June 8, 2001

(Washington, D.C.) – The International Brotherhood of Teamsters joined with Chilean labor groups and U.S. environmental groups to oppose the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Pact and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) on June 7, 2001. If passed, the pact will continue the job loss and lack of worker protections seen under other flawed trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) .

 

"Congress needs to listen to the working families of America," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. "More than one million jobs have been lost and American workers are saying 'enough is enough'.  The Big Business' lies that these trade agreements will help workers have been exposed. Our brothers and sisters in Chile know this and are opposing the expansion of unfair trade."

 

Teamster representatives were joined by other coalition partners including the Mining Confederation of Chile, the Institute for Ecological Policy and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) at a press conference on Capitol Hill. The coalition was formed to oppose the expansion of the failed NAFTA model of increased privatization and deregulation throughout North and South America. 

 

"NAFTA has taught us what happens when global corporations are free to engage in a race to the bottom for low wages," Hoffa added. "The only people these trade agreements help are the corporate bosses who dive head-first into the cheap labor pool."

 

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents men and women throughout the United States and Canada.