After six years of transporting Hyundai auto parts across the border from Baja California to Alabama, Jesús Iturbero found himself seeking improved wages and working conditions for himself and his fellow camioneros.
In 2021, when he attempted to form an independent labor union, he was fired from his job at a cross-border trucking company.
Despite his dismissal, Iturbero continued to advocate for workers’ rights, but it became increasingly difficult to make progress.
Today, he serves as the secretary general of the Supply Chain Transporters Union (SITRABICS), representing a specialized group of Mexican long-haul truckers who transport goods between Mexico and the U.S. interior.
Recently, SITRABICS collaborated with Rethink Trade at the American Economic Liberties Project to file a labor complaint under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a trilateral trade treaty established in 2020.
This petition marks the first time a complaint involving a Baja California company has been filed through the USMCA and also the first case concerning cross-border truckers.
In their formal complaint, SITRABICS and Rethink Trade accused the management at a trucking facility operated by the multinational company Hyundai of firing union organizers, intimidating employees, and blacklisting union leaders involved in the organizing efforts.
During their initial attempts to form a union, Iturbero and his fellow drivers discovered that a union already existed within their company, although employees had no prior knowledge of it and the union was not representing their interests.
The drivers were not only pushing for wage increases but were also seeking better benefits and working conditions.
Iturbero shared a troubling example of a driver who had sustained a leg injury in the United States; instead of receiving immediate medical care across the border, the company chose to transport him back to Mexico for treatment to save costs.
Adding to their challenges was the ambiguity over their employer’s identity, as Iturbero noted that even though Liber Gennesys was cited in the complaint, the convoluted structure of affiliated companies made it hard to discern who was ultimately responsible.
Attempts to elicit responses from Liber Gennesys have gone unanswered, and Hyundai’s spokesperson cited time zone differences for the slow reply from the corporate headquarters in Korea.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government recently acknowledged the merits of the workers’ claims, indicating that the Tijuana-based Liber Gennesys along with its affiliates appeared to deny workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
In response, Mexico has consented to an investigation into the matter, with findings anticipated by the end of next month.
If Mexico supports the U.S. allegations, the two governments may develop an action plan for remediation.
Daniel Rangel, research director of Rethink Trade, expressed optimism about the potential outcomes this mechanism could bring to labor rights, noting that prior cases have resulted in significant advancements for workers, including the reinstatement of workers discharged for union activities.
However, Iturbero remains cautious and is still unemployed, emphasizing that his commitment to union advocacy has come at a personal cost.
He mentioned how he has had to sell his belongings to support his cause and occasionally relies on friends for financial help, while he perseveres in restoring his position through the USMCA process and a petition to a labor board in Baja California.
Thus far, the legal process in Mexico to regain his job has been stagnant, with no progress made over four years: ‘I haven’t even had a conciliation hearing,’ he lamented.
In a different yet connected narrative, Danielle Gallois, a French artist who settled in Tijuana in the mid-1960s, left behind an artistic legacy that continues to resonate today.
Her surrealist paintings, filled with vibrant imagery and imaginative figures like lovers, swimmers, and mythical beings, captivated the local art scene.
A recent retrospective at Tijuana’s Galeria de Arte Pop highlighted her contributions to the cultural landscape, with attendance from various figures in the arts community.
Having died nearly two decades ago, Gallois’s work reflects the diverse storytelling traditions of the San Diego-Tijuana border, often a subject overlooked in mainstream news amid larger social issues.
My brief encounter with Gallois in the 1990s revealed the struggle faced by artists in Tijuana, as she was often seen as a reclusive figure grappling with personal challenges, including financial instability and addiction.
Pedro Ochoa, director of Galeria de Arte Pop, recounted how Gallois would often sell her art to meet her basic needs rather than seek recognition.
Oscar Marban, a collector of her work, praised Gallois as the most original painter of her generation, noting her genius lay in her ability to create without expecting accolades.
At the same time, a contrasting artistic event occurred a day after the Gallois exhibit opened, highlighted by the unveiling of a mural named ‘El Abrazo Mutuo’ (The Mutual Embrace) along the Tijuana border fence.
Created by Tijuana-born artist Alfredo ‘Libre’ Gutierrez and a collective of local artists, this mural depicts an eagle and a condor, drawing inspiration from an indigenous prophecy regarding unity and peace across the Americas.
Primarily funded by Mozaik Philanthropy and supported by Friends of International Friendship Park, the opening ceremony included a Kumeyaay blessing honoring the land’s original inhabitants.
Daniel Watman, founder of the Binational Friendship Garden, expressed a vision of a wall-less future, with international parks fostering cultural exchanges.
Libre emphasized the importance of public art, encouraging fellow artists to take to the streets and showcase their creativity in Tijuana, a culture rich in history and artistic expressions.
As these narratives intersect, they reveal the ongoing struggle for dignity and recognition among workers and artists alike at the border, demonstrating a resilience fueled by culture and shared aspirations for a better future.
image source from：voiceofsandiego
