UAW Applauds Passage of U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement

[ProSense]

UAW Applauds Passage of U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement

DETROIT -- The UAW is pleased with congressional approval of the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). The automotive provisions of the agreement were substantially renegotiated by the Obama administration to address the concerns the union had with the original FTA, negotiated in 2007 by the Bush administration.

“The revised agreement,” said UAW President Bob King, “creates significantly greater market access for American auto exports and contains strong, auto-specific safeguards to protect our domestic markets from potentially harmful surges of Korean automotive imports.”

Under the provisions of the renegotiated agreement, the 2.5 percent U.S. tariff on automobiles will stay in place until the fifth year after implementation of the agreement, and the 25 percent tariff on light trucks remains until the eighth year, when it starts to be phased down. Moreover, Korea will immediately reduce its electric car tariffs from 8 percent to 4 per cent, and will phase out the tariff by the fifth year of the agreement.

The KORUS FTA also includes standards for the protection of worker rights, including obligations for South Korea to respect core International Labor Organization labor rights and to effectively enforce labor laws designed to ensure a level playing field for American workers to compete.

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[JTFrog]

1. K&R

[great white snark]

2. Rec to zero? WTF?

:crazy:

[ClarkUSA]

3. Still at zero. Being anti-anything Obama clearly trumps being pro-union here.

It's all about demonizing anything President Obama does and fuck the unions who support him.

[Whisp]

5. I guess NAFTA has everyone suspicious, and I can understand that

but this is nothing like NAFTA, it's what free trade Should be.

but some still won't accept that Obama may not be the devilmonster they want him to be so just cannot bring themselves off that Ledge of Hate.

[ClarkUSA]

6. The OUTRAGED demonizing attacks against Obama started before the inauguration and haven't stopped.

The goalposts of contrived outrage just keep moving. Just read FirePUMALake for the latest talking points.

[young but wise]

13. +1

[ForgoTheConsequence]

18. At least have an honest debate.

Being against the actions of one union doesn't make you anti union. The AFL-CIO officially opposes this trade deal, does that make you "anti union"
because you support it? Give me a break.

[Whisp]

4. thanks for posting this. K&R

[jenmito]

7. K&R.

[Owlet]

8. Of course, the basic assumption

is that, given the opportunity, the car-buyer in Pusan or Seoul will opt to buy an imported Chevy or Ford rather than a domestically-produced Kia.

I'd like to see some market research that supports that belief.

[totodeinhere]

9. I stand with the majority of the Democratic caucus in the House that voted

59 for and 130 against the so-called free trade agreement with South Korea. It only passed because of overwhelming Republican support. Eric Cantor was effusive in his praise for the bill. Anytime Obama sides with the Republicans it's big trouble for American workers.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Arctic Dave]

10. Saying their is a cherry on the turd sandwich doesn't make it any better.

Face it, Obama is a repuglican. No anmount of lipstick will change that fact.

I notice you all side step the Colombia issue.

[chill_wind]

11. Trumka Oct 5

The country's largest labor federation warned the Obama administration and congressional Democrats not to take their support for granted and said they would work against any elected leader who supports pending free trade agreements.

"Every elected leader will be held accountable," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told reporters, as anti-Wall Street protests spread across the United States.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-usa-politics-unions-idUSTRE79464Z20111005

[brentspeak]

12. Economist Ian Fletcher: "Don't be fooled by the White House's cynical ploy (obtaining UAW support)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-fletcher/stop-the-korea-free-trade_b_812646.html

Don't be fooled by the fact that some unions, like the United Auto Workers (UAW), have endorsed the agreement. This is part of a cynical ploy by the White House to split the trade union movement in order to keep the AFL-CIO neutral. The UAW's out-of-touch leadership is so punch-drunk from the 2008 collapse of the U.S. auto industry that it has lost touch not only with what is good for the American economy as a whole, but with what is good for rank-and-file auto workers. Don't take my word for it: in the words of Al Benchich, retired president of UAW Local 909:

The UAW Administration Caucus is the one-party state that controls the UAW at the International level. Every International officer is a member of the Caucus, and they surround themselves with appointed international reps that unquestioningly do their bidding.

No wonder other, more democratic and more intelligent, unions, like Leo Gerard's United Steelworkers, are criticizing the UAW for its decision to support KORUS-FTA. Interestingly, the UAW's past record of criticizing KORUS-FTA is more honest than anything they're doing in a desperate bid to help keep Obama in the White House. For example, here's what they originally said about this agreement:

KORUS-FTA has inadequate protections and enforcement mechanisms to enforce either the spirit or the letter of the law.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted sub-thread

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[SpartanDem]

16. When has a union ever supported a free trade deal?

it has tell you something is different here than the past ones.

[ProSense]

19. Yes

"it has tell you something is different here than the past ones."

...not only were the agreements were renegotiated, but also President Obama "became the first president to enforce U.S. trade law."

The dire projections are all based on NAFTA, and there are valid human rights concerns in Colombia. In the House, Pelosi voted against that agreement, but supported the other two. Sander Levin, a staunch opponent of NAFTA, was a co-sponsor of the Korea agreement. He also voted for the Panama bill.

Still, the agreements, as a matter of policy, were improved upon.

Statement by the President on the Passage of Trade Agreements and Trade Adjustment Assistance

The landmark trade agreements and assistance for American workers that passed tonight are a major win for American workers and businesses. I’ve fought to make sure that these trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama deliver the best possible deal for our country, and I’ve insisted that we do more to help American workers who have been affected by global competition. Tonight’s vote, with bipartisan support, will significantly boost exports that bear the proud label “Made in America,” support tens of thousands of good-paying American jobs and protect labor rights, the environment and intellectual property. American automakers, farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, including many small businesses, will be able to compete and win in new markets. I look forward to signing these agreements, which will help achieve my goal of doubling American exports and keeping America competitive in the 21st century.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

17. It doesn't tell me anything.

The AFL-CIO opposes it. Trumpka spoke against it yesterday. The UAW leadership is being extremely short sited here.

[ProSense]

20. Interesting piece here:

FDR’s Comprehensive Approach to Freer Trade