From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (Harel Barzilai)
Subject: NORTH AMERICAN WORKER-TO-WORKER NETWORK (News Update)
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 05:03:55 GMT

    The Center for Disease Control and the Texas Dept. of Health
    released a study [on] anencephalic (undeveloped brain) births [..]
    Since 1986, 68 cases of anencephaly have been recorded in
    Brownsville, Texas. [..]  An EPA-certified lab found Stepan
    Chemical was discharging xylene into an open canal within 1-3
    miles of the anencephaly clusters at 53,000 times the U.S.
    permissible level.  GM in the same area is dumping at 6,000 times
    standard, and 215,000 times standard for methylene chloride.
    Director of Epidemiology at Texas Dept. of Health announced there
    is "no epidemic" but a "trend" of anencephaly cases among
    Hispanics and border residents [...]
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    In May, U.S. Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) sent a letter to
    colleagues seeking a cosponsor to a bill that "would exempt any
    person operating a trade or business in the State of Ohio from all
    Federal Laws and regulations applying to such trade or business."
    The intent of the proposed legislation was to demonstrate the
    unconstitutionality as it parallels NAFTA and many nations that
    receive Most Favored Nation status.
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    * An article published by the United Food and Commercial Workers
    Union (UFCW) stated: Since U.S. food processing workers are paid
    an average of nearly 15 times what Mexican food industry workers
    earn- $9.12 compared to .62 cents per hour- employers can gain a
    significant advantage by moving to Mexico to save in labor costs.
    Job losses are expected to fall disproportionately on poor, rural
    states, where other employment isn't available, and where food
    processing industries are concentrated.
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[Via misc.activism.progressive from LaborNet's apc.labor]
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Topic 200       FREE TRADE LABOR EVENTS/NEWS/RESOU 
labornotes      apc.labour       9:13 am  Aug 28, 1992 
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                    NORTH AMERICAN WORKER-TO-WORKER NETWORK 
                              FREE TRADE MAILING 
                              7435 Michigan Ave. 
                               Detroit, MI 48210 
                                (313) 842-6262 

NEWS UPDATE FROM THE U.S. 
* After 14 months U.S., Mexico and Canada trade negotiators 
announced the completion of negotiations of the North American 
Free Trade Agreement. Congress must wait 90 calendar days to 
review NAFTA and then has 90 Congressional days, or less, to vote 
it up or down. For updates on NAFTA News, contact: Institute for 
Agriculture and Trade Policy, 1313-Fifth St. SE Suite 303, 
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1546. Tel: (612)379-5980 or email: 
kmander@igc.org. 

* August 6. Waxman-Gephardt bill HR 246 passed 365-0 in House of 
Representatives. The resolution yet to be voted on by the Senate 
warns the President that Congress will reject a trade agreement 
which threatens U.S. labor, environmental or consumer safety 
standards. 
      Gephardt calls for a "cross-border transaction" tax to be 
used for worker retraining, environmental protection and 
infrastructure development, and a "code of conduct" forcing 
Mexican businesses to pay their workers "a decent wage; not U.S. 
wages, but wages that will allow those workers to enjoy dignity 
and a hope for the future." 
      Bush opposes a "green tax" on cross-border trade. 
Environmentalists and Democratic party leaders argue that Mexico 
will not be able to afford the huge amounts of money needed to 
clean up its territory and enforce pollution laws.  Bush conceded 
two proposals to allow incorporation of environmental measures 
into NAFTA: (1) allowing local, state and federal government 
agencies to continue banning food imports if the products exceed 
pesticide limits, and (2) prohibiting countries or states from 
lowering environmental standards or enforcement to attract new 
investment.  (Note: neither allows for strengthening of 
standards). 

* The New Teamster August 1992, (Teamsters' new magazine) reported 
on the Teamsters union's offensive against the NAFTA, which will 
allow cross-border trucking without requirements for equivalent 
safety and wage standards (including bilingual information for 
transport of hazardous materials). President Bush has ordered 
California and other states to accept Mexican commercial drivers 
licenses -even before the NAFTA is signed- creating double 
standards for law enforcement. 
      Teamster General President Ron Carey was joined by the Los 
Angeles City Council, the Mexican Action Network and others in 
support of a resolution calling for Bush to rescind the order. 
Another resolution won approval by the California State Assembly, 
directing the California Highway Patrol and other state officials 
to ignore the Bush action and uphold the state authority to 
enforce its safety standards.  A campaign including a caravan and 
rallies throughout California has been launched to gain 
endorsement of resolutions similar to that in L.A. "Save Good 
Jobs" petitions against Bush's deregulation and free trade 
policies have been sent to all Teamster locals in U.S. 
      A three-stage international trucking accord to be phased in 
over the first 10 years of the NAFTA will eliminate U.S. trucking 
jobs and pull down wages. Currently U.S. truckers cannot haul to 
Mexico, and foreign investment in the Mexican trucking industry is 
restricted. In Stage I (first 3 years) access would remain limited 
to a narrow zone along both sides of the border.  Stage II: (years 
4-6) Cross-border hauling by non-joint venture firms would be 
opened up to the states on each side of the U.S. border. (On U.S. 
side, Mexican owned or operating firms can haul into California, 
Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.)  U.S. trucking firms can 
establish joint ventures with Mexican companies; joint ventures 
can haul throughout Mexico beginning in the third year.   Stage 
III (after year six): unlimited hauling rights over entire 
territories. After 10 years: 100% foreign ownership possible. 

* The Center for Disease Control and the Texas Dept. of Health 
released a study which was to investigate direct cause of 
anencephalic (undeveloped brain) births, but ignores the obvious: 
the lack of investment in public health and safety infrastructure 
including monitoring. Since 1986, 68 cases of anencephaly have 
been recorded in Brownsville, Texas. 
      The Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras calls for a 
comprehensive investigation on contamination in the 
Brownsville/Matamoros area and an immediate plan for clean-up and 
reduction.  An EPA-certified lab found Stepan Chemical was 
discharging xylene into an open canal within 1-3 miles of the 
anencephaly clusters at 53,000 times the U.S. permissible level. 
GM in the same area is dumping at 6,000 times standard, and 
215,000 times standard for methylene chloride. Director of 
Epidemiology at Texas Dept. of Health announced there is "no 
epidemic" but a "trend" of anencephaly cases among Hispanics and 
border residents, smacking of environmental racism. A "trend" 
doesn't get attention, funding, and action. 

* 11 auto workers from Canada and the U.S. and a Japanese trade 
unionist travelled to the U.S.-Mexico border for an educational 
tour organized by UAW 879 and Labor Notes. Shopfloor activists met 
with farmworkers, auto workers, garment workers, lawyers, the 
Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras, and community 
organizers. For an article on the tour, write: Tom Laney, UAW 
Local 879, 59 Battle Creek Place, St. Paul, MN  55119. 

* NAFTA "Swat analysis teams" created to deal with particular 
issues -Labor, environment, agriculture, etc. Fourteen teams set 
up in each of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. with coordinators for 
each team. Teams will examine issues and design alternative 
policies to build towards sustainable continental development. 
Specific consideration will be given to ethnic/cultural and gender 
concerns and perspectives in the design of alternatives and impact 
of policies. Alternative policies and NAFTA criticisms will be 
compiled into final document for distribution in all three 
countries and will be released after NAFTA is set forth. 
      A trinational document will be boiled down and group will 
      seek organizational and individual endorsements in the early 
fall, with plan to distribute to those running for Congress. 
Organized by La Red Mexicana in Mexico; Mobilization for 
Development, Trade, Labor and the Environment (MODTLE), and the 
Fair Trade Campaign in the US; and Action Canada Network, Canadian 
Centre for Policy Alternatives and Common Frontiers in Canada. 
Contact MODTLE, 100 Maryland Ave., Box 74, Washington, D.C. 20002. 
Tel: (202) 544-7198. 

* In June, SEDESOL (formerly SEDUE, Mexico's environmental agency) 
met with the US-EPA to discuss the Integrated Border Environmental 
Plan released in Sept. 1991. A protest demonstration was held to 
highlight the anencephalic cases along the border.  Repeatedly 
denied access to information about the environmental practices of 
area companies, Matamoros residents were recently informed by top 
SEDESOL officials that they were under CIA-type investigations for 
their involvement in binational efforts to put pressure on 
polluting companies. SEDESOL, in a seemingly political gesture, 
temporarily closed several Matamoros plants including Stepan 
Chemical for 5 days. 

* Over 300 Detroit area UAW Region 1A members toured the 
maquiladora zone in Tijuana in June, organized by Region 1A 
Director Bob King during the UAW Convention held in San Diego. 
Tour participants, guided by local residents representing the 
Border Project of the American Friends Service Committee said, 
"The trip gave real meaning to labor's drive to counter the labor 
exploitation of workers under Bush's NAFTA." Auto workers who 
participated in the tour were very moved by the experience, and 
not only took up a collection for the Mexican families they spoke 
with, but also spoke to other delegates at the Convention about 
the need for action. For more information about the tour, contact 
UAW Region IA, 9650 Telegraph, Taylor, MI 48180. 

* Also in June, Mexican President Carlos Salinas demanded that 
President Bush halt the development of three toxic dumps on the 
Mexican border in Texas. Mexican and U.S. environmentalists 
blockaded border crossings in March to call attention to the 
proposed toxic dumps slated for Dryden, Spofford and Sierra 
Blanca. 

* Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) leader Baldemar Velasquez 
joined a delegation of American Hispanic leaders to Mexico City in 
June, invited by the Mexican government. Velasquez believes 
Mexican politicians are considering the importance of the Hispanic 
vote in American elections and are concerned how their actions are 
being viewed. FLOC is approaching free trade by making alliances 
with organized labor in Mexico to raise wages and benefits. FLOC 
has as agreement with the Mexican farm workers union, SNTOAC, to 
open a dialogue on common economic and bargaining problems. 
      SNTOAC represents 50,000 Mexican farm workers, compared to 
17,000 members in both FLOC and the United Farm Workers unions. 
Velasquez is urging the Mexican government to send workers north 
as "guest workers" only if they would be represented by union 
contract. 

* Congress has accepted a petition by the US-Guatemala Labor 
Education Project, IUE, UE, UFCW, ACTWU and ILGWU this August to 
review worker rights violations in Guatemala to determine whether 
trade benefits should be suspended. For more information, contact 
USGLEP, 4845 North Washtenaw, Third Floor, Chicago, IL  60625. 
Tel:  (312) 262-6502. 

* On August 12, Carla Hills, U.S. trade negotiator, said that cars 
and light trucks will have to have 62.5% North American (Mexican, 
U.S. or Canadian) content for duty-free treatment eight years 
after NAFTA becomes effective. 
      According to the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Reporter, the "auto 
accord will also: 1) immediately allow 100% investment by "NAFTA 
investors" in Mexican "national suppliers" of auto parts and 2) 
immediately allow up to 49% investment in other auto parts plants 
in Mexico." 
      Owen Bieber, President of the United Auto Workers (UAW), 
condemned the agreement, saying it will "vaporize thousands and 
thousands of good-paying U.S. jobs." The UAW had pressed for 75% 
North American content. 

* In May, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the 
Mexican government launched a major survey of more than 700 
Mexican industrial firms to assess changes in light of free trade 
in employment, wages, technology, training, and the adoption of 
more flexible labor and employment practices. Report expected 
early 1993. [Contact ILO Publications Center, 49 Sheridan Ave., 
Albany, NY 12210. Tel: (518) 436-9686.] Source: ILO Washington 
Focus, 1828 L St., NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: (202) 653-7652/ 
Fax (202) 653-7687. 

* Since beginning of 1990 about 30% of all Canadian trucking firms 
have gone out of business: 656 in 1990; 762 in 1991; and 151 in 
the first 3 months of 1992. Source: Globe and Mail, May 26, 1992. 

* May 21-24 Coalition for Justice in the Maquiladoras held a 
workshop in El Paso/Juarez where they visited maquiladora 
factories and spoke to workers. The CJM Board meeting followed the 
workshop. 

* May 20. 300 demonstrators picketed the 28th Annual Wisconsin 
International Trade Conference held in Milwaukee as part of a two- 
day rally in protest of NAFTA. Day one featured a "Parade of Lost 
Jobs" where union members, farmers, Mexican workers and other 
activists carried signs with names of companies that left for 
Mexico. The events were organized by the U.S. and Mexican Workers 
Coalition formed by the Milwaukee County Labor Council. 

* In May, activists in the Mexican National Telephone Union, 
Sindicato de Telefonistas de la Republica Mexicana, hosted a visit 
by 2 Canadian and U.S. activists from the Communications Workers 
of Canada, and of America. They met with Mexican technicians and 
operators, toured telephone facilities, and addressed union 
meetings in Mexico City and Hermosillo on the topics of the 
globalization of the telecommunications industry; NAFTA; and the 
use of new technology to de-skill, devalue, and destroy union 
jobs.  Unionists from the 3 countries agreed to establish a closer 
working relationship. 

* The Bush Administration is near decision on beginning free-trade 
negotiations with Chile; Chilean President Patricio Aylwin anxious 
to begin talks. U.S. Trade Rep. Carla Hills advised Pres. Bush to 
postpone, but Treasury and State departments support start-up. 
Chile has been considered next in line after NAFTA is signed. 
(Journal of Commerce) 

* In May, U.S. Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio) sent a letter to 
colleagues seeking a cosponsor to a bill that "would exempt any 
person operating a trade or business in the State of Ohio from all 
Federal Laws and regulations applying to such trade or business." 
The intent of the proposed legislation was to demonstrate the 
unconstitutionality as it parallels NAFTA and many nations that 
receive Most Favored Nation status. 

* An article published by the United Food and Commercial Workers 
Union (UFCW) stated: Since U.S. food processing workers are paid 
an average of nearly 15 times what Mexican food industry workers 
earn- $9.12 compared to .62 cents per hour- employers can gain a 
significant advantage by moving to Mexico to save in labor costs. 
Job losses are expected to fall disproportionately on poor, rural 
states, where other employment isn't available, and where food 
processing industries are concentrated. 

* The Union de Trabajadores Agricolas Fronteriza (Border 
Agricultural Workers Union) UTAF, a cross-border agricultural 
workers union of Mexican and U.S. chile pickers, struck for nine 
days during August for better living and working conditions. The 
average yearly wages for a farm worker family of four is only 
$5,000. The UTAF succeeded in increasing wages of Mexican and U.S. 
workers up from .60 to .65 cents a bucket of California chiles. 
For more info, contact UTAF, 514 S. Kansas St., El Paso, TX 
79902.  Tel: (915) 532-0921. 

* Prime Time Live!, an approximately 45-minute TV program aired 
June 11 documented U.S. transnationals in Mexico and their role in 
toxic dumping. This excellent program documents the stories of the 
Mallory children (retarded children whose mothers worked with PCBs 
with only rubber gloves) and anencephalic babies (babies born with 
no brains) due to chemical discharges in water supplies. The 
program also addressed organized community and labor response. 

* June 25-28, the Evergreen State College Labor Center organized a 
Camp Solidarity Northwest, featuring a simulation game on free 
trade. Unionists played out the roles of government, big business, 
labor, and the community, and acted out potential strategies. For 
more info and a copy of the game, write: Helen Lee, Labor Center, 
TESC, Olympia, WA  98505 or call (206) 866-6000 Ext. 6525. 

* The International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, 
Machine and Furniture Workers (IUE) President William Bywater 
denounced President Bush's job training initiative as a response 
to job loss due to free trade on August 24. "Retraining workers is 
not the same as providing them jobs. What kinds of jobs will 
workers be training for and where will the jobs be?" remarked 
Bywater. For more info, and interviews for radio or talk shows, 
contact Scott Treibitz or Steve Hahn, (202) 296-1208. 
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive