US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights denial at Matamoros door manufacturer

News Release

US Department of Labor, Office of the Trade Representative announce resolution of alleged labor rights denial at Matamoros door manufacturer

WASHINGTON - The U.S. and Mexican governments have announced the successful resolution to a Rapid Response Labor Mechanism petition that alleged workers' rights were denied at Vidrio Decorativo Occidental, a Tamaulipas, Mexico, glass door manufacturer.

The result follows a Nov. 8, 2024, requestby the U.S. for Mexico to review the VDO case under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's Rapid Response Labor Mechanism.

The Mexican government facilitated an agreement in which the manufacturer will pay bonuses owed and back wages for salary increases to affected workers and rehire two fired workers. The company also posted a neutrality statement, agreed to follow guidelines on freedom of association and collective bargaining and allowed Mexico's Ministry of Labor to provide training to company employees.

"We appreciate the collaboration between the Mexican government and Vidrio Decorativo Occidental to safeguard freedom of association," said Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee. "The company has committed to fair treatment by providing bonuses owed to workers and rehiring workers who were fired after supporting a union of their choice."

"Our administration put the RRM front and center as a trade tool to positively impact the lives of thousands of workers and hold accountable corporations profiting from exploitation. This is another example of how our worker-centered approach to trade is driving a race to the top for working people everywhere," said Ambassador Katherine Tai. "We commend the government of Mexico and the company for their swift action to remediate the denials of labor rights that occurred at this facility. With the successful resolution of this case, the RRM has now directly benefitted over 42,000 workers."

Based in Matamoros, Vidrio Decorativo Occidental manufactures decorative door glass for sale in the U.S. and in other international markets.

Learn more about the department's international work.