(UK) Unite says government is reluctant to exempt NHS from TTIP

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/13/unite-says-government-is-reluctant-to-exempt-nhs-from-ttip

Britain’s largest union is concerned trade deal would make privatisation of parts of the NHS irreversible

Unite says government is reluctant to exempt NHS from TTIP
Ben Quinn
Sunday 13 March 2016 09.21 EDT

Britain’s largest trade union claims government officials were reluctant to put protections for the NHS into a controversial transatlantic trade deal because the European commission would deem it incompatible with its negotiating strategy.

Unite, which has been campaigning with others against what it regards as serious threats to the NHS from the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal between Europe and the US, is now calling on Brussels to state that the UK’s health service would be exempt from the potential impact of the deal.

The union, and others on the left, are deeply concerned that the deal would make privatisation of elements of the NHS irreversible for future governments and allow private companies with links to NHS contracts to win higher levels of compensation through bypassing domestic courts.

Controversy over TTIP has also threatened to become a leftwing rallying point in the referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. While the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has committed to supporting a vote for the UK to remain in the EU, he has strongly criticised TTIP, saying it risks “signing away” public services. Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize-winning economist recruited by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, to advise the Labour party, earlier this month went as far as saying the UK could be better off leaving the EU if TTIP was signed.

[TubbersUK]

1. K & R

[djean111]

2. The intent of these "trade" deals is to privatize everything, and to make un-privatizing them

illegal.

And, again, Hillary is lying when she says the TPP (or, if more people knew the ugliness lurking there, the TTIP) just needs tweaking. Fast Track. Can't be tweaked. Almost all the GOP, and all the DINOs are on board.