Gov. Wilson Jumps Into Maquiladora Fray

Gov. Pete Wilson’s office is trying to mediate a dispute between San Diego manufacturer Alaris Medical and Newport Beach-based maquiladora operator Cal Pacifico that has idled 1,200 workers. Cal Pacifico, a management proxy firm that has worked for Alaris for eight years, shut workers out of two plants on June 11 after Alaris said it intended to terminate its agreement and operate on its own. Maintaining that Alaris owes it large sums of money, Cal Pacifico ejected Alaris management from the plants and halted production. Alaris says its ability to supply hospital customers with intravenous tubing and other medical devices is in jeopardy. Rudy Fernandez, director of the governor’s California-Mexico Affairs office, said Wilson asked him to also enlist the Baja California governor’s office in the effort to resolve the dispute.