Support Grows for Maine Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act
by Laura Millay
What does international trade have to do with you?
If you were at the public hearing on February 12th for LD1815 — the Maine Jobs, Trade, and Democracy Act — you heard about 30 possible answers to that question.
The Maine Jobs, Trade, and Democracy Act was developed by the Maine Fair Trade Campaign (MFTC) in response to growing public concern about secretly-negotiated international trade agreements, both past and present. These trade agreements include NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), WTO (World Trade Organization) agreements, FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas), CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) and many other bi-lateral and multi-lateral agreements.
Although you might think that international trade agreements impact Wall Street and the business world — but not the rest of us mere mortals — it turns out that the impacts of trade agreements have seeped into our daily lives. At the public hearing we heard testimony from a few of the thousands of Maine manufacturing workers who have lost their jobs because of NAFTA. We heard from a doctor talking about the impact to Maine communities when people lose their jobs. We heard from students, a mother who wants to stay in Maine but can't find a job, a farmer, small business owners, labor representatives, activists, and our Attorney General.
MFTC has brought all these people together through our common concern about the content of trade agreements and their far-reaching effects, and about the way they are negotiated. We are concerned to learn that everything from our jobs and local economy, to our public services, and our state laws are being given away in secret negotiations between our trade representatives, US big business, and the business interests of other countries. Where is our voice in this democracy?
Last fall, the MFTC joined with the AFL-CIO to collect over 12,500 petitions calling for a stop to NAFTA-like agreements and for the Maine legislature to pass the Maine Jobs, Trade and Democracy Act as a step toward monitoring trade agreements, improving our understanding of their impacts, and as a vehicle for Maine citizens to communicate our opinions and concerns to our elected representatives.
LD1815 brings citizens and legislators together in a trade oversight commission that will investigate the impacts of trade agreements on our economy, our public services, and our state sovereignty. The commission will hold public hearings around the state and will draw on a variety of resources to broaden our understanding of how Maine fits into the larger picture of international trade.
Over 75 people turned out in favor at the hearing for LD1815. There were no opponents. The bill is being introduced by speaker of the house Pat Colwell and co-sponsored by both Republican and Democratic representatives. A work session is planned for February 27th.
If you would like more information or to become active with the Maine Fair Trade Campaign contact Matt Schlobohm, mschlobo@justice.com or 777-6387.
Laura Millay is a member of the Maine Fair Trade Coalition.
The pictures: [from top to bottom] MFTC members Matt Schlobohn, Burt Wartell, Jack McKay and Bjorn Claeson testify at the hearing on LD 1815 on February 12th. Photos by Martha Spiees
Back to Peace Talk Index, Spring, 2004