AFL-CIO Says Labor Has Been Blocked from Trans-Pacific Partnership Debate

[marmar]

(In These Times) Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO, has been an outspoken opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a free trade agreement that will cover trade from 12 countries as diverse as Japan, New Zealand and Chile, which account for roughly 26 percent of world trade. Trumka opposes the deal because he feels it will strip jobs and rights from workers and give foreign corporations too much influence in domestic policy.

Trumka is a member of the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy (LAC), which serves as labor’s representative body in TPP negotiations. On April 13, the LAC authored an “Interim Report” on the United States Trade Representative (USTR)’s “failure to meaningfully engage with labor unions” in the crafting of the TPP. Their intended audience was members of Congress who were set to vote on the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015. The bill, more commonly known as “fast-track”, strips Congress of the authority to amend or address specific provisions of trade deals for the next six years.

Trumka filed the report more than five weeks beforehand, on April 16, with the USTR. According to government procedure, as an official LAC document, the report had to go through the USTR and the Department of Labor (DOL) before reaching the hands of Congress. However the USTR delayed the report’s release; as a result, no one in the Senate saw it. On May 22, the Senate passed fast track by 62 to 37, with 14 Democrats voting in favor. ....................(more)

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/18049/unions_and_labor_blocked_from_fast_track_legislation_and_the_tpp_debate

[RKP5637]

1. More transparency, I guess. n/t

[newfie11]

2. I'm not surprised

It's all about money, kick backs, and pay offs.
It seems the future of this country, people, jobs, and the world come after the corporations insatiable need for profits are met.
Then again as long as they have full rein nothing will stop them!
And we keep voting idiots in office.
OTOH when your lied to over and over during campaigns what the hell do you do!

[Hoyt]

3. Oh come on Trumka. Congress has heard you, your and reps ads slamming good Democrats, etc.

Congress, the Prez, etc., know your position. Any delay in some report didn't change the vote.

[Octafish]

4. What does Labor know about creating wealth?

Besides being ungrateful for their jobs, people who work are so dirty. If they want a place at the table, they should start their own corporation.

[Omaha Steve]

5. It is top secret national security

Unless your one of over 600 lobbyists with net access that helped write it!

K&R!

[Brickbat]

6. K&R