plumbers & Fitters Local 393, UFCW 5, many other unions and councils, MAIZ Movimiento de Accion Inspirando Servicio and many other community organizations.

In San Jose, Humberto Montes de Oca will appear at the Labor Temple, 2102 Almaden Road (corner of Canoas Garden Road), Tuesday, January 26, 7:00-8:30 P.M.
Performances by vocalist, Tema Quinonez and poet, Agustin Palacios
Refreshments provided For information about the San Jose event call 408/250-9245 or 408/831-1394.

To learn more about the tour and where Humberto Montes de Oca will be appearing at public forums, organizational meetings and fundraisers, please call 415/513-5393.

To offer immediate solidarity with both the tour and the struggle of the energy workers in SME, write your check to the San Francisco Labor Council (SME Organizing Tour) 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, 94109-6852. For more information call 415/513-5393

Article courtesy of Fred Hirsch fredhirsch@cruzio.com

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