[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                DR-CAFTA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesdy, June 15, 2005, I issued the 
following statement during a press conference on how the Dominican 
Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) will be 
harmful to minorities and would like to submit it for the Congressional 
Record.

       Today I am here to join my colleagues to reject the current 
     text of DR-CAFTA and insist on the renegotiation of DR-CAFTA. 
     Many sectors of society in some form or another will be 
     negatively impacted by DR-CAFTA, but today I'd like to 
     highlight how DR-CAFTA will be harmful to unions, and 
     especially minority unionists. We have seen the detrimental 
     effects of the NAFTA-model on unions. After NAFTA's signing, 
     the rate of union-busting factory owners following through on 
     threats to close plants tripled. Union busting will only 
     increase with DR-CAFTA, which will affect all unionists, but 
     particularly minorities, who are more likely to be in unions 
     than the population at large. Minority communities have lower 
     median wages and higher unemployment rates, and the benefits 
     of union membership are greater than for non-minority 
     workers. Unionized African-American, Asian-American and 
     Latino workers all make substantially higher wages than their 
     non-union counterparts. Furthermore, the difference in wages 
     between union and non-union workers is much greater for 
     minorities than for average union workers. For example, while 
     average union workers make 28 percent more than their non-
     union counterparts, unionized Latino workers, for example, 
     make 59 percent more than their nonunion counterparts.
       Unions have played a significant role in making America a 
     more just and equitable place for all. They helped to 
     establish the middle class, making the ``American dream'' a 
     reality for many workers and their families. Before the 
     successes of the civil rights movement were marked by law, 
     unions helped to provide freedom from discrimination in the 
     workplace for minority workers and to integrate minority 
     populations into the greater population. Sadly, trade 
     agreements following the NAFTA model will weaken unions, and 
     the benefits of unions guaranteed to minority workers.
       When DR-CAFTA comes before Congress for a vote, I will urge 
     my colleagues to oppose this unfair agreement, and send it 
     back for renegotiation. Trade between nations does not and 
     should not have to lead to such negative consequences.

                          ____________________