As part of International Women’s Day, the Confederation of Workers of Mexico (CTM), the Regional Federation of Workers of Matamoros (FRTM), and the Union of Industrial Workers and Laborers of the Maquiladora Industry (SJOIIM) organized the keynote conference “United Women, Strong Women,” aimed specifically at the working women of Matamoros.

Presented by Sofía Briseño Loredo, the conference focused on the female struggle in the labor sector, highlighting both the progress made and the challenges that still remain in the fight for equality.

A Space to Recognize and Advance

The event was graced by Gloria Carrillo Salinas, CTM’s Secretary of Women’s Affairs, who delivered a heartfelt and direct message to the working women in attendance.

During her speech, Carrillo Salinas acknowledged that, while significant milestones have been achieved, there are still national challenges that demand attention and unity. She emphasized that in Matamoros, coordinated union efforts have produced visible results:

“What women need is for our years of struggle to be recognized. In the CTM, we’ve already overcome many of the issues still present in other unions, such as wage inequality.”

She also highlighted that thanks to the proper implementation of collective bargaining agreements, the CTM has achieved wage equality between men and women—a solid step toward a fairer labor structure.

Carrillo also extended greetings from CTM General Secretary Carlos Aceves del Olmo to all affiliated women.

A Union with a Vision for Equality

Juan Villafuerte Morales, General Secretary of SJOIIM, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to defending the rights of working women. He emphasized that events like this serve as a powerful reminder that unity within the labor movement is essential for continuing the push toward gender equality in the workplace.

Presence and Worker Representation

Also seated at the event’s head table were:

• Rosa Sauceda, Secretary of Internal Affairs, SJOIIM Executive Committee
  
• Maura Patricia Hernández, CTM Program Coordinator
  
• Mtra. Angélica Susana Maldonado Saguilán, First Trustee of the Matamoros City Council
  

The event was organized by Romualda García Bastián, Secretary of Records at SJOIIM, together with the SJOIIM Organizational Commission, chaired by Alberto Niño.

Women from All Sectors

The event drew broad participation from working women across various sectors in Matamoros, including:

• Representatives from the maquiladora sector
  
• Women from the health and service sectors
  
• Members of the Municipal Workers’ Union
  
• Teresa Cruz, Secretary of the Water Board Workers’ Union
  
• María Elena Sánchez, from CTM’s Women’s Affairs
  

Their active participation reflected a collective commitment to expanding female representation in union and labor spaces.

Final Reflection

“United Women, Strong Women” was more than a conference—it was a space for recognition, dialogue, and reaffirmation of the central role of women in transforming the labor world.

Through this event, the CTM, FRTM, and SJOIIM clearly demonstrated that gender equality is a shared goal, and that the path to achieving it is built through dialogue, unity, and organized action.

With initiatives like this, the labor movement reaffirms its commitment to a cause that transcends generations: the dignity of women’s work and the construction of a more equitable society.