WASHINGTON-- The national union that represents woodworkers at some manufacturing companies, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), gave a thumbs down following release of details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which were released today by the White House after months of secret negotiations.
The IAM's worst fears about TPP materialized early this morning when the U.S. Trade Representative released the TPP text
“The IAM's worst fears about TPP materialized early this morning when the U.S. Trade Representative released the TPP text,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “While we are still reviewing this document, on nearly all matters of immediate relevance to American working families and their communities, this agreement fails to deliver.
"Not only are the labor provisions warmed over language from failed past agreements, but the agreement actually takes a giant step backward, with the inclusion of Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Mexico. Additionally, investors and corporations can still challenge basic worker and environmental protections while rules of origin are weaker than even the ones found in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and there are no provisions to bring currency manipulation under control.”
The union says it will activate its grassroots network of political activists at 600 union locals across the U.S. to lobby against the trade deal.
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