UAW Against Colombia Trade Pact for Aid to Big 3

[Judi Lynn]

UAW Against Colombia Trade Pact for Aid to Big 3
By Josh Mitchell
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The chief lobbyist for the United Auto Workers said Tuesday that the union would strongly oppose any political deal involving the passage of a free-trade agreement with Colombia in exchange for government aid to U.S. auto makers.

Alan Reuther made the comments amid reports Tuesday in the Washington Post and the New York Times that President George W. Bush has indicated he would support aid to the auto industry if Democrats dropped their opposition to a pending Colombia free-trade agreement. Bush has long sought passage of the agreement, which Democrats and others have opposed because of concerns about human-rights violations in the country.

Reuther told Dow Jones Newswires that the union wouldn't support such a political deal.

"Colombia had the worst record in terms of murdering trade unionists, and the violence has been continuing," Reuther said. "We don't think we should be doing free-trade deals with countries that are murdering people because they're engaged in union activity."

More:
http://www.smartmoney.com/breaking-news/on/?story=ON-20081111-000383-1113