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PEMEX Workers Union
This union was founded with the goal of having a stronghold in the negotiations with foreign proprietors, turning into a fundamental political ally for facing one of the most powerful industries of international investors, fighting against a common enemy with nationalist and anti-imperialist aspirations.
During its first convention, held on July 1936, STPRM signed a collective contract that was refused by oil licensees in Mexico, for which the union went on strike in May 1937, prompting the expropriation of the foreign oil companies in March 1938 by then President Lazaro Cardenas, in honor of the union’s request to cancel all concessions; declaring that the oil reserves in Mexican territory belonged to the nation with exclusive rights over the exploration, extraction, refinement and commercialization of oil in Mexico.
In reprisal for this measure, many countries held a boycott on Mexican products during the following years, especially the United States, Great Britain and the Netherlands. Various foreign governments closed their doors to commerce with Mexico, but PEMEX survived by exchanging oil and goods with fascist governments of Europe, the boycott was finally withdrawn out of war interests during the Second World War.
This intervention prompted the workers’ interest in controlling the industry, which resulted in the creation of a directive organ for PEMEX, the Administration Board, with the participation of oil leaders. STPRM became legitimized as the only entity in charge of controlling the work force, establishing legal and economic conditions over the company’s activities. In 1942 the first collective work contract was signed between STPRM and PEMEX.
In 1992 the new Organic Law of PEMEX and Subsidiary Organisms was decreed, establishing basic guidelines for defining PEMEX as an organ independent from the Federal Public Administration and responsible for the national oil industry. In November 2008 the Energy Reform was published, lead by the Federal Government, in order to strengthen PEMEX.
PEMEX is now Mexico’s largest company and one of the largest oil producers in the world.
Article Produced by the Editorial Team of Explorando Mexico.
Copyright Explorando Mexico. All Rights Reserved.
Photo: www.visionpolitica.com.mx
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