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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Proposed Pacific trade agreement must
deliver for<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>workers, jobs and the environment,
say unions<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>A proposed trans-Pacific trade agreement must create good jobs and
protect the rights and<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>interests of working people, say unions.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Negotiations for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement
must also lead to long term<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>and balanced economic development, and promote a healthy and
sustainable environment,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>said the ACTU.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Negotiations for the proposed agreement between <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United
States</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region>,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:country-region w:st="on"><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Chile</span></font></st1:country-region><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Peru</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Singapore</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Vietnam</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
Brunei Darussalam will begin today.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>The peak union bodies from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>,
the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region> today released an<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>historic joint declaration on an agreed set of principles under which
they believe the negotiations<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>should proceed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the proposed agreement must deliver
more for working<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>people in all the nations than previous free trade agreements have
done.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>“We cannot afford another trade agreement that opens the doors
for investment and profits by<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>big multinational corporations but fails to create good jobs for
workers,” Ms Burrow said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>“We would oppose any trade agreement where the Pacific island
economies were not clear<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>beneficiaries. Throughout the negotiations, the participating
governments must adopt a job lens<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>through which all decisions must contribute to the promotion of
high-quality jobs and sustainable<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>economic development among the member nations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>“Unions understand that fair international trade is a major
driver of economic growth and<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>prosperity in both developed and developing nations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>“Trade can also be a catalyst for better human rights and
environmental standards in developing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>countries. But it must be fair and if it is to have our support, the
Pacific trade agreement must be<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>well balanced, create good jobs, protect labour rights, and lead to
both sustainable economic<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>development and a healthy environment.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Ms Burrow said there must be consultation with community
representatives, including unions,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>who should not be shut out of negotiations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>“Labour rights are an essential component of trade, and we want
to ensure that any benefits flow<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>through to workers and not just the profits of big corporations,”
Ms Burrow said.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>“Any agreement must adopt and maintain core
internationally-recognised labour rights, including<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>collective bargaining. Protection of the environment is also a critical
trade policy objective.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Ms Burrow said other core principles outlined in the joint
unions’ statement included protecting<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>essential public services, including education, health, post, social
services, transport and utilities.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>The proposed agreement cannot over-ride domestic government procurement
policies to promote<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>local economic development, job creation and environmental and social
goals.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>And while there may be legitimate reasons for some measures to protect
health, public safety and<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>the environment, it must lead to equal and balanced market access to
the member countries.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Media contact:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Mark Phillips ph (03) 8676 7266 or 0422 009 011 mphillips@actu.org.au<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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