MAQUILA WORKERS IN NICARAGUA TRY TO FORM UNIONS

A MAQUILA WORKER IN NICARAGUA DESCRIBES THE FIGHT TO FORM A UNION. AS FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS HAVE PROLIFERATED, MAQUILAS - PLANTS USED BY TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN ORDER TO PAY LESS IN WAGES TO WORKERS AND TAXES TO GOVERNMENTS - HAVE SPREAD ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, BRINGING AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LARGELY FEMALE WORKFORCE THAT COMES WITH PERSONAL AND SOCIAL COSTS.