http://www.cnbc.com/id/49007307/What039s_the_Next_Global_Manufacturing_Superpower I was talking to a friend of mine the other day. He's an independent contractor who helps facilitate the setting up of US companies' factories in other countries, among them Mexico.
He tells me that one city, Acuna, has been favored by US companies for decades because the city has touted itself as 100% union free. That's changing now as Mexican unions are moving in and negotiating (read
paying off) with two local rival drug cartels (the Zetas & Sinaloas) to get a foothold. Late last year a nephew of a former Governor was killed there, believed to be in retaliation for the police shooting a family member of one of the drug lords. Turns out (what a surprise) that the police are in up to their necks with the cartels, so who knows what happened. Three police officers were shot execution-style in Acuna last November. Kidnapping for ransom has become common.
My buddy says that many of the folks from US companies who have regularly been sent down to Acuna for years are now refusing to go, in fear of their safety. They are taken across the border from Del Rio Texas into Acuna on buses that have no security, so I don't blame them.
There have recently been multiple robberies, murders, kidnappings and other crimes against US companies' employees visiting border cities on business to manufacturing facilities in Mexico. We don't hear about most of them on TV but there are plenty of stories among those within the US manufacturing community. Word is getting around about what places to avoid.
Unfortunately, US companies are downplaying the danger. They continue to refuse to supply security for all but high ranking company officials (who get bullet-proof SUVs and armed bodyguards).
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what US government officials will do in the near future to protect the donations they get from big companies doing more and more business in Mexico. As things continue to degrade down there, they'll have to do something to keep the money flowing.
