Support the striking miners

I'm writing to encourage all UA students, faculty and workers to attend what should be one of the most exciting labor events to occur in Tucson. Today, Jan. 27, a support rally for striking miners from Cananea, Sonora, will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kino Veterans Memorial Community Center (2815 E. Ajo Way). Since the miners have not received wages for at least two months, the event is also a food and donation drive; the proceeds will be delivered directly by a car caravan headed to Sonora Saturday the 30th.

The 2100 miners of Local 65 of the Miners and Metallurgical Union of Mexico have been on strike since early December, braving the falling temperatures as utility companies have been cutting off service to miners for non-payment. Local 65 claims that the company hasn't delivered to the workers the percentage of company stock as agreed upon in the 1990 privatization agreement. In addition, the union claims that the company owes $19.5 million to the workers. Confronted by such treachery and broken promises, the mineworkers decided to fight.

In late December, the first donation drive was organized to support the miners of Cananea. Loaded with food and clothing, a couple of trucks and a string of cars left Tucson for Cananea, bringing the much-needed supplies to the town. From reports given by Tucsonons who went, their arrival into the town became a festival of solidarity between he workers of both countries. The whole town lined streets of Cananea to greet them! Through today's support rally, activists are now building off that initial success and extending even more support for the miners' well-being and the success of their strike. The miners of Cananea, risking a lot, have boldly taken up the fight against corporate greed. They deserve our whole-hearted support.

Corey Mattson
History senior