Text Fwd:CWA on the proposed Korea-U.S. Trade Agreement-Does Not Defend US Or Korean Workers 제안된 한미 무역 협정에 대한 미국 통신 노동자들 성명서

* Texts sent from Steve Zeltzer on Dec. 15, 2010
Communications Workers of America
STATEMENT BY THE COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA ON THE PROPOSED KOREA-U.S.TRADE AGREEMENT
For release
Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org

Washington, D.C.-- In July 2010, delegates to the CWA Convention called on the Administration to renegotiate the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) to enhance “larger societal goals of economic justice, sustainable communities and a sound environment, and human rights, including trade union rights.” CWA also urged the Administration to incorporate workers’ rights into the legislation that would implement KORUS. Since then, CWA has engaged in discussions with the AFL-CIO and Administration to improve KORUS.

The proposed agreement, as announced, does include positive improvements that address UAW and labor concerns about jobs in the automotive sector, including auto parts operations where IUE-CWA represents thousands of workers. Further, CWA also recognizes and appreciates the national security value of this agreement with South Korea.

However, this agreement does not meet the criteria adopted by CWA.

This agreement gives investment and legal protections to large multi-national corporations which shift jobs offshore in search of the lowest labor and environmental costs and highest profits. With no counter balance, multi-national corporations whipsaw workers and nations to prevent and eliminate bargaining rights. KORUS, as negotiated, does not create an economic and collective bargaining rights framework to support the aspirations of US and Korean workers.

The language and protections covering investments and government procurement programs, and particularly, rule of origin provisions that allow up to 65 percent foreign content, disadvantage both South Korean and U.S. workers, particularly when compared to the pending agreement between the European Union and Korea.

Our current economic climate simply cannot support a trade agreement that does not address U.S. workers’ rights and will cost more U.S. jobs. Further, the Korean union movement strongly opposes the agreement. So long as KORUS falls short of protecting the broad interests of American and Korean workers in these uncertain economic times, we will oppose it.
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See also

Korea-U. S. FTA
The UAW supports the KORUS FTA While Trumka Tells Demo Pol " the AFL-CIO would might decide to skip a fight with the White House over South Korea to preserve its leverage in China policy"

Alliance for Global Justice
Campaign for Labor Rights: Call on the AFL-CIO to Stop Free Trade
Call on the AFL-CIO to Stop KORUS Agreement Says Campaign For Labor Rights