Mexico is experiencing a reconfiguration of unions, with increased competition, new forms of organization among unions, and a system that requires proof of legitimacy, as highlighted by the Labor Reengineering Analysis by De la Vega & Martínez Rojas.
Enrique García Conde, who leads the multidisciplinary group, explained that they analyzed over 4,000 certificates of representativeness – documents that confer legitimacy to unions – issued by the Federal Center for Arbitration and Labor Registration (CFCRL), between the first quarter of 2024 and 2025, “which allowed us to observe the union reconfiguration occurring in the country and the key trends relating to the activity of these organizations.”
In this sense, he disclosed that unions submitted about 15,000 applications for representativity certifications during 2024, of which only 10,000 were actually issued. “This means that there were around 15,000 attempts by unions to enter union-free companies, but since the applications did not fulfill the requirements established by law, only about 10,000 were issued”, according to CFCRL data.
He added that, since the 2019 reform, not that many certificates had been issued, 2024 being the year with the highest number of applications granted by the authority.
The partner of De la Vega & Martínez Rojas also detailed that industries such as commerce, construction, retail, restaurants, and manufacturing are leading in the number of certificate applications. “These activities represent a significant portion of employment in Mexico, which explains why they are a focal point for union organization,” stated García Conde.
Relating to federal entities: Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Jalisco, Nuevo León and Querétaro concentrate more than 50% of applications for certifications during the studied period.
This is no coincidence: they are also the states with the highest density of businesses, companies, and economic activity, so it is natural that they also display more union activity. This is where those productive centers, industrial parks, and service entities that create more formal jobs are located, and therefore, cause greater union interest,” explained the labor specialist.
Specifically, during the first three months of 2025, there was a slight decrease in the number of certificates of representativeness issued by the Federal Center of Arbitration and Labor Registration, this is, “a decrease in the certificates that fulfilled the necessary requirements for their issuance, as compared to the same period in 2024. However, this does not mean that unions are inactive”.
On the contrary, stated the specialist, union activity is high; many unions have chosen to use other ways, “such as representation claims, which also enable them to compete for a collective labor contract. The difference is that, when applying for the certificate of representation, they seek to enter a company currently without a union, whereas when filing a claim for the ownership of a collective labor agreement, they are trying to enter a company having an already established union.”
