When Roger Battin talks about a new world of trade with Mexico, he fears a debacle: Fewer jobs. Lower wages. Idle factories. When Tim Elder talks about it, he fancies a windfall: More sales. Fewer barriers. More job security. Both have the same employer, Caterpillar Inc. Big Business. Blue vs. White Collar. Worker vs. The two camps, in many ways, symbolize the nation's high-stakes, high-profile debate over the treaty.
They understand Cat has always been a global player and needs to continue to be to operate from Peoria. Yet, there is a base of support for the UAW position. It's almost like a debate. But it's one clouded by lingering tensions. A bitter day UAW strike was crushed last year when Caterpillar threatened to hire permanent replacement workers, and the union is working under the company's final offer.
NAFTA would join the United States, Mexico and Canada into the world's largest trading bloc by removing tariffs and other barriers over the course of 15 years.
Many economists say NAFTA wouldn't create as many jobs as boosters promise nor siphon off as many as opponents warn, and predict that some U. There's little middle ground in this central Illinois city, where manufacturing has lost much of its dominance but Caterpillar's world headquarters has maintained much of its clout. Caterpillar, the area's No. The UAW, like most trade unions, argues that good blue-collar jobs will disappear as companies head south to take advantage of slave-labor wages in Mexico.
UAW Local 's ranks have shrunk from 24, in to 8, this year, part of massive cutbacks Caterpillar made in the s. The company's area work force of 17, has been cut nearly in half since The solution is not to drag down workers who fought for and won good wages and benefits. Many believe that even if there is more business, it will be routed to lower-paid suppliers or newer plants in right-to-work Southern states, where employees tend to earn less.
