Labor groups differ on Peru free trade deal

[billyoc]

By Ian Swanson
September 19, 2007

A coalition of labor groups that split from the AFL-CIO several years ago is urging members of Congress to oppose the Peru free trade agreement (FTA).

The Change to Win coalition, which includes the Service Employees International Union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America announced its opposition to the Peru FTA in letters sent Tuesday to every member of Congress and the Senate.

While the announcement was unsurprising, it does formalize a split in organized labor over the Peru deal. The AFL-CIO is not supporting that deal, but nor is it vocally opposing it. The Peru FTA is supported by House Democratic leaders such as Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (N.Y.) and Rep. Sandy Levin (Mich.), a leading Democrat on trade.

Representatives of both Change to Win and the AFL-CIO, however, rejected suggestions they were split on the Peru trade deal or a similar agreement with Panama that might also be considered by Congress this fall.

http://thehill.com/business--lobby/labor-groups-differ-on-peru-free-trade-deal-2007-09-19.html