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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2015)
PAGE 14 | December 18, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Labor trade panel tells Obama: TPP ‘severely undermines’ workers By Mark Gruenberg PAI Staff Writer WASHINGTON, D.C. (PAI) — A government-appointed trade advisory panel of 19 union lead- ers told President Barack Obama that the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) “severely un- dermines” U.S. jobs, workers, consumers and businesses. In a letter accompanying their 124-page report, the panel, chaired by retiring Machinists President Tom Buffenbarger, said it believes the agreement should not be submitted to Con- gress or, if it is, it should be quickly rejected. “We believe the TPP is unbal- anced in its provisions, skewing benefits to economic elites while leaving workers to bear the brunt of the TPP’s down- side,” says the report. “The TPP is likely to harm the U.S. econ- omy, cost jobs, and lower wages.” Copies of the letter went to two top Obama officials: Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. Froman nego- tiated the controversial pact. Obama has yet to send it, or leg- islation implementing the TPP, to Congress. Besides Buffenbarger, union leaders signing the letter and re- port included Steelworkers President Leo Gerard, Team- sters President Jim Hoffa, AF- SCME President Lee Saunders, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and Secretary-Trea- surer Liz Shuler, Teachers Pres- ident Randi Weingarten, Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry, Union Label President Rich Kline and United Auto Workers (UAW) President Den- nis Williams. Unions and their allies have launched a huge campaign to get lawmakers to reject the TPP. The Labor Advisory Commit- tee, mandated by trade law, lays out the anti-TPP case in de- Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2016 to all! tail. Among its findings: ▪ TPP will increase the U.S. trade deficit, costing jobs. “Es- pecially at risk are jobs and wages in the auto, aerospace, aluminum and steel, apparel and textile, call center, and elec- tronic and electrical machinery industries,” the report says. The TPP would increase the U.S. trade deficit by $55.8 billion over a decade, and cost 330,000 factory jobs. Worst hit would be cars and parts. Steel runs a close second. ▪ There are no rules against TPP nations importing cars and parts from other countries and labeling them “TPP-compliant” for shipment to the United States. That means 55 percent of a car could be TPP-made and still labeled “domestic” and let in for free. And Japan would get a $1 billion yearly U.S. break for its auto exports to the U.S., as tariffs disappear. In return it would not have to cut its tariffs and other barriers to U.S. cars or its tariffs on U.S. farm goods. ▪ Corporations would get “two bites at the apple” to try to trash U.S. laws and regulations that could harm present or fu- ture profits. If they lose in the U.S. court system, including the Supreme Court, they could then take their cases to the TPP-cre- ated Investor-State Dispute Set- tlement system. Unions and their allies have noted that ISDS is a secret pro-corporate trade court whose decisions are final. ▪ Failure of a foreign firm to pay taxes can disqualify it from bidding on U.S. government contracts under the TPP, but failure to obey labor and envi- ronmental standards cannot dis- qualify it. ▪ The labor advisory panel had 14 specific recommenda- tions to strengthen the TPP’s la- bor chapter, starting with requir- ing TPP nations to sign on to – and obey – International Labour Organization core labor stan- dards, such as the right to organ- ize. Virtually all were ignored. ONLINE EXTRA See the complete report at http://bit.ly/1Z8Y7i3 Cement Masons Local 555 Serving Oregon & SW Washington from AFT Local 111 M erry C hristmas! from the officers and staff of R OOFERS AND W ATERPROOFERS L OCAL 49 Ray Carpenter Vice President-Executive Board Darrell Hopkins, Sr. Recording Secretary Samantha Henson Office Manager Russ Garnett Business Manager/ Financial Secretary Travis Hopkins President/Field Representative James Hale Warden-Executive Board Executive Board James Breneman James Dittemore Sean Maybee, Jason Barthel AFT-OREGON · AFT · AFL-CIO Merry Christmas Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year from IRONWORKERS SHOPMEN’S LOCAL 516
