It is past time for Sen. Lincoln to be a real Democrat and commit to support fundamental labor law reform.
"The Obama Administration is taking unprecedented actions to promote and protect fundamental labor rights and ensure acceptable conditions of work," reads a joint report from the Department of Labor and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative from February.
"We talked about fundamental labor and civil rights protections that cover these students, and all workers in America," he said.
"They're saying, 'No, no, we would love to have this bill if it contained fundamental labor and environmental standards.' But I don't think they're looking for a solution.
"We heard many complaints about abuses in the free zone and about how human rights are violated, physical mistreatment, psychological mistreatment and violations of the workers' fundamental labor rights," the head of the committee, Nelson Artola, said.
"Just as employers are required to notify their employees of their rights around health and safety, wages, and discrimination on the job, this rule gives clear information to employees about their rights under this fundamental labor law so that workers are better equipped to exercise and enforce them".
Re "Bouquet of Roses May Have Note: 'Made in China' " (front page, Sept. 25): The Chinese government's effort to make the flower industry successful should go beyond the major investments in new infrastructure and ensure that those employed in this sector work under conditions that do not threaten their health or fundamental labor rights.
These are not minor compliance issues; rather, they are systemic abuses of fundamental labor rights that will place these countries severely out of compliance with the TPP's labor chapter on day one.
That is why we're seeking to build on the strong labor provisions in the most recent U.S. trade agreements by seeking enforceable rules that uphold fundamental labor rights.
