Various sources indicate that the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Musica (National Union of Music Workers, SNTM) is a national union affiliated with the Central de Trabajadores Mexicanos (Mexican Workers Central, CTM), in turn affiliated with the Partido de la Revolución Institucional (Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI). The SNTM was founded and organized by Juan José Osorio Palacios, who headed it as Secretary General since 1948 (Excelsior 20 Dec. 1996). Mr. Osorio reportedly organized the musicians with the help of Fidel Velázquez and Fernando Amilpa, among others; he joined the PRI in 1938, has been a federal deputy six times, a state legislator once, and in 1996 was named president of the Grand Commission (Gran Comisión) of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies (ibid.; La Jornada 15 Dec. 1996; La Crónica 21 Sept. 1996). Mr. Osorio has also held the post of assistant secretary (secretario adjunto) of organization and propaganda of the CTM, as well as posts in the PRI and related organizations, and in 1996 held the post of secretary of finance and administration of the CTM and secretary of the Labour Commission of the Mexican Congress (ibid.; La Jornada 15 Dec. 1996).

The information that follows was provided during a 13 March 2001 telephone interview with an information assistant at the Sindicato Unico de Trabajadores de la Musica (Sole Union of Music Workers, SUTM) of the Federal District of Mexico.

The SUTM is independent, politically and otherwise, from the SNTM and political parties. However, the SUTM only operates in the Federal District. Musicians in Mexico do not have to be unionized, and are not forced to belong to any one union. However, businesses that employ musicians could require that they belong to a union, since businesses that hire musicians are often registered with a union. The SUTM, for example, has many businesses registered with it, and the musicians whom they hire are expected to be affiliated with this union. Conversely, the union will refer only affiliated musicians to registered businesses.

The information that follows was provided during a 13 March 2001 telephone interview with an official at the main office in Puerto Vallarta of the Central de Trabajadores Mexicanos (Mexican Workers Central, CTM), which the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Musica (National Union of Music Workers, SNTM) is affiliated.

In Puerto Vallarta and other cities, the SNTM is the only union of musicians; however, in some cities or states of Mexico there may be other unions of musicians. The SNTM has a local organization, based on "sections" (secciones), a state local, and a federal organization. Within a city, the SNTM may have more than one section, each grouping musicians according to their musical specialty.

Businesses that employ musicians (for example, a night club) generally have to hire unionized musicians, or hire musicians through the union (for example, for a special event). Travelling or visiting musicians, whether from another place in Mexico or from abroad, do not have to belong to the union: they are required to pay a "visiting fee" (cuota de paso), equivalent to a temporary permit, to play at a local business.

The Research Directorate was unable to communicate with the SNTM local for the purposes of this Response. No additional details could be found among the sources consulted

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Confederación de Trabajadores Mexicanos (CTM), Puerto Vallarta. 13 March 2001. Telephone interview with official.

Excelsior [Mexico City]. 20 December 1996. Francisco Garfias. "Queremos Llegar a Consensos, no a Claudicaciones: Osorio." http://www.excelsior.com.mx/9612/961220/exe01.html [Accessed 12 Mar. 2001]

La Crónica [Mexico City]. 21 September 1996. Lourdes Martínez González. "Una élite de repetidores acapara en el PRI la 'cuota' obrera en puestos de elección popular." http://www.unam.mx/cronica/1996/sep96/21sep96/nac07.html [Accessed 12 Mar. 2001]

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 15 December 1996. José Ureña. "Osorio, líder carnal." http://www.jornada.unam.mx/1996/dic96/961215/espacio.html [Accessed 12 Mar. 2001]

Sindicato Unico de Trabajadores de la Musica (SUTM), Mexico D.F.. 13 March 2001. Telephone interview with information assistant.

Additional Sources Consulted

El Informador [Guadalajara]. Searchable Archives. 1996-2000.

El Universal [Mexico City]. Searchable Archives. 1998-1999.

IRB Databases.

Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico & NAFTA [London]. 1997-2000.

Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1998-1999.

REFWORLD.

Internet Websites and Internet search engines.

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre are not listed.