[CTC] AFL-CIO head: Unions aren't ready to back 'unenforceable' North American trade deal

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Two articles below…


https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/459563-afl-cio-head-unions-arent-ready-to-back-unenforceable-north

AFL-CIO head: Unions aren't ready to back 'unenforceable' North American trade deal
BY ZACK BUDRYK <https://thehill.com/author/zack-budryk> - 09/01/19 10:07 AM EDT

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Sunday said that unions are not ready to back the White House's “unenforceable” replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), despite President Trump's claims. 

“If Mexico can’t enforce their own agreement, this agreement will never work because their wages will be artificially low and they will suck jobs and capital out of the United States,” Trumka told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallaceof the proposed United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“An unenforceable trade deal is a windfall for corporations and a disaster for workers,” he added.

Trumka also took issue with the Trump administration’s handling of its ongoing trade war with China, saying that while “tak[ing] on China” was necessary, “to take on China there has to be a multilateral approach … one country can’t take on China.”

Wallace also questioned Trumka on the level of rank-and-file support for Trump, who has frequently claimed only union leadership oppose his policies.

“He came to our members and said ‘I’m going to change the rules of the economy and they believed him,’ ” Trumka said, adding that in the meantime, Trump has “opposed every increase in the minimum wage” and proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

“I’ve tried to call balls and strikes with him and I have to say unfortunately while he may not even know what his administration is doing, they’ve done more to hurt workers than they’ve done to help them,” Trumka said.

“Our members are still waiting for the supposed greatness of this economy to reach their kitchen tables,” he added.


https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/459610-trump-lashes-out-at-afl-cio-chief-trumka-no-wonder-unions-are-losing

Trump fires back at AFL-CIO chief Trumka: 'No wonder unions are losing so much'

BY REBECCA KLAR - 09/02/19 08:54 AM EDT <https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/459610-trump-lashes-out-at-afl-cio-chief-trumka-no-wonder-unions-are-losing#bottom-story-socials>


President Trump on Monday lashed out at American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President Richard Trumka a day after the labor union leader criticized Trump's trade deal in a Fox News interview. 

Trump, in a Labor Day morning tweet, claimed that Trumka doesn't share the same critique of Trump's trade deal when "he is with me at the White House."

"Just watched AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on @FoxNews and thought to myself how different he is on TV than he is when he is with me at the White House. Likes what we are doing until the cameras go on," Trump tweeted.

The president targeted the AFL-CIO head after Trumka said that unions were not ready to back the president's"unenforceable" replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"We got robbed on Trade and everything else while his Dems just sat back and watched. NAFTA is the worst Trade Deal ever made - terrible for labor - and Richard let it stand. No wonder unions are losing so much. The workers will vote for me in 2020 (lowest unemployment, most jobs ever), and should stop paying exorbitant $Dues, not worth it!"



"An unenforceable trade deal is a windfall for corporations and a disaster for workers," Trumka said Sunday of the proposed United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement.

He also criticized Trump's handling of China, saying that taking on the nation "has to be a multilateral approach. … One country can’t take on China."

The White House and Trump have pushed back on claims that the tariffs on Chinese goods will hurt consumers or farmers, arguing they it will impact only China. 

Trumka and Trump have feuded in the past. Trumka has criticized NAFTA but has repeatedly said Trump’s replacement USMCA deal is worse and that unions are united against supporting it. Trumka recently led his own delegation to Mexico to discuss the deal.

 Trump has said that Trumka is a reason unions are performing "poorly."

Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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