Rapid Response Labor Mechanism to Review Freixenet de México Union Busting

ByNayeli Hernández

This article by Nayeli Hernández originally appeared in the November 28, 2025 edition of Noticias de Querétaro.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) invoked the USMCA’s Rapid Response Labor Mechanism (RRM) to review whether Freixenet de México, located in the municipality of Ezequiel Montes, is denying workers their right to freedom of association and collective bargaining.

As part of the measure, the United States suspended the liquidation of unliquidated goods from the plant, which is dedicated to the production and marketing of sparkling wine and still wines.

The Mechanism was activated following the request submitted on October 29, 2025 by the Union of Workers of the Food Industry in General, Dairy, Gastronomic, Hotels, Commerce, Franchises, Similar and Related, CTM (CTM Foods), which denounced employer interference in union activity, disincentive to workers’ support for their organization, facilities for a “title union” and meetings to encourage it.

Photo: Jay Watts

According to the initial review, the Interinstitutional Rights Commission (CDI) determined that there is “sufficient and credible” evidence for invoking the mechanism, so Freixenet de Mexico has 10 days to accept the review and, if it does, 45 days to complete it.

This is the fourth time the mechanism has been activated in Querétaro; the three previous times were in companies in the automotive sector.

It is worth remembering that since last September, workers at the company have denounced that the Spanish-owned company violates workers’ rights by paying low wages despite being a transnational company.

At the time, the union’s general secretary, Miguel Rodríguez Navarro, reported that the union represents more than 40 of the company’s 52 workers, including vineyard, production, and warehouse personnel. He recalled that in 2023 they initiated a procedure before the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration to request proof of union representation and sign a collective agreement, but accused the company of refusing to recognize them.

The union also denounced pressure and intimidation against unionized staff and asserted that Freixenet presented a collective bargaining agreement with a union affiliated with the CROC without any intervention from federal or local authorities. From November 2023 to September 2025, 15 unjustified dismissals were recorded, despite the company reporting annual sales of €222 million in the Americas. Therefore, the union submitted pay stubs, applications filed with the Federal Centre, audio recordings, photographs, and other documents to U.S. authorities as evidence.