Campaign for Labor Rights

Alcoa Update, Tours and Actions

Posted November 21, 2002

In this Alert:

Update on Alcoa Workers Struggle.
Northeast Speaking Tour.
Solidarity Actions.
Announcing a Tour of Alcoa Workers to the Midwest.
Take Action Now.

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UPDATE ON THE ALCOA WORKERS STRUGGLE

The triumph of the Unity Slate in the union election last
October 18 in Alcoa's Plant #1 in Piedras Negras, Mexico
gave new breath to the workers in struggle for an
independent union. This election victory happened despite
the firing of 20 union supporters, including all 5 Unity
leaders.

Alcoa, Inc. is the world's largest producer of aluminum.
Headquartered in New York and Pittsburgh, Alcoa has
129,000 employees in 38 countries. Former Mexican
President Ernesto Zedillo was recently named to Alcoa's
Board of Directors, while Paul O'Neill, Alcoa's CEO from
1987 to 2000, left the company to become secretary of the
treasury under George W. Bush. The Alcoa Fujikura Ltd.
Division (AFL) is one of the five largest suppliers of
automotive electrical distribution systems in the world.
In Mexico, it manufactures wire harnesses for Ford,
Volkswagen, Subaru, Harley-Davidson, and other firms.
Alcoa maquiladora operations in Piedras Negras and Ciudad
Acuña employ more than 17,000 production workers.

While these elections were for leadership positions within
the current entrenched union, the CTM, Alcoa workers from
both plants have openly expressed their decision to create
a union independent of the CTM. The recognition of the new
union has been fiercely opposed by Alcoa, the CTM, and the
local labor authorities. While workers inside the plants
continue demanding independence from the CTM, the fired
leaders, who demand to be reinstated, support the struggle
from the outside.

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NORTHEAST SPEAKING TOUR

Rafael Salinas, one of the Alcoa workers and leaders of
the independent union struggle, is now touring throughout
the Northeast U.S. If you live in one of the following
cities and would like to attend the event in your
community, contact us for the details: clr@clrlabor.org,
202-232-5002.

November 19 and 20, Manchester, NH
November 21, New Haven, CT
November 22, New York City
November 23 and 24, Amherst, MA

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SOLIDARITY ACTIONS

Labor rights activists in New York, Chicago, and New
Hampshire have planned leafleting actions at Alcoa Inc.
locations in the U.S. to pressure the company to end its
violations of labor rights in Mexico. The demands of the
actions are reinstatement of all the fired workers, an end
to Alcoa's anti-union intimidation, and replacement of
company officials who have abused workers' rights.

The action in New Hampshire sent a powerful statement to
Alcoa on Tuesday, November 19. To see an article about
the action, published in the Evening Citizen of Laconia,
NH, visit www.citizen.com.

To get involved with the actions to take place in New York
City and Chicago, contact us at clr@clrlabor.org, or
202-232-5002.

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ANNOUNCING A TOUR OF ALCOA WORKERS TO THE MIDWEST

Another speaking tour of Alcoa workers is being planned in
the Midwest from December 3 through 10. The speakers on
this tour, workers who were fired from Alcoa plants on the
Mexico/U.S. border, will talk about their struggle for an
independent union.

If you are located in the Midwest and are interested in
hosting this tour in your community, contact Jason Wallach
at Mexico Solidarity Network, 773-583-7728 or
312-961-5381, msn@mexicosolidarity.org.

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TAKE ACTION NOW!

Write to Alcoa CEO Alain Belda. Tell him about your
support of the fight for democratic union representation
at the Alcoa Fujikura plants in Peidras Negras, Mexico.
Urge the company to discontinue all harassment and
intimidation of workers inside and outside the plant and
to reinstate all the workers fired for supporting the
democratic union initiative. Also ask that the company
replace Paulino Vargas and José Juan Ortiz, the general
manager and human resource manager respectively, of Alcoa
in Piedras Negras, who are responsible for firings and
harassment of independent union supporters.

~ Write to Alain Belda, CEO, Alcoa Inc. Chairman and CEO
Alcoa, Inc., 201 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.

Fax. 412-553-4498
Email. alain.belda@alcoa.com.