New Quintana Roo Union Takes On Tourism Slumps and High Turnover

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A new independent union with roughly 1,350 members across the state has been launched in Quintana Roo, aiming to confront the challenges posed by low tourism seasons and the high staff turnover that marks both the northern and southern parts of the state.

“We created our union independently, based on the experiences we have gone through. We are an independent union that does not belong to any federation or confederation, except for the Congress of Labor, which governs us at the national level,” said Lino Lara Liceas, secretary general of the Sindicato de Trabajadores y Empleados de las Industrias de Quintana Roo (STEIQROO).

Lara Liceas said the union has already outlined a strategy that goes beyond simply filling job vacancies, focusing instead on deep social engagement. While collective bargaining agreements are still being finalized, the union’s main priority is building relationships of trust with both employers and employees.

STEIQROO currently represents workers in construction, hauling, hospitality, gastronomy, tourism, commerce and general services, as well as related and associated trades. It has a presence in Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Bacalar and Othón P. Blanco, offering an alternative to the established labor federations that have dominated the state’s labor market for decades.

On the practice of “solidarity breaks” — negotiated downtime with companies during periods of low tourist traffic — Lara Liceas said the measure is designed to protect jobs amid the region’s floating population. However, he acknowledged that many employees choose to leave permanently after extended periods of leave.

“I will tell you that this practice (solidarity breaks) has been carried out during the low season months, and it really does benefit workers in a certain way, in terms of rest,” he explained.

He emphasized that one of the pillars of the organization is the country’s labor reform, which guarantees union freedom and allows the union to engage in dialogue with companies that already have union representation, without necessarily creating a conflict of interest or harming existing labor organizations.

He confirmed that the tourism sector is the main target of these negotiations. Although most long-standing contracts are held by well-established organizations, STEIQROO says there is growing interest from employers seeking stability and real options for their workers.