Yesterday, around noon, Coca Cola Matamoros’ trusted personnel violently broke into the company, violating the state of strike, led by Hugo Rodríguez, plant manager, former PAN Councilman and personal friend of the governor of Tamaulipas, Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca.
By Matamoros Workers movement
The attack left six people injured, one of them the wife of a striking worker, brutally beaten by Hugo Rodríguez himself.
The managers were accompanied by company’s trusted staff and workers who since the outbreak of the strike were paid their full salary on the condition of not supporting the strike for salary increase.
They completely destroyed the strike camp, opened the electric gates and pressed a worker with it. They cut the strike banners and about 20 people entered company grounds, among them, Hugo Rodríguez.
The woman beaten by the manager and the rest of the injured raised their complaints before the State Attorney General , who despite the flagrancy of the acts , refused to order any arrest of the attackers, who remained inside the company and today, while leaving, required the governor to have the presence of State Police, who, in keeping with his mandate, went to guarantee the exit of the manager and his trusted employees, loaded with suitcases whose content is unknown.
It is anticipated that before the political and economic influence of Coca Cola, as of Monday more violence will be exercised against striking workers, who have filed two pending legal protections against the dismissal of the strike by federal labor authorities . Therefore, we denounce the facts and call for national and international solidarity, to safeguard the interests of strikers and their safety, because the Coca Cola company is protected by the State Governor and his police forces and CTM union leaders. There is flagrancy of crime, but Coca Cola is protected by Governor García Cabeza de Vaca. His way of helping the company was to guarantee a NO INTERVENTION, even in the face of criminal acts, such as those committed by their managers and trusted personnel.
For this reason, we hold the governor responsible for the safety and physical integrity of the workers who are defending the state of strike until the pending judicial protections in process are resolved.
It is urgent to share this report of events and to keep an eye on Matamoros.
Not a single isolated fight!
For the dignity of the working class and respect for the right to strike!
