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UAW President Tells Congress: Stand With Us For a Fair Global Economy

12 April 2000

UAW President Yokich Tells Congress: Stand With Us in Our Fight For a Fair Global Economy

    WASHINGTON, April 12 UAW President Stephen P. Yokich,
addressing a rally today on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, called for the U.S.
Congress to stand with union members, environmentalists, human rights
activists, and other concerned citizens working to create a new approach to
the global economy.
    "We expect you to stand with us in our fight for a fundamentally different
approach to trade, one that lifts working people up instead of pushing them
down," said Yokich.
    "And if we can't count on you to stand with us in our fight to make the
global economy work for working people," Yokich said, "then you can count on
this -- we won't be standing with you on Election Day."
    Five thousand UAW members were part of today's rally, which was called in
protest of proposed legislation to grant China permanent, "normal trade
relations" status.
    "President Clinton says that expanding trade with China will lead to a
more open and free Chinese society," said Yokich.  "The President may have
good intentions, but the hard reality is that U.S.-China trade has expanded
dramatically in recent years -- and yet the human rights situation in China is
worse, not better.
    "Chinese workers have no right to form free trade unions," he said, "no
right to safe and healthy working conditions, and no leverage to improve their
plight."
    The UAW has participated actively in efforts to defeat permanent NTR,
which has been proposed to facilitate China's entry into the World Trade
Organization.  Over 2,000 UAW delegates lobbied their members of Congress on
the China issue during the Union's annual Legislative Conference in February
in Washington, D.C.  Since that time, union members have followed up with
calls and visits to the home offices of their Senators and Representatives.
    The UAW has also participated in the public policy debate on permanent
"normal trade relations" with regional and national radio and print
advertisements.  UAW ads have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the
Washington Post, the Washington Times, Roll Call, The Hill, the Oakland (MI)
Press, and other publications.
    "China's unfair trade practices have already cost American workers tens of
thousands of good-paying jobs," said Yokich.  "And the China WTO deal will
only make matters worse, not better."
    According to a study by the Washington, DC-based Economic Policy
Institute, China's entry into the WTO will increase the U.S.-China trade
deficit to over $100 billion by 2002, leading to the loss of an additional
600,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs.
    "Let's be clear," said Yokich.  "A vote for permanent NTR status for China
would send the unmistakable message to working people in China and throughout
the world that the United States of America no longer stands for human rights
and workers' rights and freedom."
    "And let's be clear on this point, too -- a vote for permanent NTR status
for China would send the loud and clear message to American workers that our
jobs don't matter."