The US is filing a labor complaint over claims that a Volkswagen factory in Mexico fired union activists

MEXICO CITY – U.S. trade authorities said Tuesday they have filed a labor complaint with Mexico over allegations that a Volkswagen car plant in central Mexico unfairly fired union activists.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office said Tuesday that the complaint concerns the temporary suspension of tariff benefits on vehicles and parts produced at VW’s plant in Puebla, just east of Mexico City.

The complaint was the 23rd filed alleging labor abuses in Mexico under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement known as the USMCA.

Mexico must investigate the claims and force the company to correct them or explain why it is not taking action. For decades, wages in Mexico were kept very low because unions were not allowed to organize freely.

The complaint asked Mexico to investigate whether Volkswagen de México, SA de CV management dismissed or retaliated against employees “based on their service as union representatives, affiliation with previous union administrations, candidacy in union elections or involvement in other union activities.”