**Unveiling the Challenges of Trade Unions in Tijuana’s Maquiladoras**
Trade unions in the manufacturing and maquiladora sectors of Tijuana have come under scrutiny as academics and activists highlight their lack of independence. According to Cirila Quintero, a professor and researcher at the College of the Northern Border, these unions are often too intertwined with businesses and authorities, failing to truly protect workers. During the Northern Border Labor Movement, Migration, and Collective Organization Forum at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Tijuana, Quintero noted that the legal reforms initiated in 2019 have not effectively altered corporate practices, leaving workers vulnerable.
Concerns were raised about the influx of national unions lacking local involvement, with Quintero stating that “the biggest concern is that many national unions are coming in without actually working in the area.” Participants like Margarita Ávalos from the Ollin Calli Collective criticized government practices that offer significant incentives to companies, sometimes at the expense of environmental and human rights.
Academics highlighted a stark disparity in wages, with Mexican workers in these border industries earning significantly less than their counterparts in the United States, despite working for the same companies. Gaspar Rivera Salgado from UCLA noted that Mexican workers earn between nine to ten times less.
The forum underscored the challenge faced by the working class, pitted against a “four-headed monster” of corporations, pro-business unions, government interests, and organized crime, according to Ávalos. There’s a contrast with business entities along the northern border who have successfully organized through chambers and associations, experts added.
**Tijuana’s Maquiladora Industry Faces Additional Hurdles**
In related developments, the maquiladora industry in Tijuana is grappling with several challenges. The industry recently reported the loss of over 16,000 jobs, attributed to various economic and operational factors. Prime Wheel’s Plant 3, despite being open, now operates with a significantly reduced workforce, maintaining just 2% of its original staff.
Furthermore, the broader economic landscape is projected to see a 10% uptick in the real estate market during the first quarter of 2025, according to local real estate experts from the AMPI Tijuana. With new vertical development projects sprouting in different areas of the city, Tijuana’s economic prospects hold some promise despite the employment contraction in the maquiladora sector.
The situation highlights the complex interplay between economic growth and labor dynamics in Tijuana, a region at the nexus of cross-border collaboration and economic activities. As the city navigates these challenges, the need for more independent labor representation remains critical for safeguarding worker rights in a changing industrial landscape.