**Health Sector Accused of Blocking Affiliations to the Mexican IMSS Bienestar Union**
On Tuesday, March 25, members of the Tijuana, Tecate, and Rosarito section of the Mexican IMSS Bienestar Union held a demonstration outside Tijuana’s General Hospital. They claimed that health sector authorities are hindering their efforts to affiliate new members who wish to switch to this emerging union association.
“We are not allowed entry into medical units to talk to our colleagues about joining us,” said María del Rosario Ortiz Martínez, the general secretary for the Tijuana, Tecate, and Rosarito section of the National IMSS Bienestar Union.
Historically, the National Union of Health Workers (SNTSA) has been the default group to which healthcare staff are automatically affiliated. However, the option of joining the National IMSS Bienestar Union has been available in 30 states for the past eight years, and just over two years in Baja California. This new union comprises 22 people in its executive section and has over 50 members in Tijuana, Tecate, and Rosarito.
According to Alma Preciado, a member of this union, the need for a secondary option arises because the SNTSA lacks updates and broader benefits for healthcare workers. “Employees have the right to choose their union affiliation. If we approached peacefully to invite them to join the Mexican IMSS Bienestar Union, why is there fear of them joining us?” she asked, emphasizing that the framework was set for transitioning workers to IMSS Bienestar while keeping their existing work conditions.
Preciado continued, “All we ask is free and legal access to communicate with our colleagues, allowing them to make an informed choice about their union affiliation.”
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**Secondary Article: Rising Union Conflicts in Mexico’s Healthcare System**
Adding to the current unrest in Mexico’s health sector, several reports indicate escalating tensions between traditional and emerging labor unions. Workers state that despite being guaranteed choices, entry to healthcare facilities for union representatives like those from IMSS Bienestar is often denied.
Some experts point to enduring issues within SNTSA, such as outdated labor agreements and limited advocacy for employees, which have driven the formation of alternatives like the IMSS Bienestar Union. At the core of the conflict is a widespread demand for more dynamic representation that can effectively navigate modern challenges in healthcare professions.
As Mexico’s healthcare landscape evolves, the pressure mounts on existing unions to modernize and genuinely represent the shifting expectations of their members. With new unions offering viable alternatives, the status quo faces a potentially transformative period, urging an introspective look at existing union structures and their alignment, or lack thereof, with member needs.