Mexico's UNRC university accused of union persecution amid staff dismissals

Professor Samantha Fouilloux, a full‑time faculty member at the Universidad Nacional Rosario Castellanos (UNRC) in Mexico, alleges that the university's secretary general, Antonio Méndez, has led a campaign of dismissals targeting leaders of the newly formed Asociación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Educativos de la UNRC (ASUTEUNRC). Fouilloux claims she was recently notified of her own dismissal and reports intimidation by Méndez and director Fernando Santander.

UNRC rector Alma Herrera denies any labor violence or harassment, stating the institution fully respects constitutional freedom of association. Herrera cites a decision from the Tribunal de Conciliación y Arbitraje indicating that the union lacks official registration and therefore has no legal structure. The dispute unfolds as the university confronts broader challenges in admitting large numbers of prospective students.

The case highlights tensions between university administration and faculty seeking collective representation, with both sides presenting conflicting accounts of the union's legal status and alleged persecution.