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Labor Violations, Criminal Allegations at Mexico Mine Owned By Canada's Orla Mining, says USW union

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An investigative panel appointed under the terms of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) found severe violations of human and labor rights occurred at Orla Mining's (OLA.TO) Camino Rojo mine in Zacatecas, Mexico, the United Steelworkers (USW) union said Wednesday.

The panel, appointed under terms of CUSMA's Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), released its findings after investigating a complaint made to the U.S. government by Mexico's Los Mineros union, which was supported by the United Steelworkers union (USW), the USW added.

According to the USW, the U.S. panel found that workers at the Camino Rojo mine, owned by Orla Mining, which is being acquired by Equinox Gold (EQX.TO), were pressured to disaffiliate from Los Mineros and join a pro-employer union. The panel also found that a contractor hired by Orla created "a climate of fear among the workers at the mine", it noted.

In light of the CUSMA panel's finding, the USW's Canadian National Office is urging the Attorney General of Canada to consider criminal charges against Orla Mining.

USW noted Orla Mining issued a statement on May 4, regarding its compliance with the CUSMA panel's findings. This included a statement of neutrality on unionization, training managers and workers on freedom of association, and recognition of the rights of the Mineros union at the mine, it said.

"While these statements are important, what is missing is reparation for the victims of organized crime and the company's complicity, especially the Mineros union members who were forced into hiding, and who continue to receive threats," the USW said. "Orla Mining and the Mexican government must guarantee the workers' ability to safely return to their jobs and homes by eliminating the presence of organized crime from the mine and the adjacent community," it added.

The USW is also urging Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)ESDC to move the complaint to the next stage, an international panel.

The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.

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