Trade policy is often debated in terms of tariffs, supply chains and market access. Labor issues are typically discussed separately, focusing on wages, workplace conditions and collective bargaining. Alejandro Martínez Araiza believes those conversations can no longer be separated.
The Mexican labor leader and National General Secretary of SNAC, the oldest private-sector union in Mexico, argues that labor policy has become central to North America's economic competitiveness, border security and long-term stability. That message recently brought him to Washington, where he participated in public hearings connected to the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Martínez Araiza was among a select group invited to testify before representatives from USTR and the U.S. Departments of State, Treasury and Labor during the treaty review process. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, roughly 1,500 comments were submitted on the operation of the agreement, and only a small group of witnesses was invited to appear in person.
His central argument was straightforward.
"There is no fair trade on poverty wages," Martínez Araiza said. "The responsibility is shared."
While labor advocates have long criticized low wages in Mexico, Martínez Araiza frames the issue less as a labor dispute than as a regional economic strategy. He argues that a North American economy built on inexpensive labor ultimately weakens both Mexico and the United States by reducing purchasing power, encouraging migration and limiting long-term growth.
Rather than viewing workers on opposite sides of the border as competitors, he sees their interests as closely aligned.
"The uncomfortable truth is that when the Mexican worker does well, the American worker does better, and vice versa," he said.
That philosophy also shapes his views on immigration.
While political debate in Washington often focuses on border enforcement and asylum policy, Martínez Araiza argues that migration cannot be addressed without improving economic opportunity in Mexico.
"A secure border begins with a Mexican who does not have to flee his homeland to live with dignity," he said.
His position is that stronger wages reduce the economic pressures that push families to leave their communities, creating benefits that extend well beyond the workplace.
For Martínez Araiza, labor policy is fundamentally connected to family stability.
"The value of work is the foundation of everything else," he said. "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 argues that stronger wages help preserve families, strengthen communities and reduce the conditions that allow organized crime to flourish.
"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," he said.
Martínez Araiza also believes North America's economic future should be viewed through the lens of strategic competition with China.
Rather than attempting to compete through lower labor costs, he argues that the United States, Mexico and Canada should strengthen regional manufacturing by raising living standards and increasing consumer purchasing power throughout North America.
"Competitiveness cannot be built on the misery of those who produce," he said.
He frequently points to Henry Ford's decision to increase worker pay as an example of how stronger wages can also strengthen markets by allowing workers to purchase the goods they produce.
His recommendations extend beyond wages. During the USMCA review, Martínez Araiza presented a three-part framework that calls for broader formal employment, stronger labor enforcement through the agreement's Rapid Response Labor Mechanism and greater protections for independent labor leaders facing violence, intimidation and disinformation.
He also argues that policymakers should begin preparing for the economic consequences of artificial intelligence.
Rather than opposing automation, Martínez Araiza proposes that workers should have opportunities to share in the value created by emerging technologies.
"Workers must own the technologies meant to replace us," he said.
His concept, which he describes as a "Technological Dividend," envisions workers acquiring ownership interests in artificial intelligence systems, robotics and digital platforms that increasingly perform tasks once handled by people.
"It is not enough to compete against the machine," he said. "We must master it, manage it, and monetize it."
Martínez Araiza argues that digital cooperatives and other ownership models could allow workers to receive continuing income from automated technologies even as traditional jobs evolve.
The proposal reflects a broader concern that advances in artificial intelligence could reshape labor markets faster than governments and businesses are prepared to address.
Throughout his testimony and public remarks, Martínez Araiza consistently returns to one overarching principle: economic progress should remain centered on the individual worker.
His message also differs from traditional labor rhetoric. Rather than framing labor relations primarily as conflict between workers and employers, he frequently speaks about cooperation among labor organizations, businesses and governments to strengthen North America's competitive position.
That perspective also informs his views on trade.
"There is no 'America First' with a 'Mexico Last,'" he said. "You do not defeat China by trying to be China. The United States needs a reliable neighbor with shared values."
As discussions continue over the future implementation of the USMCA, Martínez Araiza's proposals highlight an emerging debate over whether labor policy, trade, technology and regional security should be considered as parts of a broader North American economic strategy rather than as separate policy questions.
Whether those ideas gain wider support remains uncertain. But his appearance during the treaty review process demonstrates that discussions about the future of North American competitiveness are increasingly extending beyond tariffs and manufacturing to include wages, technological change and the long-term role of workers in a rapidly evolving economy.
Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, cybersecurity researcher, founder of ItFunk.org and ReactionaryTimes.com, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, focused on cybersecurity and politics, has appeared in major publications around the world.
Read Full Article »