President Obama Must Tackle Mexico's Labor Rights Record

Ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to Mexico, labor leaders called on him to address "Mexico's dismal labor rights record."

In an op-ed in Politico, CWA President Larry Cohen, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, UAW President Bob King and USW President Leo Gerard cautioned that Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's stance is still unknown.

"From 2006-2012, the government of Felipe Calderón mounted a full-scale assault on democratic labor unions in Mexico, combining all the mechanisms of labor control built up during 70 years of one-party rule with full-scale military assaults on striking workers. Although the compensation of Mexican workers relative to U.S. workers in manufacturing was lower in 2010 than in 1975, Calderón was determined to drive wages even lower to attract foreign investment," they wrote.

"It is not yet clear whether Peña Nieto intends to continue Calderón's repressive policies, or whether he will finally respect Mexican workers' rights. The message that Obama sends could make a crucial difference."

Read more here.