>From: Eduardo Vera <evera@igc.apc.org>
>To: evera@igc.org
>Subject: La Mujer Obrera in Austin
>Status: RO
>
>La Mujer Obrera Program
>c/o CENTRO OBRERO INC
>P.O. Box 3975*El PASO, TEXAS 79923
>September 26, 1996
>
>Press Release Contacts: Eduardo Vera (512)454-8097
> or Maria Loya @ PODER (512)472-9921
> or Maria Antonia Flores @ La Mujer Obrera
> (915) 533-9710
>
>Monday, September 30 events of La Mujer Obrera in Austin
>
>Public Forum @ Ruta Maya, 4th and Lavaca @ 7:30 p.m.
>
>Press Conference @ Governor's Mansion, 1100 San Jacinto @ Noon.
>
>Twenty workers from El Paso, Texas, members and representatives of
>La Mujer Obrera, "The Woman Worker", will be in Austin to talk of the
>plight of workers in El Paso and the devastation which NAFTA policies
>have had in the economy of El Paso along with the destruction of
>many jobs for the people of El Paso. La Mujer Obrera is an organization
>very much involved in the defense of workers' rights.
>
>The integration of El Paso into the global economy through NAFTA policies
>has meant a devastating erosion of economic opportunities for low-
>income Chicano-Mexicano workers. Just in the past year, over 100 factories
>and businesses have closed. Many of the factories are multinationals who
>moved their manufacturing to Mexico. As a result over 6,000 jobs in
>the retail, garment, electronic and service industries have been lost this
>year. The local 13.4% unemployment is the highest level in ten years.
>
>Most of the displaced workers are Mexicano/Chicano men and women
>whose principal language is Spanish. State and Federal Officials
>have refused to create vocational programs and assistance programs
>in finding new employment, as the NAFTA agreement dicates. Instead
>they have been shuttled into dead-end English classes that do not
>lead to new jobs.
>
>La Mujer Obrera is demanding a $25 million vocational impact fund for
>support to workers in the border areas, which will assist in finding or
>creating new jobs for these workers. At the same time La Mujer Obrera
>has file a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice of racial
>discrimination and violation of civil rights of low-income Chicano/Mexicano
>workers in El Paso and along the U.S. Mexico border.
>
>
>These events are co-sponsored by La Mujer Obrera, PODER, People
>Organized in Defense of the Earth and her resources, the Women's
>Committee of the Comite de Solidaridad Con Chiapas y Mexico,
>member of the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico.
>