P
Palacio de Hierro (department store chain), 163
Paleta, Cuauhtémoc, 41
election of, as second vice president, 43
Partido Acción Nacional (or National Action Party) (PAN), 25, 179
threat of Miners’ Union to, 34
Partido de la Revolución Democrática (Democratic Revolutionary Party) (PRD), 24, 120
Pasta de Conchos (coal mine)
approach to rescue at, 68–69
bodies abandoned at bottom of, xvi, 130, 307
calling off, of rescue efforts, 95
collapse of, 53
conditions inside of, xvii, 51, 58, 61, 65–66, 77–78, 80–83, 87–88
creation of commission to investigate cause of explosion, 141
dead miners at, 78–79, 142
destruction of railway in, 60–61
discovery of bodies in, 106
entrance through inclined tunnel to Mine 8 at, 80
explosion at, 51, 53, 55, 82, 131, 144
Grupo México as accountable for, 70, 96, 115, 297
guilt of Fox, Vicente, after disaster at mine, 70
industrial homicide at, 127
inspections of, 84–87
insufficiency of ventilation system of, 80
Joint Health and Safety Commission at, 54
landscape around, xvi–xvii
media’s coverage of, xix, 70, 96
methane gas in, xvi, 80
mismanagement of work site, xviii
missing miners at, 53
reason for Javier Salazar, Francisco, at, 66–67
reinforcement of tunnels in, 82
safety deficiencies at, 91
shift work in, 89
survivors of explosion, 88–89
tragedy at, 145
union complaint for crimes committed at, 181
union members at, xvii
verification visit to, 87
years since, 217
Pavón, Carlos, 244–245, 268, 297
acquittal of, 248
arrests of, 268–269
betrayal of, 273
bribery of, 247
complaint against, 272
establishment of useless company union and, 269
filing of robbery charges against, 248
offering of freedom to, for betrayal of Los Mineros, 251
as pawn, 267
release from prison, 245–246
as traitor, 268
Pavón, Héctor, 269
complaint against, 269
Peck, Richard C. C., 288
Pendejo, Fox, Vicente (Mexican president) as, 167–169
Peñoles Miners, 100
Perales, Martín
charges brought by, 252
as Grupo México lackey, 241
signing of pardons by, 293–294
Perez, Francisco, decision not to report to mine on February 18, 2006, 87
Pérez Romo, Gregorio
accusations against, 107
arrest warrant for, 134
Petroleum Workers’ Union, 226
Pichardo, Carolina (Judge), 275
Piedras Negras, 98–101, 103
leaving border town of, 101
Piñera, Sebastián (President)
firing of mine officials, xvii–xviii
visit of, to disaster scene, xvi
Plascencia Villanueva, Raúl, 307
Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, violation of Article 123 of, 91
Political Coordination Board, 277
Political landscape, changes in 2000, 24–25
Pomar, Julio, 224
Portillo, José López (President), 6
Poverty line, citizens living below, 144
Presley, Elvis, 103
Presumption of innocence, nonexistence of, in Mexico, 97
Privatization
of Compañía Mexicana de Cananea, 26, 31
of Compañía Mexicana de Cobre, 26, 31
policy of, 144
role of family relations and friendships, 146
Proceso magazine, 55, 190
exposure of complicities and aggressions against Miners’ Union and its members, 191
Procuraduria General de la República (PGR)
appointment of Chávez as attorney general, 283
coverage of Grupo México, 262–263
desire for Red Notice against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 289
neglect in investigating complaint on crimes committed at Pasta de Conchos, 181
politicians rise of, 125
Productos Químicos de San Luis, 39
Protection contracts, 28
Q
Quintero, Alexjandro, Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano’s private meeting with, 130
R
Raina, Jyrki, 302
Ramírez, Ulises, 223–224
Rat unions, 28
Real del Monte y Pachuca (silver and gold mine)
Gómez Sada, Napoleón (father) visit to, 75–77
levels in, 76
working conditions within, 76
Rebolledo Gout, Juan
claims on safety conditions in mine, 66
as Grupo México’s official spokesman, 66
Red Notice, desire for, against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 289
Reforma newspaper, 55, 190
Regional Conference of IMF of Latin America and the Caribbean, global solidarity resolutions of, 205
Regional Mexican Workers Confederation (CROM), 43
Paleta, Cuauhtémoc of, 43
Registry of Associations of the Labor Ministry, 48
Regulation to the Mining Act, 276
Reporte Índigo, 190
Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants (CROC), 41–42
Revolutionary Workers Confederation (COR), 41
Rico, Sergio, assurances from, on plans to improve Mine 8, 86
Right-wing politicians, loss of moral compass by, 153
Rinehart, Gina, 316
Rio Tinto Alcan, common strategies to defend their interests, 155
Rivera, Genaro (Judge), 275
Rivera, Miguel Ángel, as upstanding journalist of La Jornada, 190
Rivero Legarreta, Juan, 223
Ancira, Alonso as client of, 216
attempts to get Gómez, Napoleón to step down, 215–216
call from, to Linares Montúfar, Juan, 295
Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano as client of, 217
Lozano, Javier as client of, 217
pardoning of, 294
preparation of defense by, 135
Rizzo, Socrates (mayor of Monterrey)
bias toward, 11
as governor of Nuevo León (town), 11–12
lack of businessmen’s faith in, 12
relation with Salinas, Carlos, 10
Rocha, Ricardo, as upstanding journalist of “Behind the News” broadcasts, 190
Rocha, Salvador, 254
Rocha Pérez, José Angel
accusations against, 106–107
arrest warrant for, 134
as defendant in mine tragedy, 241
Rodarte, Héctor, leaving of Mexico, 101
Rodríguez, Francisco, as upstanding journalist, 190
Romero, Constantino, as union’s Secretary of Acts, 17
Romero, Gilberto (Judge), 288
Romero Deschamps, Carlos, 226
Ronquillo Hospital, 198
meeting with personnel of, 274
Rosenberg, Ryan, member of Canadian legal team, 299
Route 66, drive along, 103
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 224
Ruiz Cortines, Adolfo, 164
Ruiz Sacristán, Carlos, 164
S
Safety and Hygiene Commission, repeated warnings of, 63
Safety and Justice Council, 270
Sahagún Fox, Marta, 32–34, 163
support for Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano, 99
support from business sector, 24
Vamos Mexico Foundation run by, 146, 228
Salazar Diez de Sollano, Francisco Xavier, 145
Salinas de Gortari, Carlos
closure of Cananea mine by, 197–198
economics studies of, 8
election of, 24
government of, 143
meeting with Gómez, Napoleón and, 8
privatization of Televisión Azteca by, 96
privatization under, 24, 146, 227
Rebolledo Gout, Juan as former personal secretary of, 66
relation with Rizzo, Socrates, 10
Sicartsa bought during presidency of, 114
simulation of democracy and, 8
Salinas Pliego, Guillermo, 131–132
as brother of president of TV Azteca, 132
Salinas Pliego, Ricardo, 164–165
Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano’s close friend, 189
of TV Azteca, 163
San Esteban Mining Company
failure to equip mine with safety ladders, xvii
financial problems of, xviii
San Francisco del Oro
Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón visits to mines in, 76
San José de Atacama mine
collapse of roof of, xv
complaints about safety at, xvii
explosion in, 279
rescue of miners from, xv–xvi, 279
San Juan de Sabinas, 98
Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón and others to visit, 52–53
San Luis Potosí, 126, 208
conservative state of, 40
invalidation of arrest warrants issued in, 284
state appeals to, 173
Santa Barbara, Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón visits to, 77
Santiago Papasquiaro (town), 14
Santiago Vasconcelos, José Luis
death of, in plane crash, 237–238
as figure in war on drugs, 237
Scotiabank
acquittal of, 136
charges against, 136
Sequestered bank accounts, progress in matter of, 285
Sicartsa steel mill, 116
deployment of armed forces against strikers at, 283–284
government investment in, 114
government’s aggressive tactics at, 119–120
Grupo Villacero purchase of, 114
management to keep control of mine and plants for five months, 123
Sidermex, 6, 114, 267
Silicosis, 200
Sixth Collegiate Tribunal in Labor Matters of the First Circuit, 275
Slim, Carlos, Lozano’s aggression against, 166
Smear campaing, Grupo México’s against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 95–96
Sobrevilla, José, 165
Socialism, impact of, 3
Social Security Union (SNTSS), agreement not to attend Labor Congress, 44
Sojo Aldape, Eduardo, as chief economic advisor, 32
Solidarity, 179
Solórzano, Javier, 288
as upstanding journalist, 190
Sombrerete, Zacatecas (multi-mineral mine), 196
conditions at, 196
strikes at, 210, 217, 240, 247, 301
Sonora, 126
invalidation of arrest warrants issued in, 284
state appeals to, 173
Special Unit of Investigationfor the Prosecution of Criminal Offenses Committed by Public Servants, complaint against the crimes committed at Pasta de Conchos, 181–182
Stabilizer development, 143
Steelworkers, encouragement of relocation to Canada, 109–110
Steinbeck, John, 103
Strike, right to, 116
Strikers, assault on, Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, 117–119
Suárez, Mario, 41
as leader of Workers Revolutionary Confederation, 49
Subprocuraduria de Investigación Especializada en Delincuencia Organizada (SIEDO), 241
amparo against action of, 285
charges of money laundering against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 136–137
compliance with ruling on sequestered bank accounts, 285–286
money-laundering charges and, 286
Sydney Mining Club, 316
T
Tagore, Rabindranath, quote of, 181
Taxco, Guerrero silver mine, 19, 196
conditions at, 196
strikes at, 210, 217, 240, 247, 301
Telecommunications Law Institute, 165
Telephone Workers’ Union, 179, 217
Televisa, 102, 130, 146, 166, 218
ads against unions on, 183
Azcárraga, Emilio, of, 163
Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano on board of, 96
ownership of, 188
Televisión Azteca, 96
ads against unions on, 183
Telmex, 166
Ternium, 113
Terríquez, Jesús, 291
issuance of arrest warrant for Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano, 292
Tomada, Carlos, Minister of Labor, 110
Toma de nota, 42, 44, 47–49, 62
Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón denial of, 218
as instrument of political control, 49
Lozano’s recent denial of, 240–241
Morales, Elías’s presentation of, designating himself as leader of Miners’ Union, 47
Trade unionism, fight for basic principles of, 315
Trouyet, Carlos, 268
Trujillo Matamoros, Victor Alberto (Brozo the Clown), 253
Trujillo Salcedo, José Miguel (Judge)
Acosta Azcón, Agustín’s case suspended by, 259–260
Agencia Federal de Investigacion (AFI)’s failed searches and, 262
filing of criminal complaint against, 264
issuing of arrest warrant for Larrea brothers, 264
lack of profesionalism of, 260
recusal of, 291
testimony of Larrea Mota Velasco, Germán Feliciano before, 256
Trumka, Richard, 319
TV Azteca, 102, 166, 218
Alatorre, Javier, as news director of, 189
ownership of, 188
portrayal of unarmed workers as fault of violence, 120
Salinas Pliego, Ricardo of, 163
U
Unefon, 164
Union of Miner, Steel, and Related Workers of the Mexican Republic, assets of, 137
Union Pacific, 41
Unions
correlation with operating efficiency and productivity, 314
decline in global rate of, 316
future of, 313–317
purpose of, 313–314
Union Training and Leadership Institute, proposed creation of, 314
United Steelworkers Union (USW), 31, 290
contact between Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, and, 98–99, 102
Gerard, Leo, as international president of, 31, 55
Neumann, Ken, as national director for Canada, 55
Strategic Solidarity Alliance between Miners’ Union and, 32
Uruapan (city), 122
V
Valadez, Blanca, writings of, 258
Valdés, Humberto Moreira, inauguration of, 35
Vale, common strategies to defend their interests, 155
Valentine’s Day, 41
Value-added taxes (VATs), 151
Vamos Mexico Foundation, 146
Grupo Villacero’s contribution to, 122
Vancouver, Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón’s stay in, 109–111, 130–131, 137–139
Vega Morales, Alejandro, 269
Velásquez, Juan, 108
Vera Lopez of Saltillo, Raúl (Bishop), 307
Veta de Plata, 252
Villarreal Guajardo, Julio
attorneys borrowed from, 106–107
inheritance of scrap steel business from father, 113
as leader of Grupo Villacero, 177
opposition to Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón’s run for Senate, 175
Villarreal Guajardo, Pablo, inheritance of scra
p steel business from father, 113
Villarreal Guajardo, Sergio, inheritance of scrap steel business from father, 133
Villarreal Guajardo brothers
donation of money to Calderón, 231–232
as enemy of miners, 175
opposition to workers, 227
strategy of, against Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón, 101–102, 129–130
Virgin of Guadalupe, as emblem of Cristeros movement, 40
Vives, Emilio Gómez
as enemy of miners, 175
industrial homicide charges leveled against, 181
as Undersecretary, 48
Volkswagen Workers Union, 231
Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang, quote of, 141
W
Wage-control policies, 36
Waldman, Lorne, as member of Canadian legal team, 299
Warda, Manfred, 302
West Virginia, death of workers in accident at coal mine in, 280
“White Cape,” 40
Women’s Front to Struggle for Workers’ Dignity in Mexico and the World, 314–315
Workers Revolutionary Confederation (CRT), 41–42, 49
Workers’ rights, defense of, 314
Working conditions in globalized companies, 155
World Congress of Vienna, Austria, election of Gómez Urrutia, Napoleón as member of Global Executive Committee, 31
World Mint Directors Organization, Gómez, Napoleón, as president of, 12
Y
Yellow unions, 28
Z
Zabludovsky, Abraham, as upstanding journalist, 190
Zabludovsky, Jacobo
radio interview with Moreira, 171, 173
as upstanding journalist, 190
Zacatecas, 270
Zavala, Juan Ignacio, 165
Zedillo, Ernesto, 164
government of, 143
Zhenli Ye Gon, 167
Zinser, Alberto, 249–250
meeting with Gómez Mont, Fernando, 239–240
Zuñiga, Javier, as loyal union member, 274
Zúñiga Velázquez, Juan Luis, 295–296
del Toro, Marco Antonio’s presentation of complaints on behalf on, 134
forgery of signature of, 133
Zweig, Stefan, quote from, 95
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Napoleón Gómez Urrutia’s struggle for union democracy and for the respect and dignity of workers is well known worldwide. He has served as general secretary of the National Mining and Metal Workers Union since his unanimous election in 2002, and was reelected unanimously for a new six-year term in 2008 in addition to being elected president of the union in 2012. An Oxford-educated economist, Gómez also graduated with honors from the Department of Economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. For twelve years, he served as director of the Mexican Mint, and is the only Mexican to serve as international president of the Mint Directors Conference, a position he held for two years.
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