| MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- At least 48,000 sugar workers
went on strike in 58 mills throughout the country Thursday to protest the
lack of an agreement on salary increases and retirement plans.
The sugar harvest already has begun in some areas or is set to begin at
the beginning of next month. But a spokesman for the industry told local
media there was a large enough reserve to last three months.
Members of the national sugar workers union and sugar industry
representatives were deadlocked over the union's request for a 25 percent
salary increase and union opposition to a proposal to raise the retirement
age to 65, according to local media reports.
Under the current contract, workers can retire at age 60 or after 35
years of service. Industry representatives have proposed increasing the
age to 65 years or 35 years of service.
The union initially had requested a 50 percent salary increase, but
later modified it to 25 percent. Mill owners had not responded to the
request, said the union's general secretary, Enrique Ramos.
Mexico's labor secretariat called on both sides to resume negotiations
Thursday.
Mexico's sugar industry is currently embroiled in a dispute with the
United States over its right to export surplus sugar duty-free.
The United States wants to limit Mexico's surplus sugar exports and has
disputed the country's interpretation of NAFTA, that it has the right to
export all of its surplus sugar duty-free. The United States contends
Mexico can only export up to 250,000 tons of surplus sugar starting
October 1. |