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GM Union Vote in Mexico Mired by Accusations of Threats, Bribes

  • Head of new independent union says she was threatened
  • Canada’s Unifor says rival group is trying to buy off workers

The General Motors Co. Silao Complex in Silao, Guanajuato state, Mexico, on Feb. 2.

Photographer: Mauricio Palos/Bloomberg
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Workers at General Motors Co.’s giant truck factory in central Mexico are reporting being both threatened and offered bribes to sway their vote in a historic union election, throwing its outcome into doubt.

Canada’s Unifor and a new union formed by workers at the plant, known as SINTTIA, say they suspect that Mexico’s largest and most entrenched union is trying to manipulate the election in order to stay in power at the plant. The syndicate, known as the CTM, didn’t respond to a request for comment, and another group has also lodged a complaint against SINTTIA.