Title: The USMCA and the Mexican automobile industry: Towards a new labor model?

Authors: Graciela Irma Bensusàn Areous; Alex Covarrubias Valdenebro; Ines González Nicolas

Addresses: Universidad Autonóma Metropolitana Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Coapa, Villa Quietud, CDMX, 04960, Mexico; Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences, Carretera Picacho-Ajusco 377, Tlalpan 14200, CdMx, Mexico ' The College of Sonora (El Colegio de Sonora Mexico), Av. Obregon 54. Hermosillo, Cp 83000, Mexico ' Union Women Network (Red de Mujeres Sindicalistas), Oriente 255 A No. 97, Agricola Oriental., CDMX, 08500, Mexico

Abstract: The USMCA has created a new environment for the North American automobile industry. It places higher and additional rules related to regional content and labour provisions supported by a new generation of strongly binding mechanisms. In Mexico, there is a new labour law and a wage policy meant to support a new labour relations model. This paper investigates the extent of the progress in such model by assessing the way in which unions are responding to its demands. Based on primary evidence of union leaders, and drawing future sceneries, the paper contends that the adaptive capacity of corporatist unions will prevent the new labour model from succeeding.

Keywords: automobile industry; USMCA; NAFTA; labour relations; new model; rules of origin; labour provisions; future sceneries.

DOI: 10.1504/IJATM.2022.122140

International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 2022 Vol.22 No.1, pp.128 - 144

Received: 23 Mar 2021
Accepted: 30 Aug 2021
Published online: 08 Apr 2022 *

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