Mototaxi Unions Clash Over New Permits in Morelos

José María Morelos — Tensions among mototaxi unions continue to rise in José María Morelos. Santos Salomón Chan Chí, legal representative for the COPEMilusos cooperative, has denounced that the municipal Transportation Director, who also serves as a representative for CATEM, is promoting the entry of a new union—FATUCRO—without the consensus of the 18 organizations that currently operate legally in the municipality.

"The problem is clear: they want to pull a fast one on us. They intend to issue permits in the name of FATUCRO, when that organization is not part of the agreements established between the 18 groups that currently work in Morelos. This breaks the lock we had closed to maintain order in the service," expressed Chan Chí.

The representative of COPEMilusos recalled that the sector is already in a state of saturation, as only 70 percent of the registered units continue to operate actively. "It is not in our interest for more unions or more mototaxis to enter. We are saturated with what we have and we barely manage to cover our expenses. If they put in more units, they will directly affect the economy of hundreds of families," he warned.

Chan Chí further indicated that the conflict has antecedents. He asserted that the current Transportation Director, when he belonged to CATEM, provoked an internal division that led to the creation of more organizations, increasing from ten to eighteen. "That person was responsible for dividing us once and now wants to do it again. We will not allow it," he stated.

The legal representative emphasized that the leaders of the different cooperatives plan to meet with the municipal delegate to demand respect for the signed agreements and to stop any attempt to introduce new groups without authorization. "We are going to speak with the delegate to put things in their place. If the authorities allow this abuse, we will also make our own decisions. It is not right that they keep playing with the effort of those of us who make a living from this work," he stated firmly.

Chan Chí recalled that the COPEMilusos cooperative was the first mototaxi organization in José María Morelos, founded with the goal of generating self-employment when the government did not offer labor alternatives. "We fought for this service. No one gave us anything; we built it with effort. That is why we are not going to allow personal interests to destroy what has cost us so much to maintain," he concluded.

The conflict over the permits and the alleged interference of new groups has raised alarms within the transport guild, which now demands transparency and respect for the agreements that for years have guaranteed the stability of the service in José María Morelos.