Labor Dispute in Mexico: Danone Faces Employee Allegations
Employees at the Danone and Bonafont distribution center in San Lorenzo Almecatla, Puebla, Mexico, have publicly accused the multinational of failing to honor an agreed-upon economic bonus. This bonus was initially negotiated on June 1 to address discrepancies in profit sharing compared to 2025 levels. The agreement was a key factor in resolving a labor strike that had halted regional supply for four days.
According to reports and anonymous testimonies collected by La Jornada de Oriente, Danone unilaterally altered the payment terms, which originally stipulated a one-time payment. Instead, the management divided it into five weekly installments, of which only an initial payment of 1,200 pesos has been made. Additionally, workers report being denied vacation due to alleged staff shortages and experiencing extended work shifts exceeding 12 hours, often ending past 9:00 PM, contrary to the scheduled 7:00 PM finish time.
The situation at the logistics complex is compounded by allegations of increased workplace harassment. Workers have specifically accused supervisor Verónica Soto of using derogatory language and exerting pressure through the vehicle monitoring system during deliveries. Despite demands for her removal being a priority in the workers' petition, Soto remains in her position, allegedly supported by Danone's manager, Mauricio Salgado. A repression list reportedly targets at least ten visible leaders of the movement.
In terms of union representation, workers have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Confederación Mexicana Sindical (CMS). They accuse Secretary General Roberto Ruiz Ángeles and his delegates of siding with management interests and avoiding mediation meetings to resolve the issues of non-payment and harassment. With stagnation in the mixed commissions of Human Resources, which were supposed to review the agreement's compliance weekly, the workforce is considering filing a formal complaint with the Labor Conciliation and Registration Center to assert their rights.
The labor unrest highlights concerns among dairy market analysts and livestock companies about the potential instability it introduces into the final stages of the food distribution chain. The discontent among the workforce not only affects organizational morale but also raises the risk of traffic accidents due to drivers' chronic fatigue. Transport workers have warned that if the reprisals and lack of corporate willingness to settle the debts persist, they will resume strikes and protests at the distribution center. Such actions could severely disrupt the supply of dairy products in central Mexico, potentially affecting regional food security.
