unions call for increased nafta infrastructure focus

In a push to improve the transportation infrastructure between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, one of the largest labor unions in the country is advocating for increased road and bridge funding with an updated North American Free Trade Agreement.

In an open letter, the Teamsters’ rail organizations in both the U.S. and Canada, along with the Mexican Railwaymen’s Union, have reaffirmed their support for NAFTA.

But the labor groups are also asking for a minimum investment of 2 percent of gross domestic product to be spent annually on “transportation infrastructure construction, repair, and maintenance.”

The three unions, in a joint statement, add that “especially along our two borders, the bridges and interchanges should be upgraded as part of NAFTA modernization.”

Officially launched in 1994, NAFTA was designed to ease trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and is responsible for up to $1.2 trillion in tri-lateral trade annually.

In so doing, it has greatly accelerated the use of multi-modal railroad, track and shipping routes between the three countries.
Negotiations are currently underway between the countries regarding the shape and substance of an updated NAFTA.

By Garry Boulard