Japan Press Weekly

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2011 November 23 - 29 [LABOR]

Trade unions worldwide express concern about TPP

Akahata on November 22 reported that major trade unions in countries involved in talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade pact expressed their concern about the TPP, pointing out that the pact will deliver a serious blow to employment and people’s lives.

At present, negotiations for the TPP agreement is being held with the original four TPP member states (Singapore, Brunei, Chile, and New Zealand) and five would-be member states, including Australia, Peru, and the United States.

National centers of trade unions in the TPP negotiating countries of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States on March 15, 2010 jointly published the “Labor declaration on the negotiation of the TPP trade agreement.”

In the declaration, the unions state, “We cannot afford another trade agreement that opens the doors for investment and profits by big multinational corporations but fails to create good jobs for workers.”

They also proclaim that they will oppose the TPP unless it creates good jobs, protects workers’ rights and interests, leads to a long-term and balanced economy, and promotes a healthy environment.

Two months later, together with these four unions, major unions in Chile and Peru made similar requests in letters to their respective governments and the Bruneian government which was jointly signed by six union leaders.

Urging the governments to take measures to disclose all information and hear public opinions about the TPP talks, union leaders said, “Without implementing at least these measures, any final agreement cannot count on broad civil society support.”

The six unions on February 4, 2011 sent another jointly signed letter titled, “Investment” to the 7 governments.

In the letter, the unions pointed out that the investor-to-state dispute (ISD) provisions coming up in the TPP talks “elevates corporations to the same level as governments” and said it is “one of the most troubling aspects.” The letter said, “[…] improvements in labour laws and regulations should not be allowable causes for action under the investment provisions, and the labour chapter should prevail in case of conflict.”

Not only these unions but also international industrial unions voiced their concern over the TPP.

The International Metalworkers’ Federation (IMF) in a statement released on August 30 notes, “Sustainable development and the creation of quality employment in each and all of the countries involved must be key explicit goals of any trade agreement.”

In the statement, the IMF stressed the need to review the impact of past agreements, thoroughly evaluate the possible repercussions on jobs and employment conditions, and follow democratic procedures which require governments to table before parliament the full text of any proposed agreement.

The IMF statement holds that a labor chapter in the trade agreement must unequivocally include all fundamental workers’ rights and international labor standards defined by ILO Conventions, and that the chapter must be effectively enforced.

Major overseas unions are on the alert for negotiations on a free-trade agreement, however, two major national centers of trade unions in Japan show a clear difference in their stances. The pro-business Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) gives full support to Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko who announced that Japan will start talks with concerned nations toward its entry into the TPP, while the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) works hard to block Japan’s entry to the TPP talks.