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USW Hails Congressional Decision to Move in New Direction on Trade Policy
For Immediate Release June 29, 2007
Pittsburgh – United Steelworkers (USW) president Leo W. Gerard today hailed the decision by the Democratic leadership of the House of Representatives to oppose pending free trade agreements with South Korea and Colombia as well as their decision to reject consideration of renewing Fast Track Authority before a comprehensive new trade policy has been put in place.
Gerard issued the following statement in support of the decision:
“Today the Democratic Leadership sent a strong and clear signal that our nation’s trade policy has got to change. Business-as-usual trade agreements that have resulted in rising trade deficits, stagnating incomes, millions of lost jobs and shuttered factories should be a thing of the past.
“Their statement makes clear that renewing fast track trade negotiating authority is not a Democratic priority but that the real priority is a debate on extending the benefits of globalization to all Americans. The Steelworkers welcome the opportunity to work cooperatively with the Democratic majority on a pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-worker agenda.
“Their statement comes after the commendable work by Chairman Rangel and Chairman Levin, as well as Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to develop a framework that recognizes that labor and environmental issues are inextricably intertwined with our trade policy. Their efforts create a new foundation upon which to build the trade policy that our members have fought for. More, of course, needs to be done, and their statement makes clear that those additional actions will be implemented before we simply rush ahead.
“We completely agree that the agreements with Korea and Colombia do not merit Congressional support in their current form. In Colombia, thousands of trade unionists have been killed and the government has not even begun to really address the problem. The violence against trade unionists must end and the perpetrators of the violence must be brought to justice. Concrete and lasting progress on the ground must be achieved before any discussion of expanded trade relations can be considered.
“The FTA with South Korea represents a one-sided deal. It favors South Korean interests at the expense of farmers, workers and businesses here in the U.S. It allows for benefits under the agreement to extend to a South Korean industrial park operated in North Korea where the workers are paid virtually slave wages. The agreement jeopardizes our ability to fully maintain and enforce our trade laws against unfairly traded products. In short, the existing FTA will only exacerbate an already lopsided trading relationship and result in further loss of jobs and livelihoods here at home.
“Last fall, voters across this country spoke out forcefully for a new direction on trade. This decision shows that their trust was well placed in the Democratic majority. A lot of hard work is ahead of us but the Democrats have created the foundation upon which to build an approach that truly fights for our nation’s interests.”
Contact: Marco Trbovich (412) 562-2440 or (412) 760-4335
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2007 RELEASES AND ADVISORIES
