
Issue No 91		06 April 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Employment, Environment Vital to US-Australia Trade Deal

By Jeremy Vermeesch

Union leaders from Australia and the United States today called for any Free Trade Agreement between the two countries to include guarantees on employment and environment standards.

A joint statement issued after talks in Washington between the ACTU and the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO), said unions from both countries would combine to oppose any bilateral trade deal that failed to include the guarantees.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said any deal resulting from government negotiations in the US this week must not disadvantage working families in either country.

"We are committed to taking joint action to ensure any trade pact includes guaranteed standards on jobs, employment rights and local content, and enshrines the principles of sustainable development and equitable social policies," Ms Burrow said in Washington after the talks.

"We are determined to ensure that both governments work in the interests of the majority of people in our two nations. Governments everywhere must acknowledge and act to meet the growing concerns of communities about globalisation so that the benefits of trade are shared by all."

The joint statement from the AFL-CIO and ACTU calls for any US-Australia bilateral trade and investment agreement to incorporate a commitment to:

� Core labour standards identified in the International Labour Organisation's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work;

� Domestic laws and international treaty obligations on labour and environment standards;

� Transparency and accountability through public consultation on trade treaty negotiations and disputes;

� Guaranteeing the ability of governments to provide public services and enforce legitimate regulations in the public interest.

   Visit the ACTU

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 91 contents

Interview: Costa on Compo
Labor Council�s secretary gives his take on the Big Stink over Della�s workers compensation package.

Politics: Della's List
All Labor members of Parliament were this week asked to indicate whether they would support injured workers. More than half said 'yes'. Here they are.

Unions: Picketing Joy
Rowan Cahill chronicled the definitive dispute of 2000 for Workers Online. He looks back on the battle and the lessons to be drawn from the workers at Joy.

History: Vale Tony Mulvihill
The environment, migrant workers and the hairy nosed wombat have reason to be thankful for the active citizenship of Tony Mulvihill.

Economics: Stopping the Rot
A national campaign is underway to persuade politicians from both the major parties that they need to be addressing the issue of poverty within Australia.

International: East Timor � Beyond the Headlines
It�s now more than 18 months since the violence and bloodshed following the popular consultation on the future of East Timor was front page news in Australia.

Technology: Online Breathing Space
The global collapse of faith in new technology has given journalists a chance to prepare themselves for the real revolution, writes David Higgins

Satire: Howard Cuts Beer Price to Get Voters Drunk
Prime Minister John Howard has agreed to cut the excise on beer, in the hope cheaper drinks will help get the country drunk enough to vote for him.

Review: The Battle for 96.9Fm is Over
What would you get if you crossed 2DAY FM, 2MMM, JJJ and MIX 106.5 FM? A fairly commercial radio station that wouldn�t know the difference between throwing up, stuffing up, growing up or breaking up.

» Compo Wars: Week Two to the Workers!

» Doctors Don�t Want to be Judges

» Cops Eye Ball Compo Changes

» Armoured Car Drivers To Consider Stop Work

» IT Workers � We Need You!

» Banks Workers Show They�re No Bunnies

» English Teachers Ripped Off

» Beazley Gives Boost To Bakery Workers

» Employment, Environment Vital to US-Australia Trade Deal

» Extra $1.37 Billion Needed for Unis

» Campaigning Workshop Establishes Local Campaign Initiative

» Activist Notebook