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Union members march in Miamiby Shawneise SudduthMobilization against the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) took lace in Miami, Florida on November 20. Minnesota had a strong presence there with about 230 people from unions, environmental groups, human rights groups and concerned citizens. The Minnesota people wore Wellstone shirts, as Paul Wellstone was the only senator who marched in the trade demonstrations in Seattle. The purpose of the march was to let the ministers from the thirty-four nations in the western hemisphere, who were negotiating a free trade agreement, know we want a fair trade agreement. If this agreement continues as proposed it is a threat to service workers. It will mean low wages in our country as well as the other countries. Fifteen thousand Minnesota manufacturing jobs have been lost to free trade in the past 40 months. Now our jobs are being threatened. In January 2005 this agreement is scheduled to be voted on by Congress. We have to talk to our Congresspersons and tell them to be ready to vote no, if it is not a fair agreement that includes environmental and human rights sanctions. |