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    NAFTA

November 5, 2008

McCain Trades Away America

Washington, D.C. – As Senator John McCain tries to portray himself as a candidate who cares about America’s working class, his trip to Colombia and Mexico this week to highlight his support for “free trade” is another indication of how out of touch he is to the economic plight of America’s workers and their families.

Senator McCain has borrowed from the Bush Administration’s playbook of supporting trade agreements that have devastated the economy and sent good, middle class jobs overseas.  He has consistently voted for unfair trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and supported China’s entry into the World Trade Organization despite its ongoing history of human rights and workers’ rights violations.  To add insult to injury, he also voted against measures intended to help stem the flow of jobs lost due to these agreements.

These unfair trade agreements have resulted in the loss of high-wage jobs across the manufacturing sector and damaged our country’s long-standing reputation for technical innovation.  NAFTA has contributed to the loss of approximately three million high-wage manufacturing jobs in the United States since 1994, and the loss of high-wage manufacturing jobs to China has forced many Americans to work for substandard wages and benefits—further endangering our country’s economic stability and security.
America’s workers cannot afford four more years of a leader who favors corporate interests over the well being of America’s middle class.  The 2008 election provides us with an opportunity to elect a leader who will be tougher in demanding a fair trade system that puts America’s workers first.  The UFCW will continue to fight for trade reform by mobilizing its 1.3 million members to ensure that Senator Barack Obama becomes the next president of the United States.

April 11, 2008

UFCW APPLAUDS HOUSE DEMOCRATS FOR STANDING UP FOR AMERICA

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a majority of House Democrats put the needs of America’s workers first by delaying consideration of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The House voted 224 to 195 to alter the “”fast track”” 90-day standard timeline for approval of trade deals negotiated by the administration until funding for domestic spending measures for America’s workers is made available—including funding to help workers who lose their jobs to international competition and an extension of unemployment benefits. House Democrats also vowed to review Colombia’s history of human rights violations, such as the killing of more than 2,500 workers and labor activists since 1991.

“”House Democrats did the right thing yesterday by standing with America’s workers,”” said Joseph T. Hansen, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). “”Trade agreements must be negotiated with the benefits of working people in mind, and the UFCW will continue to oppose any trade agreements that do not reflect the interests of America’s workers and their families.””

For too long, trade agreements with other countries have failed to protect the rights of workers in the United States and around the world. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada has contributed to the loss of approximately 3 million high-wage manufacturing jobs in the United States since 1994, and stagnated worker incomes and rising inequality have accelerated in all three countries. Trade with China has also harmed American interests, and the loss of high-wage manufacturing jobs to China has forced many American workers to work for substandard wages and benefits—further endangering our country’s economic stability.

While globalization cannot be turned back, the UFCW believes that the United States must get tougher in demanding a fair trading system that puts America’s workers first, and yesterday’s House vote to delay trade with Colombia is a good first step. The UFCW will continue to fight for trade reform so that America’s workers and their families are able to realize the American Dream.