Bottling company closes plant in Matamoros

Following blockades and protests in their facilities, and due to a lack of security guarantees, the company Bebidas Mundiales S.A. de C.V. , Coca-Cola ’s second largest bottler in Latin America, has announced the shutdown of its plant in the border city of Matamoros .

“We are cooperating with authorities to look for alternatives that will allow us to resume our operations, so long as we are sure that our staff wants to work and deliver on our commercial commitments,”

stated the company through a press release.

According to the bottler, last Friday , a group of workers from the Laborers and Industrial Workers Union stopped their manufacturing activities and started a strike.

A grim scenario

Although the Laborers and Industrial Workers Union put an end to strike summons in 48 plants , the shutdown of the Joyson Safety System plant and the dire situation facing the Coca-Cola bottler plant still cast a shadow on Matamoros’ labor outlook.

These conflicts have put nearly 2,000 people out of work . The State Ministry of Labor has so far received little more than 100 complaints for general conciliation and arbitration.

The Chinese owned company Joyson Safety Systems (JSS) has officially announced its exit from Matamoros, Tamaulipas , by putting up a banner that said: “Thank you very much, Matamoros. Goodbye.”

Furthermore, 800 workers who had joined the 20-32 movement (demanding a 20% salary increase and a MXN$32,000 bonus) were laid off in said plant .

dm