SJOIIM Commemorates International Women’s Day and Signs Collaboration Agreement with DIF Matamoros

SJOIIM Commemorates International Women’s Day and Signs Collaboration Agreement with DIF Matamoros

As part of the International Women’s Day commemoration, the Union of Industrial and Maquiladora Workers (SJOIIM) held a special event to recognize the vital role women play within union life, the workforce, and society, while also formalizing an important collaboration agreement with DIF Matamoros for the benefit of union members and their families.

Recognizing the role of working women

During the event, SJOIIM General Secretary Juan Villafuerte Morales welcomed attendees and highlighted the essential role women play within the organization, noting that a large portion of the union’s workforce is made up of women.

“For us, International Women’s Day does not go unnoticed. This union is largely made up of women, so their participation and their fight to earn spaces in society, politics, and the workplace is fundamental,” he said.

He also emphasized that the union continues strengthening ties with institutions, authorities, and businesses to create meaningful benefits for the working community.

Agreement with DIF Matamoros to expand support services

A key moment of the event was the signing of a collaboration agreement between SJOIIM and DIF Matamoros, aimed at bringing comprehensive services closer to union members.

DIF Matamoros General Director María Elena Sánchez Cantú explained that, through this agreement, workers will have access to services such as:

  • Medical care
  • Women’s health services
  • Pap smear screenings
  • Contraceptive methods
  • Free pharmacy medications
  • Free dental consultations
  • Legal guidance
  • Psychological care
  • Support from the Office for the Protection of Children and Adolescents
  • Community outreach brigades
  • Workshops
  • Social support programs

Additionally, the union will help facilitate worker participation in DIF social programs such as collective marriage campaigns, aimed at providing legal certainty for families.

Teamwork for the well-being of families

DIF Matamoros President Ana Ariciaga de Granados thanked the union for the invitation and emphasized the importance of working together to create a positive impact for more families in the city.

She also recognized the strength of women and the many roles they carry in society—as mothers, daughters, workers, and pillars of their households.

Keynote conference and life testimony

As part of the program, attendees also participated in the keynote lecture “The Strength of Sustaining Life”, presented by Mónica Benavides, Director of Gender Equality at Fundación Objetivo Sinergia.

In addition, union member Claudia shared a heartfelt personal testimony about one of the most difficult moments of her life following the loss of her mother, emphasizing that despite adversity, the love of her family and her inner strength helped her move forward.

Institutional attendance

The event was attended by:

  • Claudia Alvarado Cerna, Director of the Municipal Women’s Institute
  • Rosa Sauceda Gamboa, Interior Secretary of SJOIIM
  • Jesús Caballero, Treasurer
  • Jesús Sánchez, Secretary of Exterior Affairs
  • Members of the Executive Committee
  • Union delegates
  • Maquiladora company managers
  • Red Cross leadership
  • Municipal authorities, including Second Trustee Angélica Maldonado

Conclusion

Through actions like this, SJOIIM reaffirms its commitment to promoting initiatives that recognize the work of women, expand access to essential services, and strengthen the well-being of working families in Matamoros.

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