Unions Unions are not generally prevalent in Cd. Juarez, approximately 90% of the maquila workforce is non-unionized; however, there have been attempts to link union activity in U.S. corporations to Mexican counterparts, specifically with General Electric in recent years. As a traditional manufacturing center, unions do no have a long history there as they do in other interior cities.

Political Influences The Governor for the State of Chihuahua is from Cd. Juarez, and is a member of the PAN Party, a break from the national control by the PRI Party Governor Francisco Barrio fully understands the needs and importance of the maquiladora industry to Juarez and the State of Chihuahua.

Assistance Local governments on both sides of the border are generally pro-maquila and can generate assistance packages when necessary. The El Paso Foreign Trade Association and The Border Trade Alliance are both effective at lobbying for and attaining special advantages for maquilas in the Juarez region.