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An assignment in Mexico required our physical presence during the shut down process of one our client’s “maquiladoras”, or factories.  Our client, a U.S. entity who maintains corporate offices in Chicago, had made the unfortunate, but necessary decision to terminate all 65 employees at this particular facility shortly before Thanksgiving in 2006.  The primary concern was that of potential threats, unrest, retaliation or harm to management in the form of physical violence, all of which are common during factory shut-downs in Mexico. 

          Having previously handled special assignments in Mexico, our client requested my personal, direct involvement in this matter.  The person I considered to partner with in this assignment was one of our Houston area Investigators, who is also a trained Personal Protection Officer and is originally from Vera Cruz, Mexico.  Not only is this Personal Protection Officer someone with a significant amount of Investigations and Security experience, he also served as a “Capitan” for 10 years in the Mexican Military, and still maintains contact with many high level military and law enforcement officials. 

          A sound, detailed and effective Personal Protection/Executive Assistance plan (which contained contingency considerations) was then prepared by Texas Investigative Network, Inc. and submitted to our client.  As confident as I was in the plan we submitted to our client, I knew with certainty that once our team arrived at the “maquiladora” and initiated the process, we would be viewed as “the bad guys” by factory employees.
         
          Once we received our engagement and authorization to initiate the assignment, we traveled immediately to Laredo, Texas, acquired a rental vehicle, and traveled across the border for 1 hour until we reached our client’s facility in Mexico.  One day prior to our client’s arrival, we initiated an inspection in order to properly identify all entrances, exits, parking areas, office and manufacturing areas, the status of the residences and business situated in proximity to this facility, and, most importantly, all main and alternative thoroughfares back to the U.S. Border.  In my professional opinion, it became increasingly clear and imperative that the employee terminations and plant shut-down would have to be initiated swiftly the next morning and concluded on the same day. 

          Early the next morning, we met with our client’s management team (2 from Chicago), as well as legal counsel (2 from Mexico) and the Human Resource Director (1 from Mexico).  In this meeting, my primary objective was to identify any and all employees on the H.R. list with a criminal history, drug or alcohol addictions, a propensity for violence, or whose record of employment may contain details of disciplinary action or malevolent behavior.  We identified 2 men with very volatile tempers who had previously demonstrated combative behavior towards management.  The consensus was that the termination process would begin with these 2 individuals in order to remove the most likely threats to the safety of all involved in this process,  progress immediately to the front line supervisors (6 – 7 men), on to the morning shift (approximately 30 employees) and then conclude with the evening shift (approximately 25 employees).
         
          To say that I was concerned about the capabilities of the existing security personnel when we arrived at the “maquiladora” would have been an understatement.  The 3 on-site security guards were equipped with whistles and hand held radios.  These security guards, who appeared to be no more than 16 – 18 years of age, reminded me of valet parking attendants, more-so than security guards.  The most imposing of the 3 may have weighed 135 lbs.  I encouraged the management team to get settled into the conference room as quick as possible and initiate the process.

          Our assignment required that we keep employees waiting in separate groups until called upon by management.  The objective was to create a functional process in which those terminated employees would not have the opportunity to meet or converse with those employees who had yet to be notified by management of the shut-down.  Those few employees who actually had vehicles on-site were instructed to depart the premises immediately for safety reasons.  Those employees who did not have vehicles, of which there were many, were escorted onto a private bus waiting in one of the facility parking lots.  Fortunately, the termination of the 2 employees of primary concern was handled very efficiently, with no threats or incidents of violence directed toward management, other than a couple of angry glares and some colorful language (so “now” they were able to speak English I thought to myself). 

          About 2 hours into the process, a full size, off-road pick-up truck marked with police lights, communications antennas, official law enforcement designation, and occupied by the 3 Mexican Police Officers, arrived on the premises.  All 3 police officers exited the vehicle immediately and looked inquisitively at me (the lone gringo).  Carrying AK Assault rifles and wielding 9mm pistols in body holsters and pistol belts and with rows of ammunition bullets attached to and visible on their upper bodies, I was not convinced specifically as to what their intentions were.  After several tense moments of exchanging identification information and providing an explanation as to the purpose for our being at this “maquiladore”, the officers departed and advised that they would remain in the area in the event any problems arise.

          As we continued the termination process 1 small group at a time, I began to experience compassion and a heavy heart for those employees who were departing, not knowing where their next paycheck may come from.  Some men physically displayed the hazards of the jobs they had embraced through the absence of fingers, severe burn marks on arms or legs, and even a missing eye on 1 young man.  Some carried themselves with an obvious limp while departing the “maquiladora”.  I’m sure many had families that depended on them.

          Completing the entire termination and shut down process just before dark, we loaded into 3 vehicles and departed.  Upon reaching the U.S. Border, and passing appropriately through the required check-point, our team had achieved its objective.  This achievement became more evident when back in Laredo, our client described our involvement in the matter as being “crucial and as having provided a sense of relief”.  Fortunately, a comprehensive plan, coupled with effective personnel enabled us to successfully complete our “maquiladora” assignment.

Bill Pellerin, President
Texas Investigative Network, Inc. 
Houston, Texas
(713) 807-8811
www.texasinvestigators.com