Rudie's de México

Rudie's de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., is a manufacturing plant located in the municipality of Tepeji del Río, in the Mexican state of Hidalgo; it is owned by Rubie's Costume Company, Incorporated, [http://www2.rubies.com/hist.html] the world's largest manufacturer of Halloween and Carnival products. Rudie's also manufactures a wide array of Christmas and toy merchandise. Under an exclusive licensing agreement with Mattel, Rudie's de México has primarily manufactured doll costumes bearing the Barbie logo: "Barbie Princess", "Barbie of Swan Lake", and "Princess Anneliese Barbie".

On October 14, 2005, the Progressive Union of Workers of the Textile Industry, the Manufacturing, Cutting and Confection of Fabrics and Garments in General and Related and Similar Industries in the Mexican Republic, a member of the "Vanguardia Obrera" Workers Federation of the Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants (FTVO-CROC), filed a submission [http://www.usleap.org/Maquilas/Mattel/RubiesNAOFinal.pdf] with the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of International Labor Affairs, Office of Trade Agreement Implementation (OTAI). The submission alleges that the government of Mexico has failed to fulfill its obligations under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation [http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/regs/naalc/naalc.htm] (NAALC) to effectively enforce its labor law in connection with freedom of association and the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, the right to strike, prohibition of forced labor, labor protection for children and young persons, elimination of employment discrimination, prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses, and minimum employment standards related to events at a textile plant operated by Rubie's de México. Rubie's has denied virtually all charges included in the submission. On January 6, 2006 OTAI accepted FTVO-CROC's submission [http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/regs/fedreg/notices/2006000228.htm] for review pursuant to Article 16(3) of NAALC. The review will be completed, and a public report will be issued within 180 days.