Q: What's With Unions Supporting 'Free' Traders?

[MannyGoldstein]

I keep seeing posts that unions are backing folks, such as Clinton and Edwards, that strongly supported permanent 'free' trade status for China. Seems to me that this is the single most destructive thing that's ever happened to American labor - why reward them?

[mod mom]

1. I don't get it either. Free trade is not only killing the middle class but is a serious

national security issue as well (who is to say that someday those countries who are taking over our manufacturing will someday be our enemies?)

[MannyGoldstein]

And A Food Supply Issue

As we now see. Sure it's cheap to do business where the law is lax - but we pay the price.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Depends on the union...

longshoremen, bartenders, hotel employees... lots of union employees are doing OK with trade as it is now and don't see any threat at all.

If you think for a minute that union solidarity is anything but a myth these days, just ask a union longshoreman or electrician around here to support Wal-Mart or meatpacking employees snd see what happens.

[mod mom]

3. BTW Edwards has criticized free trade (at least since '04) & calls for FAIR trade:

Edwards trained like a laser on economic issues, repeatedly criticizing free trade, telling working-class crowds: "We know about free trade. How about some fair trade."

-snip

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0218-02.htm

[MannyGoldstein]

4. After Voting For Permanent 'Free' Trade With China

Edwards has been for (and against) everything in the past four years - on most issues, his voting recoed is starkly at odds with his current message.

[mod mom]

5. I guess I look at it as he has seen the light and has denounced free trade, which is

where he stands now. Gore was once a DLCer (free trade advocate) but denounced it and became a populist during the 2000 campaign. Some people evolve as new information comes out. To me the problem is sticking to a worn out tired idea regardless what the facts indicate (* is is the perfect example, as is McCain).

[dave_p]

6. Free trade isn't the problem

Anti-union policies, a corrupted tax system favoring the ultra-rich, and attacks on social security & opportunity are. Free trade can advantage workers if all the other levers of a decent society are in place, bringing investment home and ensuring a fair distribution of earnings and protection. Unions have every reason to support free-trade candidates who deliver on the home front and oppose needless war. Whether they'll deliver there is the real issue.

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Sorry, I Beg to Differ

I don't see how trading with countries where workers are paid $2 a day can cause other than obliteration of Middle Class US jobs for decades.

The Europeans have the right idea - they throw up large tarriffs against staggeringly-low-wage-labor countries.

[dave_p]

9. Yet..,.

Europe (or at least the prosperous western part) has lower recent GDP growth, higher unemployment and a higher cost of living.

The US problem is where the money goes. If hugely inflated pay-outs go out of earnings into the hands of a tiny few who aren't reinvesting in more efficient production, then workers can't compete.

Free trade isn't the problem, stripping the domestic economy for an unproductive elite is the problem.

[mod mom]

8. I also beg to differ. How do you expect American Companies to offer products

when importing countries pay dirt low wages, no benefits, and have no environmental regulations to deal with. I say open trade with countries who are willing to preform on a level playing field.

[dave_p]

10. Happens I agree

... but how the heck do they ever reach that level playing field if the countries with the real money don't trade with them?

The problem is that it isn't level. And making it level is going to involve a fundamental overhaul of the world economy so that newer exporters don't need to undercut competitors so drastically to gain a toehold in the market. But nobody in the richer countries seems to want to pay more for imports.

Something has to give. What's certain is that workers in poor countries can't raise their wages if they're being boycotted by the rich countries with the cash and leverage to level the field.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. It's A Matter of Balance

Enact huge tarriffs - but not SO huge that the developing countries don't have a tiny advantage - particularly those countries that respect human rights.

[dave_p]

13. Tariffs are a poor substitute

Huge tariffs stifle everybody's trade - remember Smoot-Hawley? And everybody pays more, including US workers.

I'm for discriminatory policies that favor poor countries, though, of which tariffs could form a part. The MFA gave Africa a short-lived (and unintended) textile industry success through its quotas, until the WTO replaced them. It accidentally opened a decade-long door, and poor producers took up the challenge. We need more of that.

Yes, there's a balance to be reached. But trade isn't the enemy. Poverty is the enemy.

[mod mom]

14. Poverty is the enemy, but unfair trade is also an enemy because it kills American

jobs while contiuing the cycle of poverty. Tariffs protect American jobs, manufacturing, and thus help national security, while forcing countries like China to improve conditions in their country, thus relaxing tariffs.

[dave_p]

15. Trade needs to be managed

There's a case for tariffs in particular instances, but excessive use undermines trade and hence international prosperity & coexistence, which doesn't help anybody's national security. Tariffs are a blunt instrument where intricate policy's needed. The boom in global trade should be controlled and redesigned in the interest of all, not reversed.

The world isn't America. Others are entitled to a piece of the action too. If the US tries shutting itself away from their growth it too will lose out in the long run as their import demand rises. Americans should address the staggering inequalities (and inefficiencies) of income and wealth in their own country before depriving poorer countries of long-overdue development opportunities.

[Omaha Steve]

11. Marta and I buy fair trade products

Coffee, chocolate, etc.. . We have a great DVD video from the company we buy our coffee from about how they do more than just pay a higher price for the beans. They guarantee loans, build housing and schools, provide recreation, and break the cycle of poverty etc...

http://www.organiccoffeecompany.com/shop/customer/occ_home.php

Free trade is killing US jobs while corporations, stockholders, and CEO's clean up. . As for the unions supporting free traders, I think at this time labor is just covering all the bases. Bill Clinton was an AFSCME member when he was elected President. AFSCME endorsed him early on based in part on that. I'm sure back room deals will be made before $, manpower, and in kind help are committed to a candidate by most labor organizations.

Good post and great follow up.