The jailing of this Mexican labor organizer is a bad sign for labor reform.
Demand Susana's Release:
Susana Prieto, a labor lawyer and fierce advocate for the rights of Mexican workers in border maquiladora factories, has been arrested for a second time on trumped up charges.
With your help, we fought and won changes in the revised NAFTA to improve working conditions in Mexico. The new trade deal and Mexico’s new labor law guarantee workers the right to organize and affiliate with independent unions. This will mean higher wages for workers in Mexico and here.
Right-wing Mexican border state governors are collaborating with maquila bosses to eviscerate these gains. By abusing Susana and denying workers the unions they want, they hope to crush activism for better jobs and wages.
We must act now to make sure the promises become realities.
Activist Toolkit and Resources
Use these sample social media posts, graphics and background information to help spread the word about Susana’s arrest.
[Tweet at Chihuahua Governor Javier Corral]
SAMPLE TWEETS / FACEBOOK POSTS
- Labor lawyer Susana Prieto was arrested AGAIN today by another right-wing MX governor in a blatant violation of Mexican law and the revised #NAFTA labor rules. Governor @Javier_Corral needs to #FreeSusana immediately! #SusanaLibreYa
- Hoy, la abogada laboralista Susana Prieto fue detenida OTRA VEZ, por un gobernador de derecha, vulnerando la ley mexicana y las normas laborales del #T-MEC. ¡El Gobernador @Javier_Corral debe liberar a Susana inmediatamente! #SusanaLibreYa
- Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto was jailed again for demanding safety protections against COVID-19 for Mexican workers in reopened maquiladora factories near the U.S. border. Take action: http://rethinktrade.org/toolkit/freesusana/ #SusanaLibreYa
- La abogada laboralista Susana Prieto fue detenida nuevamente por exigir protecciones contra el COVID-19 para trabajadores mexicanos en maquiladoras reabiertas cerca de la frontera con los EEUU. Actúa: http://rethinktrade.org/toolkit/freesusana/ #SusanaLibreYa
- BREAKING: Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto has been arrested again for demanding improved safety measures against COVID-19 for workers in reopened Mexican maquiladora factories near the U.S. border. Take action: http://rethinktrade.org/toolkit/freesusana/ #SusanaLibreYa #FreeSusana
URGENTE: La abogada laboralista Susana Prieto fue detenida otra vez por exigir mejor medidas de seguridad contra COVID-19 para trabajadores en maquiladoras mexicanas cerca de la frontera con los EEUU. Actúa: http://rethinktrade.org/toolkit/freesusana/ #SusanaLibreYa
- Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto has been arrested on bogus charges yet again. Her “crime” – helping Mexican workers in U.S. factories near the border get COVID safety gear. Gov. @Javier_Corral needs to #FreeSusana immediately. #SusanaLibreYa
La abogada laboralista Susana Prieto ha sido detenida nuevamente por cargos falsos. Su “delito” : ayudar a los trabajadores mexicanos de fábricas estadounidenses en la frontera a obtener EPP. ¡El Gobernador @Javier_Corral debe liberar a Susana inmediatamente! #SusanaLibreYa
- ATTN @Javier_Corral: Trying to intimidate MX workers by arresting their labor lawyer Susana Prieto is a bad strategy, Guv. You’ll end up with the US maquila sweatshops in Chihuahua losing access to U.S. market under revised #NAFTA. #FreeSusana #SusanaLibreYa
Atención @Javier_Corral: Es una mala estrategia intentar intimidar a los trabajadores mexicanos deteniendo su abogada Susana Prieto. Terminarás con las maquiladoras en Chihuahua perdiendo acceso al mercado estadounidense bajo el #T-MEC. #SusanaLibreYa
- BREAKING: Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto arrested again today in violation of revised #NAFTA labor rules as corporations/right-wing politicos try to crush workers. Governor @Javier_Corral, #FreeSusana immediately. #SusanaLibreYa
- URGENTE: La abogada laboralista mexicana Susana Prieto fue detenida otra vez en violación de las nuevas reglas laborales del #TMEC, mientras corporaciónes y políticos de derecha intentan aplastar a los obreros. ¡Gobernador @Javier_Corral, libre Susana inmediatamente! #SusanaLibreYa
Add your organizations contact info and quotes to this generic press release to help us spread the word about Susana’s arrest.
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For Immediate Release: XX/XX/XXXX
Contact: XXXX XXXXXX
Prominent Mexican Labor Lawyer Jailed Again, as Escalating Mexican Labor Abuses Cast Doubt on Revised NAFTA
Second Mexican State Imprisons Susana Prieto on Trumped Up “Kidnapping” and Other Charges
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Susana Prieto Terrazas, a prominent labor lawyer representing exploited workers in Mexican maquiladora factories along the U.S. border, was imprisoned today for the second time since June on trumped up charges in a coordinated attack by Mexican border-state governors against the strengthened labor standards in the revised North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
[QUOTE HERE]
Prieto was denied bail and detained at an initial arraignment-type hearing relating to a second wave of specious charges, including kidnapping, relating to her representation of workers who went on strike at a Ciudad Juárez electrical components plant owned by St. Louis-based Electrical Components International. Workers walked out in April 2020 when the plant continued to operate after non-essential businesses were ordered closed as COVID-19 cases and deaths among maquiladora workers rose.
[INSERT SPECIFIC CHARGES HERE]
In June, Prieto was also denied bail and held in a dangerous Tamaulipas prison for three weeks on separate fabricated charges of “mutiny, threats and coercion” after workers she represents voted to replace a corrupt “protection” union with a new independent one at the Tridonex plant in Matamoros, Tamaulipas owned by Cardone Industries of Philadelphia.
Shortly before her release from the Tamaulipas prison, two new warrants were issued for Prieto’s arrest in the state of Chihuahua. One condition of her release from prison in Tamaulipas was that must relocate to Chihuahua. Additionally, she was banned from her Matamoros law office and the Labor Court in that city, effectively preventing her from representing her Matamoros union clients or continuing her labor rights advocacy.
On August 14, Reps. Jesús “Chuy” García, Jan Schakowsky (Ill,-09), and 107 other members of Congress sent a letter to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador urging him to ensure that Mexican governors comply with the revised NAFTA labor terms, which also are reflected in Mexico’s revised national labor law enacted in 2019, and end the politically motivated charges against Prieto. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka made similar demands in a June statement calling for Prieto’s immediate and unconditional release. A group of powerful U.S. organizations demanded the immediate release of Prieto in a June 8 letter.
After this congressional intervention, armed kidnappers seized and tortured three labor activists who work closely with Prieto as they drove to a workshop for Matamoros workers about their labor rights. The workshop was subsequently cancelled.
After decades of worker intimidation, Mexican manufacturing wages are now 40% lower than those in China. Thanks to pressure from congressional Democrats, the revised NAFTA includes specific guarantees for Mexican workers to hold secret-ballot votes to approve their union representation and to approve collective bargaining agreements. Failure to meet these terms leads to penalties against the employers. New terms also require the Mexican government to take action to stop violence against workers. Enforcement of the new terms has lagged.
From: You / Your Organization
Subject Line 1: URGENT: Susana Prieto has been arrested again.
Body:
Mexican labor lawyer Susana Prieto has been arrested again on bogus charges.
It is critical for us to demand Chihuahua Governor Javier Corral Jurado release her immediately!
Susana Prieto Terrazas is a labor lawyer who defends exploited maquiladora workers in northern Mexico.
Imprisoned on false charges in June, she was released after three weeks of grassroots protests and international political pressure.
Today, Susana was arrested on bogus charges stemming from an April strike at a U.S.-owned factory which had continued operating despite rising infections of COVID-19 amongst workers.
Susana’s detention fits a long pattern of repression aimed at silencing those fighting for dignity and human rights in Mexico – and it violates the labor laws of the new NAFTA trade deal.
Help us spread the call to demand freedom for Susana Prieto!
[YOUR NAME]
PUBLIC LETTERS
Statement from the AFL-CIO (June 10, 2020)
PRESS RELEASES
Reps. García, Schakowsky, and 107 Members of Congress Urge Mexican President López Obrador to Drop Charges Against Activist and Protect Labor Rights (Press Release, August 14, 2020)
As Mexican President Comes to D.C., Abuse of Mexican Labor Activist Susana Prieto Escalates, Casting Pall on New NAFTA (Press Release, July 6, 2020)
Statement: Susana Prieto Terrazas on Panista Persecution Against Defense of Workers Rights (Statement from Susana Prieto, July 6, 2020)
Launch of New NAFTA Marred by Detainment of Mexican Labor Activist, Hundreds of Court Challenges Against New Mexican Labor Law (Press Release, July 1, 2020)
Jailed Mexican Labor Activist’s Immediate Release Demanded (Press Release, June 26, 2020)
OTHER DOCUMENTS