It’s all about jobs: Coalition spotlights candidates’ records on trade

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4660

By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
26 October 2010

MINNEAPOLIS - “Jobs” seems to be the watchword of this year’s election campaigns, but few people are talking about why millions of Americans are unemployed. In Minnesota, the Fair Trade Coalition is putting a spotlight on a major cause: unfair trade agreements.

“Jobs are on everybody’s mind, but there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to why jobs have left our country,” notes Jessica Lettween, director of the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition. “It mostly comes down to our trade agreements have not supported small businesses and workers in this country and have mostly been written for the multinational corporations that have off-shored our jobs to take advantage of weaker environmental standards and lower wages.”

The coalition is working to educate voters about the connection between trade and jobs, holding events recently at the offices of U.S. Representatives Erik Paulsen, R-3rd District, and Michele Bachmann, R-6th District, highlighting their support for unfair trade deals. Both representatives are up for re-election Nov. 2.


Members of the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition sent a message to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at a demonstration outside her St. Cloud office.

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition

Both voted against federal legislation to require China to reform its currency laws and stop the flood of cheap Chinese imports due to unfair competition. Both have supported trade deals that benefit corporations while undercutting standards for workers in the United States and abroad.

The Fair Trade Coalition, whose members include more than 40 labor, environmental, family farm and social justice organizations, supports federal legislation – called the TRADE Act – that would require a re-examination of all existing trade agreements and institute provisions to protect workers, consumers and the environment. The coalition is putting pressure on the members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation to become sponsors of the TRADE Act, including coordinating phone calls to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., urging her to sign on. Her colleague, Al Franken, is a co-sponsor.

FULL story at link.