Business leaders from various sectors in Sonora released a joint statement accusing the Autonomous Confederation of Workers and Employees of Mexico (CATEM) of extortion.
At least 20 business leaders participated in the document, including:
Maquiladoras (assembly plants)
Import and export companies
In the statement, they accused the CATEM in Sonora of:
Extortion
Blackmail
Union shaming
The accusations targeted various industries operating in the state.
What was the response from the CATEM leader in Sonora?
The general secretary of CATEM in Sonora, Carolina Lara Moreno, publicly rejected the accusations.
In a video, she asserted that the allegations were defamatory and made anonymously.
“Anonymous accusations and allegations should not be tolerated (…) as the representative of CATEM in Sonora, I categorically deny any act of extortion of any kind,” she stated.
Who is Rosario Carolina Lara, leader of CATEM in Sonora?
Rosario Carolina Lara Moreno holds the position of General Secretary of the Autonomous Confederation of Workers and Employees of Mexico (CATEM) in Sonora.
According to information she shares on social media, her profile includes:
Lawyer. Certified Public Accountant. Master’s degree in Political Communication from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., United States. In the political and administrative sphere, her career includes:
Representative for the National Action Party (PAN) in the Sonora State Congress, from 2015 to 2018. This period coincided with Jesús Giles’ leadership of the PAN in Puebla.
Serving as an official in the Hermosillo City Council. Sonora.
Later, in 2019:
She registered as a councilwoman in the municipality of Ocoyucan, Puebla.
Currently:
She heads CATEM in Sonora.
The union maintains a political affiliation with the Morena party.
What is Carolina Lara’s stance on employers and workers?
Lara Moreno stated that her work focuses on defending workers.
She indicated that this representation does not imply harming companies or jobs.
“I will always stand up to defend workers’ rights; however, we will never do so by harming employers or jobs. I will also always face any accusation, especially if it is defamatory.”
What did she say about alleged bribery attempts?
The union leader asserted that she has received bribery attempts.
According to her, these actions aim to force her to stop representing workers in Sonora.
She indicated that she will not accept this type of pressure.
How did the union leader conclude her message?
Carolina Lara Moreno affirmed that she will maintain an open stance toward dialogue.
Rest assured that we will always stand firm, face the music, and speak with our heads held high. “I am at your service for any questions or clarifications,” he concluded.
What are the business owners accusing the CATEM union of?
In the statement, the business owners directly named:
Carolina Lara Moreno
Marisela Parra Martínez
Brenda Esquer Palma
What scheme are the companies denouncing?
According to the statement released by the private sector, the scheme consists of:
Labor notices without proper legal basis
Demands for monthly payments
Requests for sums of money to call off strikes
The business owners described these practices as blackmail and a violation of the labor reform in effect since May 1, 2019.
They stated that this reform seeks to strengthen union democracy and not create mechanisms for economic pressure.
Has the case already been brought before the authorities?
The complainants indicated that the cases have already been presented to federal authorities.
Furthermore:
They are being reviewed by specialized law firms.
The fight against Extortion was identified as a national priority.
Are there similar cases in other states?
Business owners asserted that the same modus operandi has been detected in:
Coahuila
Durango
They recalled that last week Edgar Rodríguez Ortiz, “El Limones,” was arrested.
He was identified as the leader of the CATEM union in the Laguna region and alleged to be a criminal operative for the “Los Cabrera” cartel.
This case was cited as part of the context for the complaints in Sonora.
Source: elimparcial
