LEWISTON – Jobs will dominate the warrant today at a “town meeting” called by local groups concerned about the impact of global trade.

Citing statistics that show 18,000 manufacturing job losses since President Bush took office, the meeting’s organizers, Local 567 of the IBEW and the Maine Fair Trade Campaign, hope the forum shines attention on the trade policies of presidential candidates.

“Trade, outsourcing and job losses are crucial issues at any time, but they are of particular importance in an election year,” said Matt Schlobohm, an organizer for MFTC. He said these issues “aren’t getting the attention they should be.”

Schlobohm said attendees will be encouraged to share their personal experiences about trade issues – such as being laid off because a manufacturer left town or feeling the threat of outsourcing in service-related fields. He said that in the last year alone, the state has lost 3,000 jobs because of such issues.

According to the Department of Labor, there were 79,500 manufacturing jobs in Maine in 2000; 74,600 in 2001; 68,000 in 2002; 63,800 in 2003 and 61,900 through August of this year.

After people share their personal accounts, Tim Costello, author of “Global Village or Global Pillage” and “Outsource This,” is scheduled to speak. Costello has studied the international labor market and will offer some suggestions for the benefit of both businesses and workers.

– Business Writer Carol Coultas