Canadians Join International Legal Scholars in Asking Mexican Supreme Court
to Respect Mineworkers' Autonomy

TORONTO, NEW YORK and MEXICO CITY, Sept. 21 /CNW/ - In an important international legal move, the International Commission for Labor Rights (ICLR) announces the filing of an amicus curiae or "friend of the court" brief with the Mexican Supreme Court.

The potentially precedence setting case involving the National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic (the Mineworkers) is currently awaiting a decision by the Supreme Court, and focuses on whether the Labor Secretariat can adversely interpret union constitutions regarding legal recognition of the union's duly elected leadership.

"The outcome of the Mineworkers' case may have serious repercussions domestically and internationally, not only on the scope of trade union autonomy but on the broader issue of citizens' freedom to form and join democratic associations free of government interference and control," said ICLR Board President Jeanne Mirer.

In its brief, the ICLR requests that the Supreme Court apply international labor and human rights law, particularly ILO Convention No. 87, in granting the Mineworkers' application.

The brief is supported by a critical mass of prominent and respected organizations and legal experts from across the world, including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights (ELDH), the International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR), the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers (CALL-ACAMS), among many others.

This amicus curiae brief follows a July 2010 report by a ICLR high profile international human rights and labour delegation to Mexico. The delegation investigated the Mineworkers's case and expressed concern over violations by the Mexican Government of its obligations under international law, especially ILO Convention No. 87.

Both the report and the amicus curiae brief are available online at http://www.laborcommission.org/reports.htm

On September 21^st, Hugo Leal-Neri, counsel for ICLR, will be filing the brief and meeting with Mexican Chief Justice Guillermo I. Ortiz Mayagoitia.

For further information:

Mr. Leal-Neri, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell and counsel for ICLR: [phone].
Ms. Jeanne Mirer, ICLR Board President: [phone].