Teamsters oppose opening the border to Mexican trucks

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/5357

Teamsters oppose opening the border to Mexican trucks - 02/26/2007

Lede: The Teamsters are opposing a Bush administration Mexican trucking experiment. Doug Cunningham explains.

By Doug Cunningham

The Teamsters say opening the nation’s highways to Mexican trucks is a risk to national security that amounts to playing a game of Russian roulette on U.S. highways. The Teamsters have long fought the unfettered access to U.S. highways by Mexican trucking companies. A couple of years ago the Department of Transportation Inspector General found that Mexican motor carriers didn’t meet safety requirements and other regulations mandated by Congress. But the Bush administration wants to go ahead with a an experimental program that could start as soon as six weeks from now. Mexican trucks have been limited to within 20 miles of the U.S.-Mexican border, but this new program will open up the entire U.S. highway system to them. Enforcement of U.S. wage and hours laws is just one of the issues the Teamsters are concerned about.
Teamsters President Jim Hoffa says making guinea pigs out of the U.S. traveling public is unacceptable and Congress should put an end to this experimental policy allowing Mexican trucks onto U.S. highways.

AUDIO story: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. This is one issue that even the Freepers are hacked off about!

I bet no RW talker is even touching this. Limpballs would probably rather talk about his Dominican exploits while doctor shopping on the radio, than to talk about how this would "help" America

[WorldResident]

17. While some are joking about racism here, it is a reasonable concern

On the right, I feel racism motivates most of their opposition to immigration and free trade.

[sabbat hunter]

27. this is about union job

truck safety, etc
not about racism.


by allowing these trucks to drive anywhere in the US you are taking good union jobs away in exchange for far lower paying non union jobs.

also we have no way of knowing if these drivers are licensed properly, if the trucks are inspected and insured.

[EFerrari]

41. No, at bottom, it is about exploiting brown people.

Because we allow our government to interfere with their nascent democracies.

This is our history. And that is what is happening now.

[pampango]

31. You are right about the right's opposition to immigration

being based largely on racism.

You will, however, note some sensitivity here at DU about linking racism and opposition to free trade, even if you are specifically identifying the right as the culprit. Many here oppose free trade and much of our free trade angst results from trade with non-white countries (Mexico, China, India, etc.) rather than the trade we do with "white" countries (Canada, Australia, and the European countries).

Most of us are happy to state that conservatives reveal their racism in the immigration issue, because they do. It is dicier to accuse them of racism on the free trade issue, when that can be turned around and directed at us, as well.

[whathappened]

2. not just

truck union , all trucker better watch this , there wages will be going down hill fast if they let them run the roads of usa

[USA No. 1]

3. They rarely carry insurance and they're damned dangerous....

If ya get into a wreck with a Mexican trucker, you better have real good uninsured motorist coverage because most of them don't carry insurance. Oh sure, they have proof of insurance, but most of the time it's either cancelled or false. And the trucks are very poorly maintained -- very dangerous. My advice is if you see a Mexican 18-wheeler, pull off the side of the road until it's way ahead of you.

[guitar man]

21. damn right

....it's a serious safety issue. When that truck crosses the border, they have no way to know how many hours that driver has been awake behind the wheel of that truck, what condition the truck is in from a safety standpoint and how qualified the driver is. It puts every one of us aon the highways at more risk than we are already, for what? Someone's profit?

Of course, this doesn't bother W, he can't be bothered with any of it. He lives in a big beautiful White House, Travels in a big beautiful plane.......I'm sure it won't worry his mommy's beautiful mind either :eyes:

[951-Riverside]

4. RACISTS!

...Viva la raza!, Viva Mexico!, They have a right to bring their trucks over here & They do the work Americans won't do.

:eyes: :sarcasm:

[BayCityProgressive]

5. I would say fine

if the companies were forced to pay them US adhering wages and benefits but they aren't so no I am against this. This serves no purpose except to pit workers against one another.

[talkinghead]

6. Legalize Immigration

If the US would allow more immigrants to come here legally, we would see less exploitation, as more immigrant workers would be able to compete for better wages and we would have less immigrant deaths from precariously trying to make it through dangerous border crossings.

[eagler]

10. Immigration is legal

[talkinghead]

11. I'll clarify

Allow more immigrants to legally come into this country.

[eagler]

7. What a load of crap!

There is nothing racist about wanting to protect American jobs.

[pampango]

34. This "trucker" issue seems to be an interesting combination of

the free trade and immigration issues.

Most here seem to be pro-immigrant (legal and otherwise) viewing them as a net plus to our economy and a recognition of our country as an nation of immigrants. Most here also seem to have major reservations with free trade and the movement of capital across national boundaries.

The issue of safety seems to me to be unarguable. Any country should be able to regulate the safety of highway travel.

Some here have posted about the effect of Mexican truckers on our trucking industry and the wages of American truckers. That seems to be a legitimate concern. An increased supply of truckers, particularly from a Third World country willing to work for less, will put pressure on the existing wage structure.

The irony is that some, a minority I think but sizable number, have posted here that the same type of wage pressure was occurring in other industries (agricultural, meat packing, construction, hotel, etc.) from an influx of illegal immigrants willing to work for less. I have seen some of these posters accused of xenophobia, racism, not understanding our country's history as an immigrant nation and other sins for not welcoming all immigrants.

[unkachuck]

14. they don't....

....have a right to bring their trucks over here and it's unfair to call Union truckers racist because the want to feed their families with good-paying Union jobs....

....leaving safety aside, explain to me how workers losing income is good for our country and it's local communities?....

[951-Riverside]

15. RACIST!

They do the jobs Americans refuse to do like gardening, janitorial, trucking, fire fighting, serving in iraq, etc. You can't deny the rights of immy-grents to live and work in this country.

Down with the anti-immygrent racists at the Unions.

:eyes: :sarcasm:

[unkachuck]

24. sorry....

....I'm not only old and stupid, I'm also 'blind'.... :)

[brentspeak]

33. Well said.

We've been hearing the specious pro-free-trade accusation of "racism!" for way too long now. The American people should recognize it for what it is: bogus propaganda designed to chill any debate.

[earth mom]

42. Exactly. Chill Debate = Zero Debate. We can't even talk about this subject on DU.

What ever happened to workers rights in this country?

How long before everyone is "chilled out" to the tune of living on the wages of the working poor? :grr:

[EFerrari]

36. Why do you need to immunize the rampant racism that is

blanketing this country in this thread?

:wtf:

[amandabeech]

8. A riled up Teamsters Union is a mighty force.

Watch this one carefully.

A major Teamster job action can get ugly. Anyone remember the Ohio Turnpike back in the late '70s.

Maybe things have changed, but I wouldn't cross this bunch.

[eagler]

9. Its about time!

I hope we can see more unions taking stands to protect jobs and bring more back.

[amandabeech]

13. I agree wholeheartedly.

I've been talking about jobs for everyone, not just the highly educated and true entrepreneurs, since the late '70s.

We cannot help those in other countries with true effectiveness until we have real jobs for real people and economic fairness right here. If we can solve our problems, we can show others how to solve some of theirs.

Globalism sounded nice, but, as I expected, did not work in practice, just like supply side economics. And, surprise, surprise, the same group benefits from both failed theories.

[951-Riverside]

16. Re" "A major Teamster job action can get ugly."

:)

Preview:

[Vidar]

12. Glad the Teamsters are on it.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

18. Teamster on my street is big supporter of the idiot, yards signs, bumper stickers, big mouth. I

wondered how he could be a union member and puke supporter, he may be pondering the same question now.

[RubyDuby in GA]

25. Yeah, the Teamsters are very right wing.

My husband is a Teamster and he just can't understand what has happened to them in the last 10 to 15 years.

[eagler]

30. Bush supports the Mexican truckers

[Joanne98]

38. Now that's a good idea for a yard sign.

[OhioChick]

19. Good for the Teamsters. n/t

[donsu]

20. agree, all our unions should fight this

and fight against having a north amer. union and the superhighway

[EFerrari]

40. Yes, let's start a fight with workers and ignore the profiteers.

:sarcasm:

[Hunky Dunky]

43. Absolutely

Teamsters fight for the rights of U.S.and/or legally employed workers. They are very correct in their position on this. Come here legally, play by our country's rules and the Teamsters will fight for you too. Otherwise, fuck you. This is a no brainer.

[eppur_se_muova]

22. Another twist on outsourcing, but with the danger of uninspected vehicles added. nt

[Kolesar]

23. An argument for freight on trains? Efficient, lower pollution, safer

I am thinking of how to "frame the message".

[BluePatriot]

26. Yikes

that would be very dangerous, domestic 18 wheelers are bad enough with the spotty enforcement and inspections (at least here in Houston) I don't particularly want to add Mexican trucks to the death traps that are our freeways...

"Money trumps peace...and your safety....be a good little worker bee and STFU" :puke:

[Nikki Stone1]

28. There need to be uniform standards for trucks traveling through the US

The problem is that there is no will to do this in Congress. The globalists are saying that there are no national borders, and issues like this one--where the US can't even regulate the trucks that go through our landmass--are a good example of this.

This is NOT about immigration, racism or even people. It really is about the trucks. And about the hazards of the globalist vision.

[pampango]

35. I have been accused of not believing in national borders...

at least when it comes to welcoming immigrants as a net plus to our economy. I agree that the safety of trucks and other vehicles on our highways should be something that any country should be able to control.

I do believe, however, that even if this safety issue was dealt with somehow, there would still be much opposition to allowing Mexican truckers into the US due to the depressing effect it will likely have on the wages of American truckers.

[KansDem]

29. Too little, too late?

Perhaps Hoffa should have spoken up earlier.

Rather than conducting any struggles, Hoffa has announced plans to establish even closer relations with the employers. To overcome the union's financial crisis he is proposing to offer Teamsters credit cards, insurance policies and other products sold by companies willing to share profits with the union. Politically, Hoffa has close connections with right-wing Republicans such as Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Michigan Congressman Peter Hoekstra, and has indicated that he will create the largest union political action committee and revert to the Teamsters' traditional policy of funneling money to the Republicans.

WSWS

But kowtowing to the Bushitas must have taken priority over national safety...

[AnneD]

32. Being a border state....

folks here are pretty pissed. Our PD and State Troopers have enough trouble staying on top of all the poorly maintained, over loaded, over worked drivers. Now add to this drivers that can't read English, drive like they are in Mexico, and maintain their trucks like they have to answer to a bribed offical.....

All that mass and velocity plus all those other factors are going to spell trouble. And I haven't even started to think about all the critters that will be imported on and in the truck that could wreck havoc on native crops and animals.

Damn stupidest idea I have ever heard of.

Exactly who is this suppose to benefit? Yeh, that's what I thought.

[Joanne98]

37. I hope the Congress didn't have anything to do with this.

All we need in 2008 is a pissed off Teamsters problem.

[EFerrari]

39. This is one of the creepiest threads I've EVER read on DU.

Don't you guys know that BushCo helped steal the last federal election Mexico had -- from the progressive?

Why the hell do you think Mexican workers come here? Because YOUR government makes sure they can't earn a living at home

Hello?! McFly?!

Could we, just for a second, not pile on other workers and look at the bigger picture?

Geezus. This is what happened when they stole the election in Mexico:



What did YOU do when they stole Ohio?