Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The municipal employees’ union launched a protest early this morning, claiming that 94 of its members were unjustly fired. The demonstration quickly escalated as the union blocked several key streets in the city center, using Public Cleaning and Public Works vehicles to create a work stoppage, which the municipal authority has deemed illegal. The blockade, centered around the Municipal Presidency, has caused significant disruption in the area, further complicating the ongoing dispute.
The protest stems from allegations that 94 union members were dismissed from their roles without proper justification. Union leader Lucia Curiel Peña led the charge, calling the union base to suspend activities at the start of the workday. She argued that these employees were unfairly terminated, sparking outrage among the union’s ranks.
However, municipal authorities have pushed back on these claims. Lucio Meza García, the Chief Administrative Officer, addressed the situation, denying that any union members had been fired. “No union member was fired,” Meza García stated in an interview with reporter Carolina Gómez. “The union status was revoked for these individuals because they were recent hires who registered as union members without fulfilling the required 3 years and 6 months of service, as mandated by law. In other words, they joined as union members without allowing opportunities for workers who have been with us for 4 to 12 years.”
According to the municipality, the workers in question were returned to a temporary payroll because they did not meet the legal criteria for union membership. This action sparked further outrage among the union’s leadership, leading to the mass protest and work stoppage.
The situation intensified when interim mayor Francisco José Martínez Gil stepped in, attempting to mediate between the union and the municipal authorities. Despite his efforts to hold talks with union leaders and clarify that the nearly 100 employees in question did not meet the requirements for union membership, the protest continued. Union members took to the streets, using Municipal Public Services and Public Works vehicles to block major roads surrounding the Municipal Presidency, creating significant traffic congestion and chaos.
As of noon, the protest had paralyzed traffic in the center of the city, affecting businesses and residents alike. The blockage remained in place until after 1:30 PM, with no clear resolution in sight.
This developing situation underscores the ongoing tensions between the municipal government and the union. As of now, it remains unclear how long the protest will continue or what the next steps will be to resolve the dispute.
Authorities have expressed concerns over the legality of the work stoppage, labeling it an illegal protest due to the use of public vehicles to disrupt traffic. They are calling for calm and urging the union to return to the negotiating table to avoid further disruptions to the city’s daily operations.
The union leadership, however, remains firm in its stance. They are demanding the immediate reinstatement of the 94 employees, claiming that the decision to remove them from the union violates their rights as workers. Union leader Curiel Peña has vowed to continue the demonstrations until the matter is resolved in favor of the affected employees.
This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as the situation progresses. For now, the streets of the city center remain clogged with vehicles from the Public Cleaning and Public Works departments, with no end in sight to the protest.
Local businesses and commuters have expressed frustration over the impact of the blockade, calling on both the union and municipal authorities to find a resolution quickly. Meanwhile, the municipal government insists that the revoked union memberships were necessary to comply with legal requirements, emphasizing that only temporary workers were affected.
As negotiations continue, the focus remains on finding a peaceful and legal resolution to the conflict, which has already had a considerable impact on the city.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The municipal employees' union launched a protest early this morning, claiming that 94 of its members were unjustly fired. The demonstration quickly escalated as the union blocked several key streets in the city center, using Public Cleaning and Public Works vehicles to create a work stoppage, which the municipal authority has deemed illegal. The blockade, centered around the Municipal Presidency, has caused significant disruption in the area, further complicating the ongoing dispute.
