Statement by Edward J. McElroy, President, American Federation of Teachers,
On CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement)
Wrong Rx for U.S. Economy and Workers

CHICAGO, IL — The ghosts of NAFTA have come back to haunt the halls of Congress with the passage of  CAFTA.  This flawed trade agreement offers the wrong prescription for improving America’s economy and for helping workers here and overseas reach a decent standard of living.  CAFTA will continue the disastrous record of exporting good-paying U.S. jobs.  Since NAFTA was enacted, our nation has lost nearly 1 million jobs. 

With CAFTA, job losses will be felt most acutely by working families and in communities nationwide.  As companies move overseas and eliminate jobs, state and local revenues will plummet, making it much harder for governments to provide high-quality public education and other essential services. 

The close vote represents the lowest margin of victory for a significant, multilateral trade agreement in recent history.  It’s unfortunate that not enough members of Congress appreciate the views of most Americans who are concerned about the adverse impact of CAFTA.

I am very proud of the thousands of AFT members who contacted their representatives during this difficult fight.  The AFT and its members will continue our commitment to work with our allies in Congress to ensure that worker protections are included in future trade agreements. 

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