By Eileen Buckely
Buffalo, NY – U.S. manufacturers that outsource work to other countries for cheap, foreign labor will be the topic of an event Friday night in Buffalo.
Some local plant closing workers will join citizen and union groups Friday night at Hallwalls on Main Street in Buffalo.
They watch the premier of a documentary on the effects the North American Free Trade Agreement has had on workers.
It was produced by a local man, Bill Jungles, the retired chair of Fredonia's communication's department.
Jungles said he created the 90-minute film featuring worker stories from the U.S,, Canada and Mexico - all affected by NAFTA.
More than 400 workers from the Buffalo China company said they were told their jobs could end in November.
John Kessel, president of Local 76-A of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers said Oneida, owner of Buffalo China, said the company is expected to outsource the work overseas to China.
"They bought the company, it's called Delco, that's residing in China, eighty-five percent of the imports thatw come in here, take the business away from us," said Kessel. "And that's right from their own company."
Kessel said NAFTA and foreign imports are both to blame.
Kessel said if he could speak to President Bush he would urge him to "start looking at home" to preserve jobs.
Some Buffalo China workers are expected to speak out at Friday's event.
It begins at 6:30 PM at Hallwalls. The film on NAFTA will be shown at 8:00 PM.