USW Marks the Ninth Anniversary of the Pasta De Conchos Mine Explosion

Contact: Benjamin Davis (412) 562-2501,  bdavis@usw.org

(Pittsburgh) --The United Steelworkers (USW) International Executive Board today issued the following statement:

February 19, 2015 marks the ninth anniversary of the mine explosion at Grupo Mexico’s Pasta de Conchos mine in Sabina’s, Coahuila, Mexico. Sixty-five of our brothers tragically and needlessly lost their lives that day because of Group Mexico and the government of Vicente Fox.

The Committee established by the International Labor Organization to investigate found that “the Government of Mexico did not do all that was reasonably expected of it to avoid or minimize the effects of the Accident which had such devastating effects with the loss of life of as many as 65 miners.”

Yet today, despite many promises, the bodies of 63 miners are still entombed in the mine.  Family members still have not received just compensation for their loss.  And no one responsible for the deaths has faced criminal prosecution.

The tragedy at Pasta de Conchos spurred calls for improved mine safety in Mexico.  Yet the loss of life continues at the mines of Grupo Mexico and other mining companies.  In the past three years, there have been 53 fatalities in Mexican mines.

The U.S. and Canadian governments must insist that Mexico make real improvements in mine safety in order to access enhanced trade benefits under the Trans-Pacific Partnership

Today the Steelworkers remember our 65 brothers and renew our commitment to keep fighting shoulder to shoulder with Napoleon Gomez Urrutia and Los Mineros, for justice for the families of Pasta de Conchos and for mine safety everywhere.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed among industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, plus the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/

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