Central American Workers and CAFTA
A Photodocumentary
By David Bacon
March 19, 2005
PUERTO CORTEZ, HONDURAS and ACAJUTLA, EL SALVADOR - Despite the poverty and difficult conditions that plague them, dock workers and port truckers in the Central American ports of Puerto Cortez and Acajutla have tried to form unions. Some have had success, while others have lost their jobs and been blacklisted. All worry that the Central American Free Trade Agreement will lead to privatization and attacks on their unions and income. This photodocumentary shows their conditions as they work or wait for work, and for their families at home. These images were selected from a larger series, taken while carrying on the investigation begun by assassinated Teamster Union organizer Gilberto Soto.
Copyright © 2005 David Bacon. for permission to reproduce, write to dbacon@igc.org
David Bacon is a freelance writer and photographer who writes regularly on labor and immigration issues. His latest book is "The Children of NAFTA" (University of California Press, 2004).