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Union Members Demonstrate Against Levin's China Trade Stance; Teamsters and UAW Unite to Protest Free Trade Scheme

16 March 2000

Union Members Demonstrate Against Levin's China Trade Stance; Teamsters and UAW Unite to Protest Free Trade Scheme

    WASHINGTON, March 15 International Brotherhood of
Teamsters (IBT) General President James P. Hoffa and United Auto Workers (UAW)
President Steve Yokich today applauded members of their organizations for a
successful protest at Congressman Sander Levin's (D-MI) district office in
Sterling Heights, Michigan yesterday.
    Nearly 100 demonstrators from organized labor and community groups came
together to protest Levin's so-called "compromise proposal" on China trade.
Levin is circulating a proposal that purports to deal with human rights,
import surges, and enforcement of China's commitments in regards to the
President's new free trade deal with China.
    The Teamsters Union and the UAW, however, believe that Levin's proposal
does not address the concerns of America's working families and is simply a
ploy to provide political cover for members of Congress who want to appease
both business and labor constituents.
    Levin spoke via phone to demonstration leaders from Washington, D.C., but
failed to commit to reworking his proposal to provide meaningful, enforceable
protection for American workers.
    "The Teamster and UAW members who challenged Congressman Levin yesterday
should be commended," said Hoffa.  "Representative Levin thinks he can avoid
taking a stand on the issue by introducing 'compromise proposals' that do
nothing to protect American workers or their jobs.  Yesterday his constituents
told him to think again!"
    "Like NAFTA," said UAW President Stephen P. Yokich, "China trade issues
affect every American worker.  I'm proud of our members for standing up for
worker rights and worker interests here and across the world.  It's time that
Sandy Levin and lots of other Congressional representatives get the message
that voters are paying close attention to the problems created by unfair trade
that's covered up by phony rhetoric that doesn't really protect a single
worker anywhere."