[mobglob-discuss] FTAA Update Vol. 3 No. 28

[Gordon Flett]

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In this Update: 
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and Join the CWA International Activists List:
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/w1qNNmd1cdqS/
 
Singapore and Chile Votes Next Week 
CAFTA - Ministerial 
FTAA - Did You Vote Yet? 
Trade Deficit  
Articles of Interest 
Materials to Order 

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Singapore and Chile Votes Next Week 
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The trade agreements on Singapore and Chile will probably
go to a vote in the Congress next week. The problems with
the agreements, for example no labor rights provisions
with enforcement comparable to the commercial provisions;
and all a country needs to do is enforce whatever their
labor law is (so if they eliminate the law, or drop provisions
- there is no problem). When seen not just as the first
2 trade agreements negotiated under FAST TRACK, but as
the model for the upcoming CAFTA (Central American Free
Trade Agreement) and the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the
Americas); the Singapore and Chile Agreements take on
much greater importance. 

The AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Steelworkers, and Citizens Trade
Campaign and others have written letters to Congress urging
no votes and pointing out the many problems with these
agreements. Now take a moment to add your voice to CWA's
in opposition. Public Citizen has put up a web page where
you can send a fax to your member of congress: 

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/2dqNNmd1cdqq/ 

Please send the fax, and back it up with a phone call
- the vote on these bad models is expected as early as
Tuesday July 22nd. 

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CAFTA - Ministerial 
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The next round of CAFTA talks will take place in New Orleans
the week of July 28th. The rush ahead to reach an agreement
(and place a wedge in the opposition to the FTAA) is on
track for conclusion before the end of this year. Check
out the information at: 

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/sdqNNmd1cdqN/ 

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FTAA - Did You Vote Yet? 
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The FTAA Ministerial in Miami will take place the week
before Thanksgiving, and even if you are not planning
to attend - you can cast your vote against the FTAA. Please
take the moments to click below and add your voice to
the thousands who are letting the US Trade Representative
know that the FTAA is wrong: 

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/xdqNNmd1cdqx/ 

CWA Locals which would like more copies to circulate of
the CWA - FTAA Postcards should contact: 

Cbiggs-adams at cwa-union.org 

Citizens Trade Campaign also has electronic ballots as
well as postcards if you want to carry them with you to
educate people about the FTAA!  

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/xpqNNmd1cdqe/ 

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Trade Deficit  
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A few years back this country did the hard work to eliminate
the federal deficit, it was a lot like when you put your
household on a budget, not a lot of fun in the short run
- but very rewarding when in 2000 we had an actual surplus.
As we all know, that is gone now and this week was full
of reports on how big the federal deficit is and will
be in trillions of dollars. 

We another number from way back in the old days when we
cared about deficits was the Trade Deficit - and it has
been rising for 27 years! As millions of manufacturing
jobs disappear, and now they are being followed by software
jobs, and call center jobs, and work reading x-rays, and
on and on...the Trade Deficit becomes even more important...and
there is a way to see where it stands year to date (they
re-set this clock every January 1st). 

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/x1qNNmd1cdqs/ 

Those are billions of Dollars well over $44 BILLION.
Check it out. 

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Articles of Interest 
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"Offshore's Rise" pulls together the pieces of the outsourcing
of jobs from the US. If you have not heard about the work
leaving the US and it is now so much more than just manufacturing.

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/spqNNmd1cdqw/ 

The story of intrigue and the career assassination of
experts who researched Genetically Modified food is a
great read, and answers the question: "Why haven't I heard
that this stuff is bad for me?" Read the "The sinister
sacking of the world's leading GM expert and trail that
leads to Tony Blair and the White House" 

http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/NpqNNmd1cd1C/ 

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Materials to Order 
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Trade Secrets: The Hidden Costs of the FTAA 
"Trade Secrets: The Hidden Costs of the FTAA" is a new
16 minute video tape from the perspective of labor on
the FTAA. Narrated by Mike Farrell, it covers the NAFTA
Chapter 11 cases on UPS, and Methanex' attack on California's
environmental laws banning MTBE from gasoline, and how
the FTAA will affect us. There is also a set of fact sheets
and great interactive role play on the impacts on the
public and private sectors of the FTAA.  

The materials come from the UC Berkeley Center for Labor
Research and Education. You can reach Producer Jeremy
Blasi at (510) 642-1583, email: blasi at uclink.berkeley.edu,
or visit http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/N1qNNmd1cd1K/. The
packets, including the video and curriculum guide, cost
$15 each (shipping costs included); or $10 each for
orders of 10 or more and $7.50 each for orders of 50
or more (plus shipping - contact for cost). Make out a
check to "UC Regents" and send it to: Att: Jeremy Blasi,
UC Berkeley Labor Center, 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley,
CA 94720. 

Trading Democracy - Moyers videos 
The issues of transparency - and NAFTA Chapter 11 are
well explained in Bill Moyers' Reports: Trading Democracy.
The impact is carried further when you remember that the
same "lack of transparency" (as in secret courts make
the decisions) are included in the Chile and FTAA agreements.

Order a copy of the video - $7 each and watch it - share
the stories of Metalclad - where $16 million was paid
by Mexico after losing a case; and the pending MTBE case
in California where the claim is for $970 million against
the US. This may be ordered at: 
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/w7qNNmd1cdq_/.  

Talking Trade Order 
Free copies of our publication: "CWA Talking Trade, Taking
a Stand for Justice" may be ordered on our website by
clicking on the following: http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/wpqNNmd1cdqA/
. 
______________________________________________________________________
For more information - check out our website. Or contact:
Carrie Biggs-Adams 
International Affairs Representative 
Communications Workers of America 
cbiggs-adams at cwa-union.org 
(202) 434-1147 

For legislative information contact:  
T. Santora 
CWA Legislative Representative 
tsantora at cwa-union.org 
(202) 434-1315