SITRABICS (Supply Chain Transporters Union / Sindicato de Transportistas de las Cadenas de Suministro) is an independent Mexican labor union that successfully fought for recognition to represent long-haul truck drivers in early 2026. The Union successfully used USMCA Rapid Response Mechanism complaints against companies hauling Hyundai parts to secure better wages and improved conditions.
Here, Avery Wear of the San Diego-based cross-union rank and file group LSAN (Labor Solidarity Action Network) interviews the union’s General Secretary, Jesus Iturbero. Some details regarding the company in this case have been left out due to the sensitivities of negotiations.
A continuación, la traducción al español.
Avery Wear: What is SITRABICS and how did it start?
Jesus Iturbero: SITRABICS is a binational union of truck drivers. It was formed in Tijuana in order to defend the rights of employees at a company that was committing serious violations. And the most serious began after we started organizing. I and others were fired for trying to organize, but this solidified our effort.
AW: When was this?
JI: We began organizing in 2021, and we obtained registration as an official union from the Mexican Government in June 2024. Recently, on February 3rd of this year, we obtained the right to our presence inside the company.
AW: How many members are there?
JI: Well, the union is growing. When we first organized, we had the legal minimum, 25 workers. As of today, we have some 60 members. We are currently in the process of affiliating with all the workers inside the company, which would bring us up to 300 members.
AW: What are the most important issues to the union and its members?
JI: There are many very important issues. But the most important issue is that of wages. The company drastically under-reports our pay to avoid taxes, which means our Social Security is drastically less. They report about 700 pesos per day ($46 US), when the true figure is 2,000 pesos ($116). We are fighting to fix this. This is the most important issue. The next is that the company needs to provide the base pay they claim to provide. When drivers don’t have any trips assigned to them, through the company’s fault, they can go 15 days or three weeks without pay. They don’t receive one peso, but the company claims it is paying a base salary. And the third is that we are proposing, and this is very important, that the company not require us to make illegal deliveries.
AW: Do you have other current campaigns or struggles?
JI: Because of our lack of resources, we really have to focus on a single campaign right now. And that is, with a couple of fired union workers who we have gotten reinstated, we are asking all the company’s workers to join us in order to fight for a collective contract. Beyond this, we have various projects that, for now, have to wait for lack of resources.
AW: What challenges do you face related to the project of organizing workers whose work lives take them on both sides of the border?
JI: In the official sense we are not a binational union. The law stands in the way of that. The main challenge we face is having support from U.S. unions in representing our workers during their time taking trips across the border. We are working toward this and have relations with some labor groups in the San Diego area. We are limited in our ability to represent workers in this part of their work lives, but with the support of U.S. unions or associations we can represent them and really operate as a binational union
AW: Is there anything you want to say to a pro-union or left-wing audience in the U.S.?
JI: Yes, we want to thank the people and groups that have occupied themselves with our cause and helped in many ways. That support made it possible for us to win our complicated battle, which cost us a lot of time and suffering. With perseverance, international solidarity (which has been very important), and standing on the provisions in the trade treaties between our two countries, we have shown that we can win great victories.
En Español
AW: ¿Que es SITRABICS y como empezo?
JI: SITRABICS es un sindicato de transportistas binacionales que se formó en Tijuana por cuestiones de defender los derechos de los trabajadores de una empresa que estaba cometiendo serias infracciones. Nos empezaron a despedir de la empresa y de ahí empezó SITRABICS.
AW: ¿Cuando paso?
JI: Desde el año 2021 nos organizamos y pudimos obtener registro de las autoridades como organización en el año 2024. El día 3 de febrero de este año entramos a la empresa reconocidos como un sindicato.
AW: ¿Cuántos miembros hay?
JI: ¿Pues, el sindicato está creciendo. Empezábamos con 24 trabajadores y el día de hoy somos 60 miembros afiliados. Pero son 300 trabajadores en total que es la meta final. Sigue en proceso.
AW: ¿Cuáles son los asuntos más importantes del sindicato y sus miembros?
JI: Muchos temas son importantes pero nuestra prioridad es que la empresa deje de simular el salario que ganamos. La empresa declara al seguro social que ganamos al día 700 pesos, pero el salario real es de más de 2000 pesos diarios. También cambiar la dinámica del sueldo base, porque cuando no utilizas tus días de viaje por cualquier cuestión y quieres cobrar el sueldo no te pagan por 2 o 3 semanas y la empresa reporta que si se pagó el sueldo base cuando no nadie lo recibió.
AW: ¿Tienen Uds. unas luchas corrientes?
JI: La única campaña que tenemos, por falta de recursos, es invitar a todos afiliarse para terminar con el contrato colectivo de trabajo.
AW: ¿Qué retos tienen en el proyecto de organizar trabajadores que trabajan el los dos lados de la frontera?
JI: Un sindicato auténticamente binacional en el sentido estricto no podemos serlo, la ley lo impide. Pero podemos conseguir un convenio o unión que nos ayude para poder representar a los trabajadores Mexicanos en territorio Estadounidense. Si estamos limitados de hacerlo pero con la ayuda podríamos hacerlo funcionar y ayudar.
AW: ¿Hay algo más que quiere decir a una audiencia sindical o pro-izquierdista en los estados unidos?
JI: Primero agradecerles a ustedes, a toda la comunidad estadounidense por preocuparse y apoyarnos en esta batalla tan complicada de tantos limitantes y poder ganar. La perseverancia y solidaridad internacional son importantes. Gracias a eso y los tratados comerciales entre los países es que se pueden lograr grandes victorias.
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Featured Image credit: Baxito; modified by Tempest.
