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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2016)
PAGE 12 | April 1 , 2016 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS What’s next for TPP? A stealth vote? Trans-Pacific Partnership would increase U.S. trade with nations that violate human rights America’s ambassadors to Brunei and Malaysia were in Portland March 21 — for a panel presentation sponsored by Nike. Brunei and Malaysia are considered serious human rights abusers, but they would join the United States in a 12-nation Pa- cific Rim free-trade zone if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement is approved by Congress and other nations. Nike is strongly in favor of the TPP, which would eliminate tar- iffs on its shoes made in Viet- nam and elsewhere. The ambassador panel — “What’s Next for the TPP?” — was hosted by the non-profit World Affairs Council of Oregon and “co-presented” by the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Com- merce Department. Michael Shannon, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Coalition, didn’t at- tend the panel, and instead protested outside with several dozen others. But Shannon thinks he already knows “what’s next for the TPP” — President Barack Obama will wait until af- Foreign trade ruled a factor in Newberg paper mill closure Foreign trade contributed to the November 2015 closure of the Newberg WestRock recycled paper mill, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has determined. About 200 workers lost their jobs in the closure, most of them members of the Assocation of Western Pulp and Paper Work- ers (AWPPW). WestRock, based in Georgia, announced the closure three weeks after acquir- ing the Newberg mill as part of its purchase of SP Fiber. The DOL found that the closure was in part a result of increased im- ports from Canada, China and other countries. Because of the DOL ruling, the workers will be eligible for trade-related dislocated worker benefits including a health cov- erage tax credit, income support for those who’ve used up all their unemployment insurance and are enrolled in a training program, and extra help for those 50 and older who are reemployed at a lower wage than at their previous job. “What phrase is missing from the over 5,000 pages of the Trans-Pacific Partner- ship? Human rights.” — Michael Shannon, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Coalition ter the November election to ternational Longshore and schedule a vote on the agreement Warehouse Union — which op- in the lame duck session of Con- poses the TPP despite the fact gress. That’s because the TPP is that it might mean more work unpopular with the American for its longshore worker mem- public. Both Bernie Sanders and bers—has endorsed McTeague. Donald Trump have campaigned “What phrase is missing from against it, and Sanders’ pressure the over 5,000 pages of the on the trade issue has led even TPP?” Shannon asked protest- Hillary Clinton to say ers via bullhorn. “Hu- she’s opposed to it, after man rights.” having praised it as the Malaysia was widely “gold standard” of trade criticized for its record agreements when she of tolerating human traf- was serving as Obama’s ficking after mass secretary of state. graves of trafficking Notably, one of the victims were discovered protesters would like last year. And in 2014, the chance to vote on Rep. Rob Nosse the Sultan of Brunei an- the TPP: Former state nounced that the coun- representative Dave try will adopt sharia law, includ- McTeague, who’s challenging ing whipping for alcohol Congressman Kurt Schrader in consumption, jail time for the May Democratic primary, turned up at the protest wearing Christian missionaries or for an ILWU baseball cap. The In- Muslims who miss Friday Several dozen protesters rallied against the TPP March 21 in Portland. Joining them was Dave McTeague, Democratic candidate for Oregon’s Fifth Congres- sional District, pictured below. prayers, and death by stoning for those convicted of adultery or homosexual acts. Under the TPP, Brunei would get tariff- free access to the U.S. market. That bothers State Rep. Rob Nosse,who says passing the treaty will lessen America’s ability to pressure countries like Brunei and Malaysia to improve human rights. “As a gay man, a union rep- resentative, and a state represen- tative, I ask our members of Congress to oppose this trade treaty,” Nosse told protesters.
