Mexican Labor Leader: Wages, Trade and AI Must Be Linked to Secure North America's Future

Alejandro Martínez Araiza, National General Secretary of SNAC — Mexico's oldest private‑sector union — told U.S. officials in Washington that labor policy is now central to North America's economic competitiveness, border stability and long‑term growth. He made his case during public testimony as part of the review of the United States‑Mexico‑Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Martínez Araiza was one of a small, invited group to testify before representatives of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury and Labor. According to the USTR, roughly 1,500 public comments were submitted on the agreement's operation, but only a limited number of witnesses were asked to appear in person.

“There is no fair trade on poverty wages,” Martínez Araiza said. “The responsibility is shared.”

Rather than treating low wages in Mexico as only a domestic labor dispute, Martínez Araiza framed the issue as a strategic regional challenge. He argued that a North American model that relies on cheap labor undercuts both Mexico and the United States by depressing purchasing power, fueling migration and constraining sustainable growth.

Linking Wages, Migration and Community Stability

Martínez Araiza emphasized that improving wages and labor standards reduces the economic pressures that push families to migrate. “A secure border begins with a Mexican who does not have to flee his homeland to live with dignity,” he said. He described decent pay as central to family stability and community resilience: “A decent wage is not a number on a pay stub. It is a father who comes home with his head held high, a mother who is protected, a child who does not grow up orphaned by forced migration.”

He linked stronger wages to reduced recruitment by organized crime and broader public safety: “When work is respected, the family holds together; when the family holds together, the community resists crime; when the community resists, the country has peace.”

Regional Competitiveness and Strategic Competition

Martínez Araiza urged North American policymakers to view competitiveness through the lens of shared prosperity rather than lower labor costs. In competition with economic powers such as China, he said the United States, Mexico and Canada should strengthen regional manufacturing by raising living standards and increasing consumer purchasing power across the continent. “Competitiveness cannot be built on the misery of those who produce,” he said, citing Henry Ford’s historic pay increases as an example of how higher wages can expand markets.

Policy Proposals

During the USMCA review, Martínez Araiza presented a three‑part framework:

• Expand formal employment and the quality of jobs to reduce informal labor and low‑wage traps.
• Strengthen enforcement of labor rights through the USMCA's Rapid Response Labor Mechanism to ensure standards are applied effectively.
• Protect independent labor leaders who face violence, intimidation and disinformation, including measures to guarantee their safety and freedom of association.

Preparing for Automation: The "Technological Dividend"

Anticipating the economic impact of artificial intelligence and automation, Martínez Araiza proposed a concept he calls the “Technological Dividend.” Rather than opposing automation, he argues workers should share in the value created by new technologies. He envisions models such as digital cooperatives and worker ownership stakes in AI systems, robotics and platforms so that workers receive continuing income as traditional tasks evolve. “Workers must own the technologies meant to replace us,” he said. “It is not enough to compete against the machine. We must master it, manage it, and monetize it.”

He cautioned that AI may reshape labor markets faster than regulators and businesses can adapt, and urged proactive policies to ensure workers benefit from technological change.

A Cooperative, Not Adversarial, Vision

Throughout his testimony, Martínez Araiza emphasized cooperation among unions, employers and governments to advance a shared North American economic strategy. Rejecting zero‑sum rhetoric, he said, “There is no 'America First' with a 'Mexico Last.' You do not defeat China by trying to be China. The United States needs a reliable neighbor with shared values.”

As debates continue over USMCA implementation, Martínez Araiza's proposals highlight a growing discussion about whether labor policy, trade, technology and regional security should be treated as integrated elements of a continental strategy rather than isolated topics. His appearance in the treaty review signals that conversations about competitiveness increasingly include wages, technological change and the long‑term role of workers.

Byline: Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, cybersecurity researcher, founder of ItFunk.org and ReactionaryTimes.com, and a commentator whose work on cybersecurity and politics has appeared internationally.