Washblog || Big change in AFL-CIO trade policy

Big change in AFL-CIO trade policy

By PortDork
Thu Mar 09, 2006 at 07:35:47 PM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Labor issues

This is big news. The AFL-CIO has revised its trade policy to demand a temporary, across-the-board tarrif on imports via article 12 of the WTO.

They have decided that desperate times call for decisive action in the fight to save decent jobs in this country.

The AFL-CIO announcement states the problem pretty well: "Growing imports and offshore outsourcing have contributed to the loss of good jobs in every sector that faces international competition, including almost 2 million jobs lost to growing trade deficits in the manufacturing sector since 1998." What used to be primarily a blue collar problem is now spreading to the tech and other white collar sectors, "offshore outsourcing has rapidly moved into information technology, telecommunications, financial services, and health care, among other sectors, raising concerns about national security, privacy and the potential for future innovation and development."

Part of the plan to accomplish this tariff increase includes:

Ensus[ing] that this agenda is tied to our political work in the 2006 election and beyond.

This could have very important implications for all of our federally elected representatives.

More after the jump.

I personally think this tariff increase is good trade policy. We may have that discussion here soon, because it looks like the AFL-CIO is going to put their money where their mouth is with this issue.

According to Roger Tauss, legislative and political director of the Transportation Workers Union, it's time for the Democrats to put up or shut up (emphasis mine).

"Supporting labor rights in trade agreements has been a relatively easy lift, allowing Democrats and other to pose as friends of labor without really having to take a position on the trade issue. Those days are over.

Democratic candidates are now going to face the uncomfortable choice of breaking with labor or facing the wrath of the NY Times editorial board.

[...]

I expect genuine friends of labor like Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders will have no problem. And Democrats in safe seats, especially House members, may sign on. The real test will be Senate incumbents and Presidential aspirants.

Expect this issue to be front and center in the 2006 election campaign. The timing couldn't be better with family economics in a downward spiral and the conflict between national security and corporate trade opportunities hitting the front pages as we speak.

This is an issue with the power to swing key states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. And the power to expose and isolate the business-Democrats."

I happen to know that Washington is being deemphasized as far as AFL-CIO spending goes this election. I have no idea if that has anything to do with Cantwell's likely position on this, but it could. Pretty much all the representatives are pro free-trade, although CAFTA was opposed by everyone but Dicks, McMorris, and Hastings (but Inslee took some pushing). But voting against CAFTA is a lot different than voting for a tariff increase; especially in a trade dependant state like Washington.

Beyond WA, I genuinely think this is a step in the right direction as far as trade policy goes. It still does not address the complete lack of concern for the real human beings affected by our current "free-trade" system. But at least it shields those of us in America of some of the assault.

I highly recommend both the linked articles, but if you've only got time for one make sure to check out Roger Tauss

What do you all think?

Port Dork

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Big change in AFL-CIO trade policy | 2 comments (2 topical)

I should have backed up my assertion

The AFL-CIO is closing it's Working America office in Seattle. This community affiliate has 60,000 members in the state and ran a door-to-door canvass for the last three years in the state doing mostly issue advocacy (social security, overtime cuts, tax/budget cuts, etc) but also doing electoral work for Kerry, Ron Sims and others. And knowing how top-down the AFL-CIO is, I imagine this will become State Labor Council policy vis-a-vis Cantwell and our other federal representatives. This could put a big squeeze on Cantwell if McGavick can make this race competitive.

PortDork

by PortDork on Thu Mar 09, 2006 at 07:50:16 PM PST

* 1 none 0 *

The AFL-CIO won't do a damn thing

They openly view themselves as an organ of the Democratic party , so they'll do nothing to oppose it. This change in stance is a trial balloon from an organization that has lost membership and is in the process of losing all clout in D.C.

This is a tree falling in a forest of deaf ears.

by dlaw on Tue Mar 14, 2006 at 02:54:55 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Big change in AFL-CIO trade policy | 2 comments (2 topical)

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