U.S. unions say they'll fight U.S.-Colombia trade deal

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. unions say they'll fight U.S.-Colombia trade deal
By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON | Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:14pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. labor groups will fight any attempt by President Barack Obama to strike a deal with Republicans for approval of a free trade pact with Colombia, an AFL-CIO official said on Wednesday.

"It's our position that Colombia still has quite a long way to go to really tackle questions of violence and threats of violence against trade unionists," said Jeff Vogt, deputy director of the 12.2 million-member labor federation's international department.

"I think we'd be vociferously opposed (if Obama submitted the agreement to Congress). Colombia continues to be such a bad actor on the labor and human rights," Vogt said.

Since his Democratic Party lost control of the House of Representatives and a number of seats in the Senate, Obama has come under increased pressure from Republicans to submit for congressional votes three trade deals left over from former President George W. Bush's administration.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70P8EP20110126?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=401

[rabs]

1. Obama forges ahead

From SOTU speech. Looks like B.O. is hellbent on that Colombia FTA, assassination of unionists in Colombia non obstante. And to a lesser degree, Panama.

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Now, before I took office, I made it clear that we would enforce our trade agreements, and that I would only sign deals that keep faith with American workers and promote American jobs. That's what we did with Korea, and that's what I intend to do as we pursue agreements with Panama and Colombia and continue our Asia Pacific and global trade talks. (Applause.)

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