For First Time Ever, U.S. Moves to Enforce Labor Rules in Trade Deal

[pampango]

Source: AFL CIO

The U.S. Labor Department announced on Friday the United States will request consultations with Guatemala’s government under the labor chapter of the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). This is the first such action by any U.S. administration against a trading partner.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a statement that the announcement “demonstrates the strong commitment of the Obama administration to enforcing our trade laws, including the obligation to respect workers’ rights.”

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said that the action sends a strong message that the Obama administration will vigorously enforce labor obligations under the U.S. free trade agreements. "We are committed to ensuring that U.S. businesses and workers compete on a level playing field and that labor rights are respected in our trading partner countries."

In a report released last year, the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center noted that in addition to the brutal repression of workers’ freedoms, Guatemala’s laws hinder workers from exercising their basic rights in many ways. Some laws criminalize legitimate union activity. Efforts to strengthen labor laws have been rolled back in recent years. Click here to read the report.

Read more: http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/08/03/for-first-time-ever-u-s-moves-to-enforce-labor-rules-in-trade-deal/

[Sentath]

1. I wish I had something better

than inarticulate cheering!

[bluestateguy]

2. Yeah but Obama only wants to serve his corporate masters

:rofl:

Seriously, Hilda Solis may be the best Cabinet member of the Administration.

[yowzayowzayowza]

3. Ok, where are all the naysayers?

Anti-Union Obama? Corporate-stooge Obama? The silence is freaken deafening.

K&R

[joe black]

15. Here I am.

Trowing the union a bone before the election.

[laurel46]

20. A bone? Obama devoted his life to civil rights.

Isn't constitutional law what all those ACLU fringe types practice? He was not only a professor for 12 years, but a civil rights attorney at a large law firm which fought gerrymandering in chicago. Do you think he spent that much time on creating his cover of corporate shill? I am sure you are being sarcastic.

If Obama doesn't deliver, it is because he can't or media spins it into something terrible, like in the Sherrod case. See south of the Border for more on wealthy private media lying. Obama is doing so much in the world for us to be proud of and is trying to dismantle a police state full of dangerous opponents. Just how long should this take and how difficult is it to get anything done. No, I don't think its a bone. Nice try though.

[Beetwasher]

21. Hot Damn! Welcome To DU Laurel!

:thumbsup:

[druidity33]

23. he was talking about Unions...

not Constitutional Law, the ACLU or Civil Rights. Obama may not be anti-Union, but i certainly WOULD NOT consider him a Union supporter. Whenever he can use their funds and boots he will, but he'll pinch from them too...


:shrug:

[yowzayowzayowza]

24. Nonetheless, they seem pretty happy with it:

This announcement demonstrates the strong commitment of the Obama Administration to enforcing our trade laws, including the obligation to respect workers' rights. This provides a marked contrast to the previous administration, which failed to act on this and other important labor rights cases.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. K&R

:applause:

:kick:

[Spazito]

5. Excellent news!

Thanks for posting this, it is much appreciated.

Recommended.

[Kurovski]

K&R! (nt)

[JNelson6563]

6. No difference between D's & R's.

Oh snap, bitches!

[AlbertCat]

7. "bout time!

[uberblonde]

8. Great news!

If this had happened all along, as Bill Clinton intended, our job losses wouldn't have been this catastrophic. Here's hoping it's stringently applied in all countries.

[Judi Lynn]

9. So glad they've stepped forward on behalf of the WORKERS. About time!

Union members have gone through hell right here in this country trying to get the right to protect members from unscrupulous opportunists with a ton of money & power who see people as things to be used, nothing else. People have been tortured, have been murdered right here because of this struggle, something our anal, Republican blissfully, and pompously ignorant citizens don't know, and wouldn't be capable of caring if they did. All effort has been made to never mention it, and to try to color public perceptions of union members as "commies," or as dupes of crooks, etc.

It's heartening to see them making this move on behalf of actual consideration of people suffering at the hands of tyrants, even though things have been easier here because of their own U.S. predecessors.

It's also a great way to impact the flight of US American work away from this country, to other places where the people aren't as powerful yet.

Why NOT fight back against crime?

[uberblonde]

16. More to the point...

This is about making it a lot more difficult to outsource American jobs. Trumka obviously cut a deal with Obama in exchange for his support in the mid-terms.

[bobburgster]

27. Excellent news!

K&R Posted my K&R here because I wanted to also thank you Judi Lynn for an great post too.

[Omaha Steve]

10. Happy Days are Here Again

Seems another successful D president had American's singing that song.

K&R!

[pscot]

11. Anyone who thinks we'll let Guatemala push us around

has another think coming!!!

[Beetwasher]

12. Goddamnit!

When the fuck is he gonna mow my lawn? Huh?

[SeattleGirl]

14. Won't happen until after he does mine!

:P

[Kingofalldems]

13. K and R for the workers

[Crowman1979]

17. Obama will do the right thing, as long as you yell at him.

[harun]

18. Woo hoo!

[madrchsod]

19. i`m not convinced until card check gets passed ....

this is a step in the right direction but he has a long way to go.

[SpartanDem]

22. Solis is really doing a great job

[maryf]

25. I'm sorry but my cynicism

rears its ugly head here, especially seeing the ships in Costa Rica, and all the bases in Columbia...we're questioning Guatemala for what seems to be noble reasons...but what about all the other countries we trade with and all the stuff going on in Latin America?? Why Guatemala NOW? Latin America is turning left, we didn't fight the coup in Honduras next door...what is giving? I don't trust this and will keep an eye on it. thanks for the post though!

[pampango]

26. "USW Lauds Solis and Kirk for Standing Up for Workers' Rights in Guatemala"

http://www.sys-con.com/node/1483752

United Steelworker (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard released this statement today in response to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and U.S. Trade representative calls for formal investigation of worker rights violations in Guatemala.

"We commend Secretary Solis and Ambassador Kirk for beginning the formal process of addressing workers' rights violations in Guatemala. This is the first step in the process, and sends a strong signal that the United States will enforce the law in this important area. Proper recognition and enforcement of workers' rights are vital to the proper functioning of markets and the global economy.

"Workers in Guatemala have lost income, their jobs and, in some cases, their lives attempting to exercise their basic rights. While the previous Administration ignored the systematic violations of these rights, the President has begun the process to ensure that these rights will be respected. That's an important and vital change in the enforcement of our trade laws.

"We all know that the violation of workers' rights, however, is not limited to Guatemala. In countries around the globe, the systematic denial of these rights has been largely ignored by previous Administrations. Today's action must be followed by efforts to address problems ranging from those in our neighbor to the south, Mexico, to an end of violence and denial of rights in Colombia to actions elsewhere in the world."