Mexican Labor Unions and Economic Reforms Over the Past 20 Years Essay

Mexican Labor Unions and Economic Reforms Over the Past 20 YearsINTRODUCTIONSince labor fraternitys in Mexico were originally formed in the early 1900s, they have maintained a unique system of collaboration and collusion with the government of Mexico. Though many may refer to their system as one of corruption, it is a system that has become so deeply imbedded in the relationship between labor unions and the government, that it is now a well-understood unofficial network. Over the recent 20 years in Mexico, a great deal of overture has been made toward the liberalization of the Mexican markets. Previously government-owned companies have been privatized, foreign investment has boomed, and a once one-party system has just recently produced its first democratically elected opposing party president. But how helpful have the labor unions been to this progress? Generally, labor unions would be one of a societys greatest opponents to such things as privatization, causing many difficu lties to the progress of the economy, however in the drive of Mexico, I contend that labor unions have, in fact, been a beneficial component to the progress. The unions have contributed through their collaboration with the government, their suppression of wages, their maintenance of a balanced governmental system, and their contributions to democracy. Though it cannot be claimed that all of their contributions to the economic development of the past 20 years in Mexico has been positive, it can be claimed that Mexicos unique style of government-labor union coordination has acted in many unusually beneficial ways. LABOR UNION HISTORYUp until 1931, no organized labor union had ever been recognized by the Mexican government. In fact, unde... ...rms in Latin America. Cambridge University call forth USAMujica, Jorge Garca. (2002). Situacin Econmica y Prospectos. Resumen para la Sntesis Econmica de Mxico La Ciudad de Mxico.Otero, Rafael. (1999). Effects of Labor Unions on Regiona l Economic Development. Ph.D. Dessertation. The Universtiy of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX.Otero, Rafael, and Jos A. Pagan. (2001). Unions and Job Queuing in Mexicos Maquiladoras. Working Paper. The University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX.Panagides, Alexis and Harry Anthony Patrinos. (1994). Union-Nonunion Wage Differntials in the Developing demesne A Case Study of Mexico. The World Bank, Latin America and the Caribbean, Country Dept. Policy Research Working Paper 1269 Washington DCRose-Ackerman, Susan. (1999). Corruption and Government. Cambridge University Press USA