From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (Harel Barzilai)
Subject: NORTH AMERICAN WORKER-TO-WORKER NETWORK (New Resources)
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 05:06:11 GMT

[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 


NEW RESOURCES 

* Mask of Democracy: Labor Suppression in Mexico Today, by Dan La 
Botz, is a must for activists interested in Mexico. The book 
explores Mexican labor movement history, the legal system, and the 
human cost of export-led development and unregulated free trade. A 
look at practical application of labor rights in Mexico where 
unemployment is 30% (excluding underemployment) and unions are 
state controlled. 227pp. $14 plus $2 shipping. Order from ILRERF, 
100 Maryland Ave., NE, Box 74, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: (202) 
544-7198/ Fax (202) 543-5999. E-mail via PeaceNet: laborrights. 

* A 44-page summary of the newly negotiated NAFTA from the 
International Trade Office is available for $5.00 pre-paid from 
Labor Notes, 7435 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI 48210. Tel: 313-842- 
6262. 

* "Unions and Free Trade: Solidarity vs. Competition" is an 
excellent 88-page book by Kim Moody and Mary McGinn of Labor Notes 
analyzing transnational companies corporate agenda for North 
America, its impact on working people, and what labor can do to 
fight back. Special chapters on auto, telecommunications, and 
airline industries. Also available is "Free Trade Organizer's 
Packet", a handy resource of materials and contacts for working on 
NAFTA issues with local unions. Book is $7 plus $2 postage; 
Organizer's Packet $3. Write: Labor Notes, 7435 Michigan Ave., 
Detroit, MI 48210. Tel: (313) 842-6262. 

* "Stepan Chemical: The Poisoning of a Mexican Community" is an 
18- minute video documenting the joint efforts of the citizens of 
Matamoros, Mexico and the U.S. based Coalition for Justice in the 
Maquiladoras to fight exploitation from multinational corporations 
across the U.S.-Mexico border. A must-see for activists opposing 
NAFTA. Available in English or Spanish. $20 plus shipping. C.J.M. 
3120 W. Ashby, San Antonio, TX 78228. Tel: (512) 732-8957. 

* "What's The Cost Of Your Blouse?" by Sydney Brown and Betty 
McAfee is an 18-minute video depicting economic justice issues in 
the workplace in the U.S. and Mexico. Focus on women garment 
workers in California Bay Area, El Paso, Texas and the 
maquiladoras. Project of the Northern California Interfaith 
Council. $29.95 plus tax and shipping. Open Window Images/NCIC 
1921 Oregon St., Berkeley, CA 94703. Tel: (415) 857-0870. 

* "Trade News," daily update on NAFTA and GATT, published by the 
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Available from IATP, 
1313 Fifth St., SE, Suite #303, Minneapolis, MN  55414-1516. Tel: 
(612) 379-5982 or on email on Peacenet under trade.news. 

* "U.S.-Mexico Trade: Assessment of Mexico's Environmental 
Controls for New Companies," a report from the U.S. General 
Accounting Office concludes there is widespread failure by U.S. 
companies operating in Mexico to comply with Mexico's 
environmental regulations. (Reference: GAO-GGD 92-113). To order 
call GAO office:  (202) 275-6241. 

* Cross Border Links directory includes addresses, contact 
persons, and descriptions of 260 key environmental, labor, 
citizens, government, and research organizations working on issues 
of NAFTA and economic integration.  Essential to activist 
networking. $11.95 plus $2.50 shipping. Resource Center, PO Box 
4506, Albuquerque, NM 87196. Tel: (505) 842-8288. Fax: (505) 
246-1601. 

* "Solidarity: Fast Track to Decline?" is a 16-page booklet 
produced by the United Auto Workers (UAW) on NAFTA, effects on 
Mexican and U.S. wages and jobs, and alternatives. Available for 
free from UAW Public Relations Dept., 8000 E. Jefferson, Detroit, 
MI  48214. 

* "Sabotage of the America's Health, Food and Safety Laws" poster 
denounces attacks on international labor and health and safety 
laws. Signed by environmental organizations. Order from Citizen 
Trade Watch Campaign.(202)775-0531 

* "Questions and Answers About Free Trade" produced by the 
International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) is a two-page 
leaflet answering basic questions about free trade and its impact 
on working people. Order from ILGWU, 660 Howard, San Francisco, CA 
94105, tel: (415) 543-9990. 

* FIRR Notes, a new publication by Federation for Industrial 
Retention & Renewal. June issue devoted to background on economic 
arguments of free trade. Next issue to cover the do's and don't of 
organizing around issues of free trade. Contact FIRR, 3411 W. 
Diversey, Ste.10, Chicago, IL 60647. Tel: (312) 252-7676/Fax (312) 
278-5918. 

* "The Effect of George Bush's NAFTA on American Workers: Ladder 
Up or Ladder Down?" a study released by the Economic Policy 
Institute, concluded that NAFTA will result in lower wages, fewer 
jobs and reduced living standards for majority of U.S. workers, 
and is a longterm incentive for U.S. corporations to pursue a 
low-wage solution to global competition, rather than producing 
quality products more efficiently. $5 from Public Interest 
Publications.  Tel: (800) 537-9359. 

* "Coming to Terms with Trade," views by environmentalists, 
consumer advocates and labor help untangle the mystifying 
intricacies of GATT, NAFTA and the Uruguay Round. Article appeared 
in Summer 1992 Environmental Action, 6930 Carroll Ave, 6th Fl., 
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. Tel: (301) 891-1100. 

* BusinessWeek, August 10, 1992 cover story, "The Global Economy: 
Who Gets Hurt," highlighted how trade affects wages and fuels 
income inequality in the U.S. 

* "Border Trouble: Rivers in Peril," is an excellent report on 
water pollution from industrial development along the U.S./Mex 
border, published by the National Toxics Campaign. $5. Contact 
Craig Merrilees, Fair Trade Campaign, 425 Mississippi St., San 
Francisco, CA  94107. Tel: (415) 826-6314. 

* "Maquiladoras: A Broken Promise," is a collection of stories 
from news articles about accidents, fires, and problems in plants 
in Matamoros area. Contact Ed Feigen, AFL-CIO, 815 16th St. NW, 
Rm.  807, Washington, DC 20006. Tel: (202) 637-5187. 

* Packets available on: Events in Seattle, Kansas City and Houston 
(August); EPA/SEDUE hearings along the border (September); and 
articles/clippings on the maquiladoras. $1 per packet from 
Benedictine Resource Center, 530 Bandera Rd., San Antonio, TX 
78228. 

* Mexico Biannual 1989-1990, by Philip Russell summarizes events 
and trends of the first two years of Salinas Administration. 
Topics include: Human Rights, Debt, Free Trade, Labor, U.S.-Mexico 
Relations. Free updates for professors adopting this book as a 
text. $9.95 plus $2.50 shipping. Order from Mexico Resource 
Center, Box 7547, Austin, TX 78713. 

* "Economic Restructuring an Rural Subsistence in Mexico: Maize 
and the Crisis of the 1980s," by Cynthia Hewitt de Alcantara 
published by the United Nations Research Institute for Social 
Development examines the potential impact of NAFTA to liberalize 
corn exports.  The report concludes that resulting low prices 
would greatly accelerate rural poverty and Mexican emigration. 
Order from UNRISD, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Tel: (41-22) 
798-8400/ Fax (41-22) 740-0791. 

* Publications on free trade available from the Ecumenical 
Coalition for Economic Justice, a project of Canadian churches 
assisting popular groups in the struggle for economic justice. 
Recently released, "U.S. Trade Strategy: Do as we say; Not as we 
Do." Economic Justice Report, Vol.III, No. 2, 4/1992(4pp.) Contact 
ECEJ, 11 Madison Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S2. Tel: (416) 921- 
4615. 

* U.S.-Mexico Free Trade From the Bottom: A Postcard From the 
Border, and From Tennessee to Tamaulipas (a one-act play), both 
creative writings about cross-border solidarity by Frances Lee 
Ansley and Tennessee Industrial Retention and Renewal Network. 
Includes a report of the group's investigation of 
deindustrialization in the U.S. and trip to the Mexican border: 
Who went, why they went, and what they found in their search. 
Published in the Texas Journal of Women and the Law, Vol.1 Spring 
1992.  Contact TIRRN, 1515 E. Magnolia, Suite 408, Knoxville, TN 
37917.  Tel: (615) 637-1576. 

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive