"Comprehensive work utilizes official documents and other sources to analyze 142 labor conflicts in maquiladoras from 1968-87. Contends that unionism is functional to this industry. Sets forth model indicating that while unions in internally-oriented firms may function as mediator between management and workers, management in export-oriented firms have direct control over unions and workers. This control results in unions' loss of negotiating power and the imposition of regressive contracts by management"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.