**Students of UABC Stand in Solidarity Amid Irregularities at Prime Wheel**
A group of students and graduates from the Autonomous University of Baja California organized a demonstration on Tuesday, October 29, to show their support for the workers at maquiladoras amidst the reported irregularities at Prime Wheel. Brandon Breslev, a graduate from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and now a teacher at a middle and high school in maquiladoras, highlighted the significance of the protest. Breslev emphasized that the demonstration was meant to honor maquiladora workers, particularly Servando Salazar and Eduardo Ortiz Franco, and to serve as an act of protest against injustices within the industrial sector.
Breslev underscored the importance of practicing the university’s values of justice, solidarity, and respect, as opposed to leaving them as mere words. Having experienced the maquiladora life firsthand, he expressed frustration towards the labor injustices that occur, such as lengthy 12-hour shifts. “Many of us here are children of women who work in the maquiladoras,” Breslev shared, noting his personal connection as his mother has worked in the industry for 27 years.
Jacqueline Ortiz, who worked at Prime Wheel for two weeks before resigning after Servando Salazar’s disappearance on August 23, shared her troubling experiences. She described grueling 12-hour shifts, inadequate breaks, and poor ventilation, exposing workers to harmful toxic gases. Ortiz also pointed out a lack of response to her sexual harassment complaint in the workplace.
Around 30 students gathered to express their solidarity and highlight the concerns over recent events at Prime Wheel. The disappearance of Servando Salazar on August 23 and the tragic death of Eduardo Ortiz Franco on October 21, who died trapped in a machine during an apparent workplace accident, have raised alarms about the conditions in maquiladoras.
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**Prime Wheel Faces Potential Penalties Amid Investigations**
Recent reports indicate that Prime Wheel might face fines up to 15 million pesos following investigations into their workplace practices. On October 28, authorities initiated inspections after multiple complaints concerning the company’s operations, including reports of inadequate safety measures and labor violations. Sindicatura has also begun probing omissions in the administration related to Montserrat’s oversight of Prime Wheel, which could lead to further actions, including the potential closure of their facilities.
Prime Wheel’s Plant 1 and Plant 2 were temporarily shut down on October 22, while Plant 3 remains under scrutiny. These actions reflect an increasing move towards holding corporations accountable for their workers’ conditions, highlighting the ongoing struggle for labor rights in the maquiladora sector of Baja California.