Mexican miners conflict widens, thousands march - Reuters AlertNet
'It's not the government or companies that choose union leaders, it's the workers. The unions are governed by the people chosen by their workers,' he told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Unions and rights groups say the proposed labor reform, considered vital by the government to revitalize Mexico's limp economic growth, would weaken worker safeguards.
Miners supporting Gomez walked off the job last week and brought Mexico's mining industry to a standstill for two days.
Since then, dozens of unions in Mexico and abroad have backed the embattled leader, describing his rival Elias Morales as a stooge of the government and mining companies.