Time to Choose:Good Jobs and
Strong Communities or
NAFTA Times 10?
Remember NAFTA?
• Began in 1994
• Includes Canada, US
and Mexico
• Weak protections for
workers’ rights and the
environment
• Pits workers against
each other
NAFTA’s Unfulfilled Promises
Promises
• US:
200,000
new jobs
Realities
• US: Nearly
766,000 jobs
have been lost in
the US
• Mexico:
higher
living
standards
• Mexico: millions
of Mexicans
living in severe
poverty.
NAFTA Times 10=
Free Trade Area of the Americas
(FTAA)
• Expansion of NAFTA to
all countries in the
Americas except Cuba
• Expected to be completed
by 2005
• No meaningful labor
rights, environmental
safeguards or consumer
protections
FTAA: A Disaster for
Working Families
• Puts jobs and pro-worker
policies (e.g.living wage
ordinances) in jeopardy
• Increases rights and
protections for corporations
• Endangers public services
• Undermines workers’ wages
and benefits
FTAA and Manufacturing
Workers
• Rising trade deficits
would destroy
manufacturing jobs;
• Companies would move
more jobs overseas;
• Employer threats would
keep unions out and
wages down;
• Workers’ rights become
sucked into a race to the
bottom.
FTAA and Public Sector Workers
• Privatize public
services;
• Outsource jobs
overseas more easily;
• Challenge policies used
to protect workers’
rights and union jobs;
• Reduce manufacturing
jobs which drains away
state and local tax
revenue.
Protects Corporate Rights
• Retains NAFTA’s Chapter 11
• Chapter 11 gives corporations
the power to sue governments
directly for anticipated lost
profits
• For example, corporations can
sue governments over laws that
protect worker rights and the
environment
• Decisions to protect corporate
rights made in secret tribunals
Privatizes
Public Services
• Increased pressure to privatize
public services such as health
care, education and water
• Corporations who take over the
services for profit are accountable
to shareholders, NOT clients
• FTAA could make it difficult for
governments to provide basic
services for people
FTAA Supporters
– Chambers of Commerce
– National Association of
Manufacturers
– Transnational corporations
– Americas Business Forum
Labor’s position on the FTAA
• Enforceable worker rights and
environmental protections in the FTAA;
• Protection of public services;
• No special rights for corporations;
• Transparency in the negotiations and
texts of the FTAA; and
• Active involvement of civil society
organizations in the discussions of the
FTAA.
AFL-CIO Campaign on the
FTAA
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Brochures
Ballot campaign
Worksite flyers
Miami Ministerial
activities
• 2004 elections
November 19-21, 2003
Miami
• Trade ministers
representing countries
throughout the Americas
will meet in Miami
• Possibly establish FTAA
headquarters in Miami
Proposed Labor-sponsored
Events at the Miami Ministerial
• AFL-CIO worker forum
• USWA forum
• ORIT forum with labor leaders and
workers from throughout the
hemisphere
• Cultural night
• Parade
• Presentation of the ballots to the
trade ministers
• Labor’s allies will be organizing
other educational activities
Get Involved!
• Distribute FTAA
brochures
• Participate in the ballot
campaign
• Organize educational
events for members
• Distribute worksite flyers
• Work with coalition
partners to organize
activities during the trade
ministerial in November
Resources available at
www.aflcio.org/stopftaa
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Brochures
Ballots-cast your ballot online!
Worksite flyer
Sectoral factsheets
Policy papers
Power point presentation