Posted on 11/01/2005 5:11:17 PM PST by Coleus
Costa Rican trade unions called on Monday for a one-day general strike next month to oppose ratification of a regional free-trade pact with the United States, which they fear could hurt standards of living.
More than 200 unions and civic groups are expected to take part in the stoppage on Nov. 17, which seeks to pressure the Costa Rican Congress to reject the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, union leaders said.
Costa Rica is the only Central American nation yet to ratify the agreement. It has been approved by the United States, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Albino Vargas, general secretary of the National Association of Public and Private Employees, said striking workers would march on the country's legislative assembly in protest at the pact.
He said the country could see a repeat of a disturbances following a general strike in 2000, when thousands of workers protested plans to open the Costa Rican energy industry.
Recent public opinion polls in Costa Rica show majority backing for CAFTA , although many trade union and civic groups fear that could erode workers' salaries and drive down standards of living.
Of particular concern to public employees is the possible opening up of state telecommunications and energy monopolies to competition in the nation of four million people.
Did the working people of Mexico benefit from NAFTA?
Is there still poverty in Mexico after NAFTA?
Are Mexicans still fleeing Mexico into the USA for work?
Why does the USA still have a tremendous Illegal Immigration Problem with Mexico if NAFTA worked?
Are NAFTA and CAFTA free trade or managed trade agreements?
These clowns aren't very bright. Every other nation in the CAFTA bloc has approved CAFTA.
Mercantalist BS like the WTO = Bad
CAFTA has its faults, but it is not the nightmare that is the WTO. Mexico's problems have less to do with NAFTA and more to do with poor productivity and lack of investment in education and training, causing Mexico to lose business to SE Asia over the years.
Everyone in CAFTA can trade with everyone else in CAFTA. When the full Free Trade Of The Americas pact passes - some years ahead - then everyone can trade with everyone else. That will be what we call 'accumulation.' As for working people benefiting from NAFTA the answer is an absolute 'yes.' Mexico still needs to reform its economy so that it becomes competitive but NAFTA was a big boon to them. The reason the other states want free trade pacts is that they see the advantage Mexico already has. They want it. All I can say is that if they want it, I want them to have it.
Completely correct, Clemenza.
CAFTA will be good for Costa Rica, too. The labor unions can go suck a mango.
Mexico's average growth in GDP went from 1.9% annually to 3.4% annually. Not quite double.
All your points prove is that NAFTA didn't change the status quo in Mexico. Since the protestors in Costa Rica seem to be in favor of the status quo, they shouldn't have a problem with it.
The labor unions can suck the seed of a mango if they can prove to be worthy and capable of such an endeavor.
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