Teamsters Union Files Suit to Stop Mexican Trucks
05-01-2007
The Teamsters Union has filed a law suit against the Transportation Department in an effort to stop a pilot project that would allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. Highways. The suit centers around the Bush administration's failure to give any type of advanced, published notice of the plan, or any chance for public discourse and debate before in goes into effect. Teamsters president Jim Hoffa said, Tens of thousands of unregulated, unsafe Mexican trucks will flow unchecked-- a very real threat to the safety of our highways, homeland security, and good paying American jobs.
Under NAFTA, Mexican trucks should have already been granted access to the U.S., but for close to a decade the Teamsters have been fighting hard against it. In his own words, Jim Hoffa calls NAFTA an unqualified disaster. He attributes NAFTA to huge trade deficits and the loss of 3 million manufacturing jobs.
The Mexican trucking industry does not have the same U.S. Standards, and some of their truckers are often pushed to drive long hours by their employers. Speaking of the plan to allow Mexican truckers on U.S. Highways, Hoffa explained, This reckless pilot program must be stopped and the driving public protected. There really is no accurate way to know if all Mexican truckers are well trained, safe drivers, or if their trucks meet U.S. safety regulations. Hoffa said this plan amounts to a game of Russian Roulette on America's highways.
Mexico has very limited enforceable safety requirements and inspection program for their trucks. There is nothing to suggest that U.S. safety inspectors will be able to consistently inspect all Mexican trucks coming across the border. Teamsters Union spokesman Galen Munroe stated, It is a real concern of ours from a safety standpoint and frankly from a security standpoint. We do not know what is coming over the borders. They claim they are going to look at each truck and inspect each truck, but they try and do that now and they can not even do ten percent of the trucks that come over the border. This program, besides its safety concerns, also has the potential to lead to increased illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
There is an effort by some in congress to halt this pilot project until American trucks are allowed full access to Mexico and until safety requirements are met. Teamsters spokesperson Leslie Miller said, The Department of Transportation can't enforce truck safety in the United States, let alone at the southern border. What is even more ridiculous is the plan to allow some of these Mexican trucks across the border in as little as 15 seconds. This poses a danger as truckers with criminal histories and traffic convictions could gain access to the U.S. as Mexico has no reliable database.
Teamsters and its president Jim Hoffa have also acknowledged the proposed plans for the construction of a NAFTA Superhighway. Hoffa said, In fact Bush is quietly moving forward with plans to build the massive network of highways from the Mexican border north through Detroit into Canada that would make cross-border trucking effortless. He also said that the superhighway would, allow global conglomerates to capitalize by exploiting cheap labor and non-existent work rules and avoiding potential security enhancements at U.S. Ports.
In the past, the Teamsters have at times been hypocritical, speaking out of both sides of their mouths, but I do commend them in their fight to try and stop this Mexican truck program. Quite honestly, if we are going to prevail, we need all the help we can get.
05-01-2007
The Teamsters Union has filed a law suit against the Transportation Department in an effort to stop a pilot project that would allow Mexican trucks full access to U.S. Highways. The suit centers around the Bush administration's failure to give any type of advanced, published notice of the plan, or any chance for public discourse and debate before in goes into effect. Teamsters president Jim Hoffa said, Tens of thousands of unregulated, unsafe Mexican trucks will flow unchecked-- a very real threat to the safety of our highways, homeland security, and good paying American jobs.
Under NAFTA, Mexican trucks should have already been granted access to the U.S., but for close to a decade the Teamsters have been fighting hard against it. In his own words, Jim Hoffa calls NAFTA an unqualified disaster. He attributes NAFTA to huge trade deficits and the loss of 3 million manufacturing jobs.
The Mexican trucking industry does not have the same U.S. Standards, and some of their truckers are often pushed to drive long hours by their employers. Speaking of the plan to allow Mexican truckers on U.S. Highways, Hoffa explained, This reckless pilot program must be stopped and the driving public protected. There really is no accurate way to know if all Mexican truckers are well trained, safe drivers, or if their trucks meet U.S. safety regulations. Hoffa said this plan amounts to a game of Russian Roulette on America's highways.
Mexico has very limited enforceable safety requirements and inspection program for their trucks. There is nothing to suggest that U.S. safety inspectors will be able to consistently inspect all Mexican trucks coming across the border. Teamsters Union spokesman Galen Munroe stated, It is a real concern of ours from a safety standpoint and frankly from a security standpoint. We do not know what is coming over the borders. They claim they are going to look at each truck and inspect each truck, but they try and do that now and they can not even do ten percent of the trucks that come over the border. This program, besides its safety concerns, also has the potential to lead to increased illegal immigration and drug smuggling.
There is an effort by some in congress to halt this pilot project until American trucks are allowed full access to Mexico and until safety requirements are met. Teamsters spokesperson Leslie Miller said, The Department of Transportation can't enforce truck safety in the United States, let alone at the southern border. What is even more ridiculous is the plan to allow some of these Mexican trucks across the border in as little as 15 seconds. This poses a danger as truckers with criminal histories and traffic convictions could gain access to the U.S. as Mexico has no reliable database.
Teamsters and its president Jim Hoffa have also acknowledged the proposed plans for the construction of a NAFTA Superhighway. Hoffa said, In fact Bush is quietly moving forward with plans to build the massive network of highways from the Mexican border north through Detroit into Canada that would make cross-border trucking effortless. He also said that the superhighway would, allow global conglomerates to capitalize by exploiting cheap labor and non-existent work rules and avoiding potential security enhancements at U.S. Ports.
In the past, the Teamsters have at times been hypocritical, speaking out of both sides of their mouths, but I do commend them in their fight to try and stop this Mexican truck program. Quite honestly, if we are going to prevail, we need all the help we can get.
