| Current free trade agreements between the United States and its trading partners have initiated a "race to the bottom" of the wage scale. |
| The globalization of the world economy has made free trade agreements both necessary and inevitable. We cannot limit our markets to our own 6% of the world's population and continue to expand our economy. That having been said, our trade agreements must provide a level playing field for American workers. Recent trade agreements displaced workers first in America as jobs migrated to Mexico. Currently that same trend is happening in Mexico as jobs now migrate to China as corporations look for places where they can pay workers the lowest wages possible. "Mexico…is quarter or a third of the costs of the U.S., especially if you're talking about a union shop. The hourly wage [is] about 98 cents an hour with all the labor perks in China vs. about $2.30 an hour in Mexico." Source: Dallas Morning News - August 10, 2003 -- "Mexico sees low-cost edge slipping, and China gains" - Dianne Solis and Angela Shah Trade agreements that allow US manufacturers to set up factories overseas should include strict requirements in those countries. The most important requirement is the right for American labor unions to organize those foreign factories and demand that the companies provide a living wage, a safe workplace, etc. These factories should also be required to adhere to the same environmental standards as factories located in America. Our trade agreements should serve to elevate foreign workers to the living standard of America, not to reduce the living standards of American workers to those of a third world country. |
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