Number
030708
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference
Sponsor
ALDS. RICHARDS, GORDON, JOHNSON-ODOM and SANCHEZ
Title
Substitute resolution expressing Common Council opposition to the negotiation
of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement and urging
Wisconsin's U.S. Congressional delegation to support trade agreements which
protect sovereignty and strengthen labor and environmental
standards.
Analysis
This resolution expresses Common Council opposition to the negotiation of a
Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement and urges Wisconsin's U.S.
Congressional delegation to support trade agreements which protect
sovereignty and strengthen labor and environmental standards.
Body
Whereas, The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) is an effort to expand to all of the countries in the western hemisphere, except Cuba, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model of increased privatization and deregulation and lowered barriers to the movement of jobs, investments and goods without safeguarding labor and environmental standards; and
Whereas, The expansion of NAFTA model through an FTAA agreement is currently being negotiated in secret by trade ministers from 34 nations in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, without allowing for any effective public evaluation and input; and
Whereas, As of December 31, 2002, more than 3,390 Milwaukee workers have been certified as eligible to receive assistance under a special NAFTA unemployment program, NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which offers help to workers whose companies have been impacted or are threatened as a direct result of the increased imports or shifts in production to Mexico or Canada under NAFTA; and
Whereas, The more than 3,390 Milwaukee workers who have been certified as eligible to receive NAFTA TAA represent only a fraction of the total Milwaukee jobs from well known Milwaukee companies such as Johnson Controls, Master Lock, Square D, Rockwell Automotive and Tower Automotive which have been directly or indirectly impacted as a result of trade with or a shift in production to Canada or Mexico; and
Whereas, According to the international human rights organization Global Exchange, when workers who have been dislocated as a result of NAFTA find new jobs, the workers earn 23 percent less on average than at their previous employment; and
Whereas, Imposition of the FTAA and similar trade agreements would undermine labor rights and cause greater job loss, lead to privatization of essential services, jeopardize consumer and environmental protection and increase poverty and inequality; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the
Common Council expresses its opposition to the negotiation of a Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council urges Wisconsin's U.S.
Congressional delegation to support trade agreements which protect
sovereignty and strengthen labor and environmental standards; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward copies of this
resolution to the President of the United States and Wisconsin's U.S.
Congressional delegation.
Drafter
LRB03398-3
RGP
9/23/03
Co-sponsors added 10/6/03. mbh