>
> : For Immediate Release
> : Contacts: Russ Davis, MA Jobs with Justice (617) 413-0713 cell, Paul
> Babin, Local 201 (781) 856-3282, Analia Penchaszadeh, Jobs with Justice
> (202) 434-1106, (202)
> : 316-0235 cell
> :
> : TRADE UNIONISTS STOPPED FROM ENTERING CANADA TO PROTEST THE FREE TRADE
> AREA OF THE AMERICAS
> :
> : BOSTON, April 18. - Jeff Crosby, President of IUE-CWA 201 in Lynn, MA
(a
> General Electric local) and Paul Babin, a member of the local, were turned
> away at the Canadian border as they tried to enter the country to protest
> the "Free Trade Area of the Americas" agreement being negotiated in
Quebec.
> :
> : "It's outrageous at a time when they want to open borders further for
> trade that they want to close it to the free exchange of ideas," stated
Russ
> Davis, Director of Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, who was at the border
> crossing with Crosby. Davis said Crosby was questioned for an hour and a
> half and was refused entry for a criminal offense over 25 years old.
Crosby
> had been to Canada numerous times since, and has never been questioned
> about the offense.
> :
> : Labor, community and religious activists throughout the country will
> continue to join together to resist the effects of trade pacts such as the
> Free Trade Area of the Americas being negotiated this weekend in Quebec.
> The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) is an effort by corporate and
> political leaders to expand the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA)
> throughout the Western Hemisphere.
> :
> : The impacts of NAFTA have been a disaster for the Americas. In the
U.S.,
> 766,000 jobs have been lost, including many here in Massachusetts,
> according to the Economic Policy Institute.
> :
> : "NAFTA has been a disaster for working people in the U.S., Mexico and
> Canada. It has put corporate greed before workers' rights and
environmental
> health," said Fred Azcarate, Executive Director of Jobs with Justice.
"FTAA
> would make a bad situation worse for people throughout the hemisphere."
> :
> : Seven years after the implementation of the North American Free Trade
> Agreement, business and political leaders will discuss NAFTA expansion and
> the creation of a Free Trade Area of the Americas at a summit to take
place
> in Quebec City, April 20 and 21. Actions in Boston are part of a National
> Week of Action to Protest the FTAA being organized by Unions, community
> organizations, students and faith based activists from April 16-22 in
local
> communities.
> :
> : Jobs with Justice - a national coalition of community, labor, student,
> and faith-based organizations - is coordinating U.S. actions. Endorsers of
> the week of action include: American Federation of Labor-Congress of
> Industrial Organizations, United Steel Workers of America, Public
Citizen's
> Global Trade Watch, 50 Years is Enough Network, Communications Workers of
> America, United States Student Association, Center for Third World
> Organizing, Applied Research Center, Longshore and Warehouse Union
> International, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Service Employees
> International
> : Union, Pride at Work and US Action.
> :
> : For more information on local activities: www.jwj.org
> :
> : [And in a related message-
> :
> : EVERYONE CALL THE CANADIAN EMBASSY!!!
> : Phone: 202-682-1740
> :
> : You have heard the reports of people being turned back at the border, we
> need to call the embassy and express our outrage and demand that they let
> ALL ACTIVISTS THROUGH!
> :
> : Example: Jeff Crosby, President of CWA-IUE Local 201 at GE and head of
the
> North Shore Central Labor Council in Massachusetts was turned away in
> Vermont, because of an offense of his record from more than 25 years ago.
> Jeff had
> : traveled to Canada numerous times since this arrest and was never
> questioned about it before. Jeff was traveling with Paul Babbin, a
> rank-and-file GE worker. Both are now in Burlington, VT.
> :
> : We are concerned about the 15 Jobs with Justice busses from the
Northeast
> that are going to Quebec on Friday, and the hundreds of other activists
> traveling to participate in the LEGAL and PEACEFUL events.
> :
> : Please call the embassy to urge them to LET ALL ACTIVISTS THROUGH!
> :
> :
> :
> : ******************************
> : Laura McSpedon
> : Jobs with Justice - Student Labor Action Project
> : 501 3rd St., NW
> : Washington, DC 20001
> : 202-434-1106
> : laura at jwj.org
> :
> : --from the Jobs with Justice listserve--
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