Israel Cervantes

Published on March 11, 2023

Dolores Israel Cervantes Cordova Semblanza  is the founder of Generating Movement, the other GM. He is currently a worker in resistance and the coordinator of the Casa Obrera del Bajio.

Israel was born on March 5, 1978 in the Federal District, today Mexico City. He is the last of 9 children to Dolores Cervantes Cindo and Santos Córdova Luevano. In 1983 his family came to the community of La Aldea in the city of Silao Guanajuato. At 6 years old, he worked as a livestock farm worker and in agriculture. Israel completed secondary education and was awarded a “Bachillerato,” which is the U.S. equivalent to a high school diploma. In 1994, Israel began working for a footwear industry “7 Leguas”, in Ciudad de León, Guanajuato. In 1995, he returned to Mexico City and worked in construction, as well as “Diablero” in the Central de Abastos and “Pastor” in a combat rooster farm. In 2002, Israel returned to the state of Guanajuato to work for a few months at Rayder Mexico, a company in the automotive industry and a supplier to GM, that same year he started working at USM of Mexico, today American Axle, a company with Brazilian capital within the automotive industry where he received training in quality and in operational maintenance. There he performed activities as a forklift operator and welding adjustment in Robots. He was fired for expressing his disagreement regarding the delivery of utilities. In 2005 he began working at SADMEX, a manufacturer of corrugated pipes. At SADMEX, Israel received training in hydraulics and pneumatics. On October 30, 2006, he began working at the General Motors Silao plant where he worked in various areas in the Engine, 8-speed transmission and assembly plants. On August 28, 2019, he was fired from the company for organizing workers to fight for freedom of association. In April 2019, Israel and other GM Silao workers began an organization, SINTTIA, in which workers fight for Trade Union Freedom.

Translated and edited by Domenique Servin