Umair Gaines
The Mexican Electrical Workers Union, founded in 1914, is the oldest democratic union in Mexico. The Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME), or Mexican Union of Electrical Workers, has played a crucial role in the country's left-wing political movement. In 1936, the SME went on a 90-day strike against foreign owners of Luz y Fuerza, resulting in one of Latin America's most significant labor contracts and preserving the SME's independence from the government. However, in 2009, the Felipe Calderón administration attempted to disband the union, terminating the jobs of 44,000 members. This sparked resistance from the union, with half of its members fighting to recover their jobs and rights, while the other half accepted the government's severance package. The SME has continued to advocate for labor rights and nationalization of the electrical industry, impacting both Mexico and its neighbouring countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME) / Mexican Union of Electrical Workers |
| Year of Formation | 1914 |
| Founding Philosophy | Left-wing social movement |
| Membership | 15,000 active workers and 10,000 retirees |
| Geographic Presence | Central states of Mexico, including Morelos, Michoacán, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, and Mexico City |
| Allies | National Assembly of Electrical Energy |
| Objective | Labor reintegration in the nationalized electricity industry |
| Achievements | Negotiation of a labor contract preserving SME's independence from the government in 1936 |
| Recent Challenges | Administration of Felipe Calderon dissolved the Power and Light Company of Central Mexico in 2009, terminating jobs of 44,000 SME members |
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What You'll Learn
- The Mexican Electrical Workers Union (SME) is the oldest democratic union in Mexico
- The SME has a strong presence in central Mexican states
- The SME's contract with LyF included strong protections for workers
- In 2009, the Felipe Calderon administration dissolved the SME
- The SME has faced opposition from other unions and the government
The Mexican Electrical Workers Union (SME) is the oldest democratic union in Mexico
Throughout its existence, the SME has fought for the rights and benefits of electrical workers in Mexico. In 1936, the union went on a 90-day strike against the U.S., British, and Canadian owners of Luz y Fuerza, which resulted in one of the most important labour contracts in Latin America. This contract preserved the SME's independence from the government and granted strong protections for workers, including guarantees of a safe workplace, vacation time, sick leave, and leaves of absence.
In addition to its labour activism, the SME has also advocated for the nationalization of the electrical industry in Mexico. In 1960, the union began pushing for the nationalization of electrical power, and it continues to support the nationalized electricity industry today.
However, the SME has faced significant challenges and opposition over the years. In 2009, the administration of Felipe Calderón dissolved the Power and Light Company of Central Mexico, terminated the jobs of 44,000 SME members, and declared the union non-existent. Despite this setback, about half of the union's members resisted and continued the fight to recover their jobs and workplace rights, including the union contract.
Today, the SME continues to have a strong presence in the central states of Mexico, with a union structure in Morelos, Michoacán, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, and Mexico City. The union maintains a strategic alliance with the National Assembly of Electrical Energy and holds regular days of struggle to demand a clean slate, a social tariff, and the recognition of the human right to energy. The SME also has a membership of approximately 15,000 active workers and 10,000 retirees, and it holds collective bargaining agreements with various companies in the electricity sector.
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The SME has a strong presence in central Mexican states
The Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME, or Mexican Union of Electrical Workers) is the oldest democratic union in Mexico. It was founded in 1914 when the armies of Emiliano Zapata took Mexico City. The SME has played a crucial role in the history of the Mexican left, notably in 1936 when it went on strike against the U.S., British, and Canadian owners of Luz y Fuerza, leaving Mexico City without electricity for ninety days. This strike led to the negotiation of a significant labor contract that preserved the SME's independence from the government.
However, in 2009, the Felipe Calderón administration attempted to disband the SME and the nationalized Power and Light Company of Central Mexico that employed its members. This action resulted in the termination of 44,000 union members' jobs and the seizure of the company's assets. Despite this setback, the SME has demonstrated its resilience, with thousands of members choosing to resist and fight for their workplace rights and union contract. They maintained their union structure and headquarters, forming a workers' cooperative to generate work and support their members.
Today, the SME continues to have a strong presence in the central states of Mexico, including Morelos, Michoacán, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, and Mexico City. They maintain alliances with users of electrical energy through the National Assembly of Electrical Energy and advocate for labor reintegration in the nationalized electricity industry. The SME's membership consists of active workers and retirees, and they hold collective contracts with various companies, including Generadora Fénix and the Portuguese company Mota-Engil.
The SME's history and ongoing presence in central Mexico reflect its enduring commitment to labor rights and its role as a pivotal force in the country's political landscape, particularly on the left.
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The SME's contract with LyF included strong protections for workers
The Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME – the Mexican Union of Electrical Workers) is Mexico's most important independent union on the Left. Founded in 1914, it has a long history of fighting for workers' rights and principled labour policies. In 1936, the SME went on a 90-day strike against the U.S., British, and Canadian owners of Luz y Fuerza, which resulted in one of Latin America's most significant labour contracts. This contract ensured the SME's independence from the government, setting it apart from other Mexican unions.
In 2009, the Felipe Calderón administration attempted to disband the SME and the nationalised company that employed its members. However, thousands of SME members refused to give up, spending the next eight years "en resistencia" (in resistance). This resilience exemplifies the union's commitment to safeguarding workers' rights and its influence on Mexico's political left.
The SME contract with LyF (Luz y Fuerza) is a testament to the union's dedication to worker protections. This contract included robust safeguards for workers, such as guarantees for a safe workplace, vacation time, sick leave, and leaves of absence. Additionally, a fund was established to assist workers in securing adequate housing and even purchasing or building their own homes.
The SME has consistently advocated for the nationalisation of the electrical industry, recognising the importance of class-oriented unionism. Their efforts have had a significant impact on labour policies in Mexico and have also resonated across the border in the United States. The union's resilience and commitment to its members' well-being demonstrate its crucial role in protecting workers' rights and ensuring fair labour practices.
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In 2009, the Felipe Calderon administration dissolved the SME
The Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME), or the Mexican Electrical Workers Union, is the oldest democratic union in Mexico. It was founded in 1914 when the armies of Emiliano Zapata took Mexico City. In 1936, the SME went on strike against the U.S., British, and Canadian owners of Luz y Fuerza, leaving Mexico City without electricity for ninety days, except for emergency medical services. The strike was successful and led to the negotiation of one of Latin America's most important labor contracts, preserving the SME's independence from the government.
The SME's resistance continued for eight years. During this time, they maintained a strong presence in the central states of Mexico, with a union structure in Morelos, Michoacán, Hidalgo, the State of Mexico, and Mexico City. They also formed strategic alliances with users of electrical energy, such as the National Assembly of Electrical Energy, and held regular days of struggle to demand labor reintegration in the nationalized electricity industry and recognition of the human right to energy.
The attempt to destroy the union occurred within the context of the Calderon administration's efforts to privatize the electrical industry, which faced strong opposition from the SME and other unions. Calderon's administration also focused on other initiatives, such as raising awareness of environmental issues, achieving universal healthcare coverage, and promoting Mexico's interests in international trade and investment.
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The SME has faced opposition from other unions and the government
The Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME); Mexican Union of Electrical Workers is a democratic union in Mexico with a long history of left-wing activism. It was founded in 1914 when the armies of Emiliano Zapata took Mexico City. In 1936, the SME went on a 90-day strike against the US, British, and Canadian owners of Luz y Fuerza, which resulted in the negotiation of a labour contract that preserved the SME's independence from the government. This made the SME an important organisation on the Mexican left.
However, the SME has faced opposition from both the government and other unions. In 1999, the SME formed the Frente Nacional de Resistencia a la Privatizacion de la Industria Electrica (National Front of Resistance to the Privatization of the Electrical Industry), which collected 2.3 million signatures opposing privatisation. Despite this, the next two administrations attempted similar reforms. In 2002, Vicente Fox proposed a World Bank-backed reform that was met with strong backlash, including thousands of SUTERM workers marching alongside the SME in Mexico City, forcing Fox to withdraw his proposal.
In 2009, the administration of Felipe Calderón attempted to destroy the SME and the nationalised company that employed its members. Calderón dissolved the Power and Light Company of Central Mexico, one of the country's two national electrical power providers, and terminated the jobs of the SME's 44,000 members. While previous administrations had regarded the SME as a political opponent, none had taken such extreme measures. The SME responded by spending the next eight years "en resistencia" (in resistance), with thousands of members refusing to give up their union membership. They maintained the union's structure and headquarters, set up an allied workers' cooperative, and continued to fight for their jobs and workplace rights, including the union contract.
The SME has also faced opposition from other unions, such as the Sindicato Único de Trabajadores de Electricidad de la República Mexicana (SUTERM), which was established in 1972 for CFE workers. SUTERM became a pillar of support for Mexico's governing party, the PRI, and represented the opposite pole of Mexican labour from the SME: a bureaucratized union tied to the government. Despite the opposition, the SME has maintained a strong presence in the central states of Mexico and continues to fight for labour reintegration in the nationalised electricity industry and the recognition of electrical energy users' rights.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mexican Electrical Workers Union, also known as the Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME) in Spanish.
Founded in 1914, it is the oldest democratic union in Mexico. In 1936, the SME went on strike against foreign owners of Luz y Fuerza, resulting in Mexico City losing electricity for 90 days. This strike led to the negotiation of a significant labor contract, preserving the SME's independence from the government. In 2009, the Felipe Calderón administration attempted to disband the union, leading to a prolonged resistance movement.
The SME has a strong presence in central Mexican states and advocates for labor reintegration in the nationalized electricity industry. They demand a clean slate for users, recognizing energy as a human right, and aim to protect workers' rights and improve their working conditions. The union has a history of left-wing political activism and has resisted privatization efforts.
