(retitled) Unions are dealing with the usual issues, including safety and international trade

[Omaha Steve]

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2007/05/27/business/business/docd0bb17e9330cbd3c862572e4001c9002.txt

THE TIMES BOARD OF ECONOMISTS: Jim Robinson, director United Steelworkers union District 7
Sunday, May 27, 2007 12:08 AM CDT


Unions are dealing with the usual issues, including safety and international trade.

"Safety is an ongoing problem and remains an important issue that requires constant vigilance," Robinson said. "Within the steel industry, workers and industry been a real positive shift in attitude about safety."

Unions have an important issue in dealing with international trade and how to handle the fight between free traders and fair traders. The elections (in November 2006) gave impetus to the fair trade people as a lot of candidates were elected on fair trade issue, Robinson said.

The Bush administration recently reached a tentative agreement with Democratic congressional leaders on trade agreements. Democrats have insisted the agreements include tougher labor and environmental standards in future free trade agreements, including those already negotiated.

"There's the problem of putting American workers in direct competition with the rest of the world who make wages the U.S. workers couldn't and wouldn't work for," Robinson said.