Monte de Piedad Strike: Workers Fight for Contract Rights

Mérida, Mexico — The national strike by the Union of Employees and Workers of the National Monte de Piedad continues firmly after 15 days. In Mérida, 67 employees are keeping the doors of the branches closed in solidarity with the more than 1,900 workers demanding respect for their collective bargaining agreement and seniority rights, which they allege were ignored by the institution's central administration.

A Dispute Over Job Assignments

The general secretary of the union in Yucatán, Javier Méndez Tamayo, explained that the current strike originated after an "irregular posting" of more than 300 vacancies nationwide, of which approximately ten corresponded to the Mérida branch. He stated that these positions were given to workers not affiliated with the union, without considering the experience of employees with more than three decades of service, and bypassing the joint seniority commissions, which are the bodies responsible for guaranteeing transparency in job promotions.

"It is as if there were an election without an electoral institute," the union leader denounced.

Public Impact and Worker Justification

Although the union acknowledges the impact on the public, the workers justify their stance. "It is not our intention to harm the public, but the strike is the last resource we have left to have our rights respected," they expressed. This is because individuals who have paid off and settled their loans cannot retrieve their pawned items until the strike ends.

Widespread Union Support

The workers of the National Monte de Piedad have not been alone during this protest; on the contrary, they have the support of institutions such as the Sole Union of Workers of the Judicial Branch, the Mexican Telephone Workers' Union, the National Union of IMSS Committees, the Autonomous Water Comptroller's Office, among others.

"You will never be alone, we will be with you until we achieve the dignification of the working class. They will never break us, all the organizations will be united day and night until we achieve victory," exclaimed Miguel Puigcerver, leader of the Mexican Telephone Workers' Union in Yucatán.

An Indefinite Stoppage

For now, the union does not foresee a date to end the strike. "We know when it started, but not when it will end," said Méndez, insisting that the only possible path is for the administration to implement a system for assigning positions based on seniority, merit, and union affiliation.

The labor conflict, which has paralyzed 303 branches across the country, comes just one year after the union and the administration signed a wage increase agreement following a three-year freeze. However, the non-compliance with that agreement has the workers, once again, on a national strike.