U.S. compromises on labor rights in latest round of TPP negotiation.

[pa28]

From the USTR's TPP web site:

"Ensuring respect for worker rights is a core value. That is why in TPP the United States is seeking to build on the strong labor provisions in the most recent U.S. trade agreements by seeking enforceable rules that protect the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining; discourage trade in goods produced by forced labor, including forced child labor; and establish mechanisms to monitor and address labor concerns."

Unfortunately during this week's Ottawa round of negotiation those tough worker protections designed to "level the playing field" for American workers seem to be evaporating. Instead, violations will result in "discussions to seek improvements".

From The Japan News

Developed countries were pushing for labor rights protection and improved working conditions, while emerging economies were intent on prioritizing economic growth. But in the latest round of talks, the opposing sides compromised and agreed to a rule that the nations involved will settle suspected violations by holding discussions to seek improvements, instead of immediately imposing sanctions.

http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001414471

[leftstreet]

1. Protesters cry foul at secrecy around (TPP) talks

?w=1000

Protesters gathered outside the Delta Hotel in Ottawa Thursday morning where trade talks are underway among Trans-Pacific Partnership members.

Protesters held signs that said, “secret deal being negotiated here” and “stop the TPP,” while the Raging Grannies, an Ottawa-based satirical singing group, performed outside the hotel.

Canada is one of 12 countries involved in the talks, with meetings held behind closed doors.


The Council of Canadians told the Citizen it believes there is too much secrecy around the talks, which were initially planned for Vancouver but moved to Ottawa at the last minute.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/protesters-cry-foul-at-secrecy-surrounding-trans-pacific-partnership-talks

Hope you don't mind my sticking this here
DURec

[Enthusiast]

22. Those are some great signs. Hard to ignore and spelled correctly.

[gratuitous]

2. Oh, you nervous nellies!

We'll have plenty of labor and environmental protections in the TPP! They'll practically be coming out of your ears. We just have to proceed carefully in deference to our other partners, just like we did with NAFTA. We'll have those "side agreements" on labor and the environment worked out for NAFTA real soon (it's only been about 20 years, what's your hurry), then we'll get cracking on the TPP, but we have to ratify it first.

Golly, why are you all so suspicious?

[HooptieWagon]

7. Yep, I'm sure.

She helped craft it. Nothing to see here. BTW, did I mention she's already received over $7 million from Goldman-Sachs?

[Enthusiast]

18. ...

[obxhead]

10. Pass it now, fix it later!

How quick the sheeple run to defend the party, regardless of the policy.

[Populist_Prole]

17. That's been the meme and we always fell for it

Damned technocrats. Look good on paper: Rotten in reality.

[NightWatcher]

4. or as Thom Hartmann call it the Southern Hemisphere Asian Free Trade Agreement

SHAFTA is more fitting

[MannyGoldstein]

5. "Oh, no! We'd really love the little people to have rights, but we just can't swing it."

"But once it's law, we can work on improving it. Honest."

[HooptieWagon]

6. But of course.

Everyone saw this coming, except for the corporate state apologist-deniers. We can say goodbye to many enviromental protections, too. We don't need to see what's in it (when it will be too late to do anything )... we know by who's crafting the agreement that its a steaming load of crap. Wall St paid Obama well, and he aims to deliver.

[IDemo]

8. Give me everything I've asked for and more,

and we'll call it a compromise.

[msongs]

9. "Thanks, Obama" nt

[Octafish]

11. More Feudalism

Someone's got to be the King.

[betterdemsonly]

12. Please Dems don't let this POS pass! n/t

[senseandsensibility]

13. Uh....quelle surprise...

not.

[woo me with science]

14. No excuse for this. Representative government, my ass. nt

[pa28]

15. It's corporations negotiating in secret to disable the laws we've worked for.

Totally unacceptable.

[joshcryer]

16. This is how you do multi-state treaties.

Some partners will get a better deal than others. If it was public it wouldn't pass muster.

[Enthusiast]

21. Yes. That is the reason for the secrecy.

[joshcryer]

23. The full treaty must pass a vote in the Congress.

We will have a week or two to make our voices heard. No treaty voted by the Congress is "secret." But the negotiations, yes. Absolutely.

[Enthusiast]

20. +1

[Enthusiast]

19. +1

[KG]

24. TPP will be teh awesome!

because obama!