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GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Years ago, corporations abandoned not only our local communities, but even our country, in favor of "global identities". Former CEO of GE Jack Welsh said, "the ideal factory would be built on a barge" so it could be hauled around the world to low-wage areas, where it could operate without labor rules, environmental protections or other standards. Labor has responded to this by engaging in international solidarity work. We must educate ourselves to recognize these trends and the companies pushing the corporate agenda. As well, we need to know and support the organizations and groups who are working towards building a world that is based on worker justice.
Finding Out What They Are Up To
The following are links to organizations that are part of global politics in the area of International Trade and Development.
http://www.ustr.gov/index.html
The United States office of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and
inter-American Affairs:
http://www.mac.doc.gov/nafta/index.html
NAFTA Dispute Resolution Page. This is where you will find cases brought
before NAFTA to settle trade disputes:
http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/DefaultSite/index_e.aspx
The United States site for FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) which is part
of the US Government's International Trade Administration:
http://www.mac.doc.gov/ftaa2005/
Official website for the FTAA:
http://www.ftaa-alca.org/alca_e.asp
Official website for the WTO (World Trade Organization):
http://www.wto.org/
Official website for the IMF (International Monetary Fund):
http://www.imf.org/
WEBSITES THAT OFFER A RESPONSE TO THE POLICIES OF THE ABOVE ORGANIZATIONS:
http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/index.html
CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement) followed NAFTA, and this site
has general information about it:
http://www.stopcafta.org/
Jobs with Justice take on Global issues
http://www.jwj.org/global/global.htm
Jobs With Justice has an interesting article on Labor and the IMF:
http://www.jwj.org/global/S26/Organizing_Kit/cepr_imf_ and_labor_2.htm
This site is dedicated to campaigning against the IMF and various reports and
links on why it is necessary to do so:
http://www.essentialaction.org/imf/index.html
A paper examining the NAFTA Labor Side Agreement, which was created to
address worker issues:
http://www.labor.ucla.edu/publications/nafta.pdf
UE's Perspective on the NAFTA Labor Side agreement as found in the UE
International Website pages:
http://www.ueinternational.org/WorldTrade/nafta.html
ILO Website: The International Labour Organization is the UN specialized
agency which seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognized
human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919. The ILO formulates
international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations
setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the
right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of
opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the
entire spectrum of work related issues.
http://www.ilo.org/
