{"id":14631,"date":"2026-03-14T07:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T11:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/?p=14631"},"modified":"2026-04-04T00:15:38","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T04:15:38","slug":"mexican-union-wins-bid-to-represent-truck-drivers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/2026\/03\/mexican-union-wins-bid-to-represent-truck-drivers\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexican union wins bid to represent truck drivers"},"content":{"rendered":"

SITRABICS (Supply Chain Transporters Union \/<\/em> 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

Here, Avery Wear<\/strong> of the San Diego-based cross-union rank and file group LSAN (Labor Solidarity Action Network) interviews the union\u2019s General Secretary, Jesus Iturbero<\/strong>. Some details regarding the company in this case have been left out due to the sensitivities of negotiations.<\/em><\/p>\n

A continuaci\u00f3n, la traducci\u00f3n al espa\u00f1ol.<\/em><\/p>\n

Avery Wear:<\/span> What is SITRABICS and how did it start?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jesus Iturbero:<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> When was this?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> How many members are there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> What are the most important issues to the union and its members?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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\u2019t have any trips assigned to them, through the company\u2019s fault, they can go 15 days or three weeks without pay. They don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> Do you have other current campaigns or struggles?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> What challenges do you face related to the project of organizing workers whose work lives take them on both sides of the border?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> Is there anything you want to say to a pro-union or left-wing audience in the U.S.?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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.<\/p>\n

En Espa\u00f1ol<\/strong><\/h4>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfQue es SITRABICS y como empezo?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> SITRABICS es un sindicato de transportistas binacionales que se form\u00f3 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 ah\u00ed empez\u00f3 SITRABICS.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfCuando paso?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> Desde el a\u00f1o 2021 nos organizamos y pudimos obtener registro de las autoridades como organizaci\u00f3n en el a\u00f1o 2024. El d\u00eda 3 de febrero de este a\u00f1o entramos a la empresa reconocidos como un sindicato.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfCu\u00e1ntos miembros hay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> \u00bfPues, el sindicato est\u00e1 creciendo. Empez\u00e1bamos con 24 trabajadores y el d\u00eda de hoy somos 60 miembros afiliados. Pero son 300 trabajadores en total que es la meta final. Sigue en proceso.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfCu\u00e1les son los asuntos m\u00e1s importantes del sindicato y sus miembros?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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 d\u00eda 700 pesos, pero el salario real es de m\u00e1s de 2000 pesos diarios. Tambi\u00e9n cambiar la din\u00e1mica del sueldo base, porque cuando no utilizas tus d\u00edas de viaje por cualquier cuesti\u00f3n y quieres cobrar el sueldo no te pagan por 2 o 3 semanas y la empresa reporta que si se pag\u00f3 el sueldo base cuando no nadie lo recibi\u00f3.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfTienen Uds. unas luchas corrientes?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> La \u00fanica campa\u00f1a que tenemos, por falta de recursos, es invitar a todos afiliarse para terminar con el contrato colectivo de trabajo.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfQu\u00e9 retos tienen en el proyecto de organizar trabajadores que trabajan el los dos lados de la frontera?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> Un sindicato aut\u00e9nticamente binacional en el sentido estricto no podemos serlo, la ley lo impide. Pero podemos conseguir un convenio o uni\u00f3n que nos ayude para poder representar a los trabajadores Mexicanos en territorio Estadounidense. Si estamos limitados de hacerlo pero con la ayuda podr\u00edamos hacerlo funcionar y ayudar.<\/p>\n

AW:<\/span> \u00bfHay algo m\u00e1s que quiere decir a una audiencia sindical o pro-izquierdista en los estados unidos?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JI:<\/span> 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 pa\u00edses es que se pueden lograr grandes victorias.<\/p>\n

\n

Opinions expressed in signed articles do not necessarily represent the views of the editors or the Tempest Collective. For more information, see \u201cAbout Tempest Collective<\/a>.\u201d<\/em><\/small>
\nFeatured Image credit: Baxito<\/a>; modified by Tempest.<\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Avery Wear <\/strong>interviews leader about Mexican union win.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":447,"featured_media":14634,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,8,602],"tags":[297,51],"class_list":["post-14631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-interview","category-spanish","tag-mexico","tag-unions"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Copy-of-tempest_feature_card-48-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/447"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14631"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14631\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tempestmag.org\/test02\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}