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USA Democrats Oppose Child Slave and Labor in Colombia

"More talks are expected next week in Washington, but trade officials said that the impasse between the Democrats and the administration on labor rights has clouded their chances.

At issue is the Democratic demand that pending trade deals with Colombia, Panama, Peru and South Korea include a provision guaranteeing certain rights for labor in the trading partner countries, including a ban on child and slave labor and the right to organize.

In addition, the Democrats want the accords to endorse general labor protections adopted by the International Labor Organization, like the right to organize.

The Bush administration, backed by business groups, contends that this Democratic demand could lead to trading partners suing to overturn basic American labor practices, like teenage summer jobs or work on farms, or the practice in some American states of prisoners making consumer goods.

Another fear is that governments in Latin America, perhaps inspired by anti-American figures like President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, might use trade deals to try to overturn ''right to work'' laws in states, which bar employers from requiring workers to join unions.

EXCERPTED FROM: New York Times, April 21, 2007, p. C2

By platano on Apr 21, 2007, 07:56 in Politics & the war.

platano says on Apr 21, 2007, 07:58:

Botched Headline My first post in a while and I botch the headline. It should read:

USA Democrats Oppose Child and Slave Labor in Colombia
plátano

plátano

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miamimike says on Apr 21, 2007, 09:16:

Plátano-Nice to see you back,,,You are going to catch hell on this one,,,Imagine, those Poor Colombian Workers thinking they may someday have the right to organize for better rights and wages,,,,Good Luck on this one Amigo,,,

Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte después Bésame, bésame mucho Como si fuera esta noche La última vez Bésame, bésame mucho Que tengo miedo a perderte Perderte de

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platano says on Apr 21, 2007, 15:26:

Thanks, Miamimike, I am going to catch hell? I am not to blame.... I'm just the innocent messenger of the NYT reporting.

Blame the evil USA Democrats who oppose exploitation of children and mistreatment of workers. :)
plátano

plátano

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kalder says on Apr 21, 2007, 15:46:

platano In the long, long time that I lurked on this site, your contributions were some of my favourite.

I'm unlikely to agree with you on many things, but the respect I have for you is considerable. I am delighted to see you back.

"A piece of cheese may entrap a mouse, but a bicycle could ensnare the Imperial Chancellor."~~An Bai Kuang

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aztec says on Apr 21, 2007, 16:07:

So I am to believe... ...the Republicans are for child slave labor? Give me a break!

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platano says on Apr 21, 2007, 18:13:

Aztec, The Republicans have a big slave labor center and they invest heavily in it to keep WalMart stocked. It's called China. plátano

plátano

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billyb says on Apr 21, 2007, 19:15:

I haven't seen the Dems pass any bills... against China trade since they took over congress, have you Platano my friend?

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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platano says on Apr 21, 2007, 23:26:

The Dems passed a minimum wage increase first... next they will focus on things like treating currency manipulation as an illegal export subsidy and authorizing countervailing duties (CVDs), permitting the Department of Commerce to impose CVDs on China and other non-market economies to offset subsidies, and pressing the USTR to enforce intellectual property rights (IPRs) through the WTO.

But, so far Bush as been as emphatic as the Dems and both have been mostly just talking... but nobody is brave enough to put the bell on the China cat.plátano

plátano

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miamimike says on Apr 21, 2007, 23:59:

Still Plátano,,, Unions Suceeded In Organizing WalMart China No small Victory there,,,Hopefully someday Colombia's Workers will have the same rights someday without death threats,,,

http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=8283

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platano says on Apr 22, 2007, 00:49:

miamimike, This is surprising news to me because I thought independent trade unions were illegal in China, with all workers belonging to the Communist Party controlled umbrella body All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU).

I guess the Chinese Communist government had a change of policy because previously Chinese workers who went on strike over pay and workplace abuses were dismissed and organizers of labor protests have faced imprisonment.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear communism is working to the benefit of the workers! plátano

plátano

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miamimike says on Apr 22, 2007, 07:10:

Yep We have our Plate Full of that Disaster known as Iraq sapping us of our Treasury and young American Blood. The Iraq excursion has plunged us into a world of debt that will drag our Economy down for decades while accomplishing absolutely nothing. Good Morning VietNam,,,I agree we need to keep our Money in the US and that includes Plan Col unless concrete results can be demonstrated. Plan Col's main objective for the USA, was last I read, to decrease Cocaine Product to the streets of the USA; that has not happened, conversely Supply and Quality is way up for the last few years, a clear indication this Policy is not working,,,We need to focus on our own domestic Problems here in the USA, of which there are many that could use this money we send overseas in many directions without results,,,We can sorely us that money to upgrade Care for our Wounded Military Vets at Walter Reed not to mention my old Employer, the VA Medical System,,,Truth of the matter is we cannot resolve all the problems in today's world,,,we have other Priororities as VP Cheney once uttered,,,

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juancegomez says on Apr 23, 2007, 11:25:

Well... The problem I have with this kind of thing lies entirely with the politics and economics behind it on the U.S. front, not with the moral and general principles.

Supporting more bans than those which already exist (Colombia has already signed more than a few ILO conventions...more than the U.S. itself, in fact) doesn't mean that they are going to magically change things overnight.

The article makes it sound like this is a "new" development, that gives the Democrats an aura of purity that doesn't reflect the maneuvers going on behind the curtains (other articles do at least hint at it).

Simple, direct provisions could be introduced, or already existing provisions could be re-interpreted, in more enforceable ways without a need for theatrics. That would be far more positive for labor rights in Colombia than focusing only on the talk and posturing.

miamimike:

You make it seem like no workers can organize in Colombia at all without automatically receiving death threats.

Needless to say, that isn't the case.

I could even point you to successful examples of organization that have not resulted in any significant death threats thus far, but I wonder if it'll be worth it.

My point is that the history of labor rights in Colombia isn't limited to death threats, as important as that subject is and clearly still needs to be.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Apr 23, 2007, 13:26:

Wow The Dems are really staking out the courageous issues this time. Next, Pelosi is going to come out in favor of cute puppies and pretty flowers.

Platano, nice to see you back. Where've you been hiding?

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platano says on Apr 24, 2007, 18:17:

Mr. H, I took a detour to CBlog (Que En Paz Descanse). Also, I really do have a life and have been working hard recently so I'm not going to be able to post much.plátano

plátano

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