Mexican union declares victory in strike at 48 border plants

A Mexican union has declared total victory in a mass strike at 48 border assembly plants, but now the movement has spawned a storm of wildcat walkouts at other businesses.

The union won 20 percent wage increases at all 48 “maquiladora” factories in Matamoros, a city across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

The Industrial Workers and Laborers’ Union also won a one-time bonus of about 32,000 pesos, about $1,685 at current exchange rates. The strike involved about 25,000 workers.

Now workers at about a dozen non-union businesses and factories organized by other unions have started wildcat walkouts to demand the same increases.

The Tridonex auto parts company said in posts on its Facebook page Monday that pickets had prevented employees from entering its Matamoros plant and cancelled some shifts.