Book Read Free

Collapse of Dignity

Page 39

by Napoleon Gomez


  national media blitz of, 184

  not afraid of losing fortune in fight against the Miners’ Union, 183

  opposition to Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón’s run for Senate, 175

  opposition to workers, 227

  order for appearance at Mexico City’s North Prison, 291

  payment by, for slanderous articles, 95–96

  payments and gifts to Abascal, Carlos María, 129–130

  payments and gifts to Cabeza de Vaca, Daniel, 129–130

  payments and gifts to Díaz, Francisco Gil, 129–130

  payments and gifts to Javier Salazar, Francisco, 129–130

  payments and gifts to Muñoz, Ramón, 129–130

  position at Grupo México, 30

  powerful friends of, 275

  priorities of, 184

  private meeting of, with Quintero, Alexjandro, 130

  publicizing of bogus charges against Napoleón, Gómez, xviii

  reckless company of, 54

  refusal of, to enter own mines, 90

  relationship with Lozano, Javier, 306

  requesting of documents regarding audit by International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF), 194

  responsibility for mine disaster and, 67

  spending of money toward the cause, 183

  statements made by, 127–130

  strategy of, against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 101–102, 125, 129–130

  threat of Miners’ Union to, 34

  wealth of, 25, 163

  Larrea Ortega, Jorge, acquisition of Compañía Mexicana de Cobre and Compañía Mexicana de Cananea by, 25

  Las Palmas, 161

  Las Truchas steel mill, 145–146

  Latinoamericana de Productos Químicos, 39

  LaVenture, Robert, as representative of United Steelworkers Union (USW), 108

  Layton, Jack, 158

  meeting with Lozano, Javier, 169

  Lázaro Cárdenas

  armed attack on workers at, 125

  failed eviction at, 130

  invasion of, 122

  meeting of Fox, Vicente’s security cabinet prior to invasion of, 122

  Michoacán branch of, 117

  assault on strikers at, 117–120

  industrial port of, 114

  news reports from, 120

  protesting of attempted

  imposition of Union Local 271

  from, 115

  Sicartsa mill complex in, 114

  situation at, 115

  ultimate victory of workers at, 123

  Lázaro Cárdenas-Las Truchas (currently Arcelor Mittal) Steelworks, 6, 15

  Lázaro Cárdenas Sicartsa mill, strike at, 123

  L’Ecole des Hautes Études (Paris), 4

  Leipen Garay, Jorge, 267–268

  former undersecretary of Energy and Mines, 114

  Lepanto (hotel), 42

  Limón, Leonardo, 7

  Linares Montúfar, Juan, 118, 241

  accusations against, 107

  Ancira, Alonso’s charges against, 243–244

  arrests of, 268, 290

  arrest warrant for, 134, 267

  attempted bribery of, 295

  call from Rivero and, 295

  disadvantage of, 264

  fending off of charges against, 251–252

  government authorization of searches of, 132

  jailing of, 248, 273, 283–284, 286, 290

  limited protection for, 136

  offering of freedom to, for betrayal of Los Mineros, 251–252

  persecution of, 255

  release from jail, 294–295

  Rivero Legarreta proposal for, 292–294

  as secretary of union’s Safety and Justice Council, 242–243

  taking care of Miners’ Union’s business, 55

  trial of, 254–255, 257–258, 291–292

  Lira, Carmen, as upstanding journalist, 190

  Local 64, Gómez Sada, Napoleón, as head of, 1, 13

  Lomelín, Jaime

  CEO of Grupo Peñoles, 272

  education of workers and, 26

  as enemy of miners, 177

  London School of Economics, 4

  Lopez Mateos, Adolfo

  government of, 143

  as secretary of labor, 164

  López Mayrén, Joel, 41

  López Obrador, Andrés Manuel, claims on election win as fraud, 173

  Lopez Portillo, José, 253

  Los Mineros, 13, 126, 208

  anger of members of, over identification of leader, 72–73

  biannual convention of, 217–221

  calls for Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón to step down, 130

  compromising democracy and autonomy of, 102

  convention of, in May 2000, 18

  dislike of Morales, Elías, 49

  Gómez, Napoleón’s tenure as general secretary of, 17–18

  Gómez Sada, Napoleón (father), as leader of Local 64 of, 1, 13

  government’s oppression of, 169

  growth and progress of, 303

  Grupo México’s attempt to place Morales, Elías at head of, 52

  international support for, 205–207

  leaders of, 115

  loyalty of Linares Montúfar, Juan to, 295

  loyalty to Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 109

  Morales, Elías and, 48

  negotiation of wage and benefit increases for, 28–29

  negotiations with ArcelorMittal, 304

  offering of freedom to Linares and Pavon for betrayal of, 251–252

  open aggression toward, 115

  opposition to Fox, Vicente’s proposed changes in labor laws, 48

  protests against removal of Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 126

  recent developments in campaign against, 111

  reliance on legal advisors, 213–217

  request for law that penalizes

  irresponsibility and criminal negligence, 308–309

  story of, xx

  strides of, on behalf of workers, 298–299

  strike by, 116

  struggle to secure safe working conditions, 55

  support for, 158

  violent campaign against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón and, 72

  Los Pinos, 154

  Lozano, Javier

  in defense of interests of Grupo México, 167

  Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón’s challenge to public debate, 189

  as labor secretary, 166–168

  Lozano Alarcón, Felipe, as secretary of labor, 159

  Lula da Silva, Luiz Ignacio, 110

  Luz y Fuerza del Centro (Central Power and Light), demise of, 249

  M

  Macroeconomics, 6

  Madrazo, Roberto, 174–175

  Malentacchi, Marcello, 157

  International Metalworkers’ Federation’s general secretary, 194

  as speaker at International Labor Organization (ILO) conference in Geneva, 220

  Manuel López Obrador, Andrés, efforts to discredit, 299

  Maquiladora Health & Safety Support Network (MHSSN), study of mine, 192–202

  Maquiladoras, workplace hazards in, 199

  Marti, José, 21

  Martin, David J., 288, 299

  Martinez, Mario, testimony of, 260

  Martínez Molina, Armando, expel of, from national convention of Miners’ Union, 18

  Martin Perales, José, lies spread to press by, 106

  Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 113

  Methane gas

  exposure to, in mines, 78

  gas meters for measuring, as defective, 80

  Mexicana Airlines, bankruptcy of, 162

  Mexicana de Cananea

  Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán

  Feliciano as legal representative of, 128

  privatization of, 127, 145

  Mexicana de Cobre de Nacozari, privatization of, 127

  Mexican banking commission (CNBV), on banking-fraud investigation, 241

  Mexican baseball, 100

  Mexican Constitution, 84–8
5

  company responsibility in, 79

  subsoil mineral resources in, 143

  Mexican Credit Institutions Act, Article 113 bis of, 108

  Mexican Electrical Workers’ Union (SME)

  aggressive actions taken against, 179

  agreement not to attend Labor Congress, 44

  Alarcón, Lozano’s clash with, 168

  Calderón’s administrations maneuver to destroy, 249

  solidarity with National Women’s Front, 301

  Mexican left, loss of opportunity to create change, 24

  Mexican manual labor, exploitation and discrimination against, 148

  Mexican Mediation and Arbitration Board, 126

  Mexican Mint. See Casa de Moneda de Mexico (Mexican Mint)

  Mexican Revolution (1910–1920), 1, 212

  Mexico

  abuses of law that could be practiced in, 97

  capital deficit in, 150

  capital flight from, to foreign countries, 150

  class struggle in, 313

  Department of Treasury in, 164

  desire for rule of law in, 300

  legal, economic, and political structure of, 153–154

  mining industry in, 311

  money to be made off of resources, 147

  need for change in, 310

  need for new ownership culture, 152

  types of offenses in, 242

  Mexico City North Prison, 252

  Microeconomics, 6

  Mier y de la Barrera, Jorge, 167

  Miguel Trujillo, José, 253

  Milenio (publication), 185, 190

  Mine 8, lack of alternative exit tunnel in, 82–83

  Minero magazine, publication of, 13

  Miners, education of, 26–27

  Miners’ Insurance, 27

  Miners Union

  announcement of Day of Global Solidarity with, 157

  bylaws of, 72

  Calderón, Felipe’s persecution of, 163

  creation of opportunities for member participation in politics, 27

  election of Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, as general secretary of, 21, 27

  founding of, 55

  Grupo México’s publicity campaign against leaders of, 182

  Morales, Elías’s efforts to destroy autonomy of, 96

  prevention of explosion and, 92

  selection of Joint Health and Safety Commission at each work site, 84

  signing of collective contracts by, 28

  slander campaign against, 98

  solidarity with United Steelworkers Union (USW), 31

  Strategic Solidarity Alliance between United Steelworkers Union (USW) and, 32

  struggle for better wages and benefits, 147

  taking care of business of, 55

  See also Los Mineros

  Miners with Homes, 27

  Mines, working conditions in, 76–77

  Mining conflict, current state of, 297

  Mining Trust

  accusation of fraud involving, 45, 107

  assets from, 192–193

  bank fees for administration of, 193

  creation of, 31

  defending union leaders against allegations of mishandling of, 45

  money in, 127

  need for hard proof that money was not missing from, 192

  1990 creation of, 202

  ownership of contents of, 128–129

  termination of, 194

  Monclova, Coahuila, planning of national convention in, 73

  Money-laundering charges, SIEDO and, 286–287

  Monterrey, Nuevo León (city), 1

  Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, alliance with union, 26

  Montesquieu, 195

  Montúfar, Juan Linares, as secretary of the union’s Security and Justice Council, 52–53

  Morales, Elías, 18, 125

  accusations of, 241, 252

  aid from Grupo Villacero to, 115

  ambitions of, 16–17

  charges against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón on inappropriate use of Mining Trust, 95–96

  claim of, as leader of miners, 44

  claims of, on money belonging to Miners’ Union, 127–128

  company-backed takeover attempt, 95–96

  damage done by, 52

  declaration of workers of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, as terrorists, 117

  dirty interests of, 22

  dislike of, by Los Mineros, 48–49

  as double-crosser, 24

  efforts to declare strike illegal, 117

  efforts to destroy autonomy of Miners’ Union, 96–97

  efforts to prosecute for forgery, 133

  as enemy of miners, 177

  expel of, from national convention of Miners’ Union, 18

  expulsion from union, 22, 45

  freezing of bank accounts of individuals charged in complaint of, 125

  as general secretary of the Miners’ Union, 71

  granting of toma de nota by Salazar, 176

  as Grupo México lackey, 241

  Grupo México’s attempt to place, at head of Los Mineros, 52

  interest in position of general secretary, 16–17

  labor department support of, 54

  lies of, 109

  “mother claim” against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 115, 126, 299

  presentation of toma de nota designating him as leader of Miners’ Union, 47

  reputation of, 15

  signing of pardons by, 293–294

  stripping of official title of, 108

  stripping of title as general secretary, 180

  toma de nota of, 62

  as traitor, 305

  Morales, Melquiades, 165

  Morales Ibañez, Marisela, on retention of funds, 286

  Moreira, Humberto (Governor)

  Abascal, Carlos María’s warning at inauguration of, 174

  handling of catastrophe at Pasta de Conchos and, 62

  inauguration of, 40

  public allegations against Fox, Vicente, 171–174, 179

  suppression of workers and, 228

  Mother claim, 107, 115, 126

  Muñoz, David Ibarra (Secretary of the Treasury and Public Credit), offering of job to Gómez, Napoleón, 6

  Muñoz, Ramón, Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano payments and gifts to, 130

  Muñoz Ledo, Porfirio, 164

  Mussolini, Benito, 49

  Múzquiz, 57

  MVS Radio, 190

  MX (magazine), 187

  N

  Nacozari mine

  payments to workers of, 31

  privatization of, 146

  Nájera, Andrés, as president of Eureka Committee, 224

  Nájera, Celso, 131

  representation of union by, 106–107

  Napistas, 185

  Napoleón, Don, 77

  “Napoleón for Nuevo León” project, 7–8

  National Action Party (PAN)

  accusation of PRI administrations of cronyism, 306

  policy toward mines, xvii

  National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV)

  formal opinion of, 125

  opinion from, 129

  review of charges by, 108

  ruling on, 126

  National Commission for Human Rights (CNDH), 307

  del Toro, Marco Antonio’s presentation of complaint before, 307

  National Commission on Human Rights, 141

  National Democratic Change (“Cambio Democratico Nacional” in Spanish) (CADENA), creation of, 27, 314

  National Energy Regulatory Commission, 145

  National Executives Committee in Section 120 of La Cienega de Nuestra Señora, 14

  National Financial Authority, 127

  National Heritage, Department of, Gómez, Napoleón, as analyst and researcher, 3

  National Miners’ Union

  insistence on fair treatment for laborers, 154

  political persecution against, 153

 
; National Mining and Metal Workers Union, 217

  Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón as general secretary of, 17, 19, 316

  May 1960 convention of, 2

  “A National Plan for Productivity, Job Generation and Responsible Co-management of the New Mexican Unionism,” 306

  National Teachers’ Union, 226, 228

  National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic, xvii, 286–287

  aggression against, xx

  founding of, 1

  Gómez Sada, Napoleón, involvement of, in, 1

  National Union of Workers in the Exploration, Exploitation, and Benefit of Mines (SUTEEBM), 208–210, 247

  members of, at mercy of company’s whims, 210

  National University Workers Unions (STUNAM), agreement not to attend Labor Congress, 44

  National Women’s Front in Struggle for the Dignity of Workers of Mexico and the World, Gómez Urrutia, Oralia as honorary president of, 301

  National Workers Union (UNT), 168, 179

  agreement not to attend Labor Congress, 44

  Nava, 98

  Navarro, David, 269

  complaint against, 272

  The Nazis in Mexico (Cedillo), 268

  Neoliberal economic model, 149

  Neoliberalism, 310

  Neoliberal technocrats, invasion of, 153

  Neumann, Ken, 108, 118, 142, 290

  as national director for Canada United Steelworkers Union (USW), 55

  New Democratic Party (NDP), 158, 169

  Newman, Paul, 103

  NINI, 154

  Ninth District Court on Federal Criminal Procedures, denial of money-laundering charges, 136–137

  North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 238

  Notimex (news agency), 187

  Nueva Rosita, Coahuila, xvi, 62, 98

  Nuevo León (town), 126

  disappointment in leaders, 8

  Gómez, Napoleón’s interest in becoming governor of, 9–10

  Gómez, Napoleón’s tours of, 8

  invalidation of arrest warrants issued in, 284

  political situation in, 7

  state appeals to, 173

  O

  Obama, Barack

  election of, 238

  visiting site of mine accidents, 280

  O’Farrill, Antonio, 106

  efforts to discredit, 115

  O’Farrill, Patricio, efforts to discredit, 115

  Operation San Lorenzo, xv–xvi

  Ordinary General Miners’ Convention (May, 2008), 180

  Organized crime, Calderón, Felipe’s war against, 154

  Ortega, Armando, 263

  Ortiz Elizalde, Benito

  as enemy of miners, 177

  expulsion from union, 22

  Orwell, George, quote from, 75

  Ospina P., Olga, 123

  Oxford University, 10

  Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Arts, 5

  studies at, 5

 

‹ Prev