Central American deal must boost labor rights
A proposed trade agreement between the US and five Central American nations could further worsen labor and environmental conditions in the region if Washington does not use its clout to press for greater workers’ rights there, says a leading US think tank. In January the US launched free trade talks with Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua towards the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which is similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, the US, and Mexico. The Bush admin. wants to use the talks to push for elimination of non-tariff barriers and broad liberalization of market access for goods and services, including strong protection for intellectual property. But in a recent report, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace argues that the planned trade agreement, by replacing the current US system of unilateral trade preferences, could wipe out the existing minimal recognition of labor rights in the region, which had been partially improved under the unilateral deals.
Current trade agreements extend market access benefits unilaterally to Central American countries on the condition that they respect labor rights. While the report recognizes the basic problem of the lack or rights and rule of law for workers in the region, it also says the current trade deals have reversed the most egregious violations of rights and threats to livelihood and have prevented further such abuses. Replacing the unilateral deals, the new agreement would expand market access to the US which "would leave existing [labor] problems to fester and invite further abuses." (IPS)

Labor organizations say ‘no’ to war
Over 200 unions and 550 union leaders from 53 countries representing 130 million workers have signed the International Labor Declaration circulated by US Labor Against the War (USLAW) for only ten days now. The declaration demands the US abandon its war threats against Iraq and pursue peaceful means through the United Nations to disarm Iraq. This is the first time in history the world’s labor movements have come together to speak with a single voice on an issue of such urgent international concern. (USLAW)

Italian unions threaten strike in event of war on Iraq
Italy’s main union, the 5-million strong CGIL, last Tuesday threatened to launch a crippling general strike if there is a war in Iraq, even one backed by a new United Nations resolution. "It would seem difficult to me that if there is a war on Iraq we would not call a general strike to protest the war," said Marigia Maulucci of the union’s executive board. Some three million people marched through the streets of Rome on Feb. 15 against the possible war, rebuking the hard-line position of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government to staunchly back the US concerning Iraq. (AFP)

Union strikers blockade nuclear power plant
Up to 50 executives at Belgium’s largest nuclear power plant remained inside the facility for the fifth day on Sunday as trade union activists continued to blockade the entrance. Protesting against a restructuring plan by the utility firm Electrabel that would entail 81 job losses across the country, union members have been blocking access to the Tihange plant since a week ago Wed. The executives inside have replaced the regular work force and are trained to operate the plant in such circumstances. Although the strikers have signaled that the executives may leave the plant, the company fears they will not be let back in, and has insisted they remain there for safety reasons. Helicopters have been bringing them supplies, although the strikers have attempted to disrupt the flights by releasing helium balloons. The Tihange plant supplies a quarter of Belgium’s energy and is usually staffed by 800 people. Electrabel claims the strike is not affecting energy output and that the skeleton team inside can run the plant. (Guardian UK)

US factory boss guilty of ‘slavery’
The owner of a clothing factory in American Samoa has been convicted of what prosecutors called "modern day slavery." Kil Soo Lee was found guilty of abusing workers from Vietnam and China with beatings, starvation, and threats of deportation and other crimes including money laundering and extortion. Lee owned the Daweoosa Samoa company, which made clothing for JC Penny and other retailers before it closed. Prosecutors say workers paid thousands of dollars to gain employment at the factory in the US territory. But once there, they were effectively enslaved. "Human trafficking is more than just a serious violation of the law, it is an affront to human dignity," said US Attorney General John Ashcroft. Lee faces up to 30 years in jail. (BBC)

Steel company to terminate retiree health benefits
A day before it accepted a takeover proposal from International Steel Group, Bethlehem Steel Corp., based in eastern Pennsylvania, said it will seek to terminate health and life insurance benefits for tens of thousands of retirees. Bethlehem announced the plan, which was immediately condemned by the steelworkers’ union, the day before its board accepted the offer from ISG to buy all of its assets in a deal worth $1.5 billion. Bethlehem, which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for more than a year, said it would seek to terminate benefits for 95,000 people, almost all of its retired work force and their eligible dependents by March 31. A federal body has already taken over Bethlehem’s under-funded pension plan. The United Steelworkers of America, headquartered in Pittsburgh, condemned the action, calling it "morally callous." The union’s president said they would fight for federal legislation to protect the benefits for retired steelworkers. (Pittsburgh Business Times)

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