National Journal's CongressDailyAM Issue date: April 13, 2000 ----------------------------
TRADE
Labor Wrests `Assurances' On PNTR, But Sees Struggle Ahead
The labor movement Wednesday swarmed over Capitol Hill in a bid to sway the debate over China's trade status, sending top union officials and shop floor workers alike on a day-long canvas of hundreds of House and Senate offices
Thousands of AFL-CIO activists, Teamsters, United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers, Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees and others held a rally on the Capitol grounds and then roamed the halls of Capitol Hill--escorted by more than 200 designated union "marshals."
The AFL-CIO scheduled meetings with 65 members, while other unions also had their own meetings with members of Congress. The Teamsters and Steelworkers will be back on Capitol Hill for additional visits today.
One union official said the labor activists received a number of "private assurances" from undeclared members that they would vote against the bill granting China permanent normal trade relations. But no member publicly announced a position change. Inside the Capitol, members debated the impact of the mass action.
"It is intense and they're doing a good job of showing their intensity," said Rep. Robert Matsui , D-Calif., a leading PNTR advocate. "But in the last analysis, it doesn't change any votes. It doesn't scare people, but it does show their intensity. You can't be intimidated by a 24-hour demonstration."
However, Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Pa., who remains undecided on the PNTR question, said the union members who visited his office Wednesday had "a strong point," and that they were "liable to change some votes."
As for himself, Sherwood said he might stay in the undecided category until the end of the debate next month.
Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, also undecided, was visited by AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez Thompson--whom he described as a friend--as well as by union members from Texas. Reyes, who sat down with President Clinton at the White House several weeks ago to discuss the PNTR vote, said his border district was "the most heavily impacted" in the nation by the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1993.
But he also noted that the Clinton-Gore administration had "stepped forward" with valuable job training and other assistance to mitigate job losses in the district.
"The dialogue continues," he said, adding that back in his district, business leaders have been much more vocal about their support for PNTR than unions and the other groups in opposition. The message from business in favor of the bill, he said, "has been very methodical and very consistent."
Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., met with Teamsters from Colorado and other Western states and found them "compelling ambassadors" for enhanced worker rights and human rights around the world.
He said he is still leaning against supporting PNTR but underscored that he "would not keep saying no for 10 years." Udall suggested that saying no does little to advance important issues or determine how trade is conducted. During his meeting with the activists, he also sought to play devil's advocate, pointing out that the U.S. record on labor and environmental rights is far from perfect. "They acknowledged this but said the U.S. needs to be standing tall," he said.
Teamsters Legislative Director Chuck Harple said he recognizes that members do not want to vote against trade bills year after year. But he also contended that labor would have a better seat at the table during trade deliberations if the Democrats regain control of the House in this year's election.
Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla. said he, too, engaged AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on some of these same issues and reported: "He is really focused on the issues he brings to the table. They have legitimate positions and legitimate concerns that are pretty hard to refute." Boyd said he remains a determined "undecided." After the day's sweep of members' offices, Ann Hoffman, legislative director of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial & Textile Employees, reported, "We started some people thinking who had not been thinking about this before." She asserted--but could not say for sure--whether any members were persuaded to oppose PNTR just yet. "We opened some doors. This is step two. We'll be taking it home to their districts during the recess," she said. Members of her union visited over 300 offices, according to Hoffman.
The 6,000 Teamsters in town for the lobbying effort stopped in on that many offices as well, according to Harple. He said legislators are beginning to focus on their elections--and realize that President Clinton will not be able to help them as much since he is not running. "Some of them are ready to part with the president," he reported.
Two-term Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas, said he met with union representatives and plans to meet Thursday with Sweeney. Lampson said such lobbying efforts have an impact, but added, "The biggest impact is from the folks at home."
"We didn't talk politics," he said. "We talked points." Lampson said his sense is that a majority in his district would favor a vote against the trade deal, although he plans to spend the recess traveling to gauge voters' opinions. "It has been very difficult for me," he said, "It's a complex issue."
Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Ohio, said he met with representatives of the Steelworkers, the Teamsters and the AFL-CIO, as well as representatives of the business community. "I didn't tell them anything," he said, "because I haven't made up my mind. I just listened."
House Minority Whip Bonior, a leader of the anti-PNTR forces, removed his suit jacket to deliver a fiery speech to his men and women he called his "brothers and sisters" at the main union rally.
Behind the scenes, Bonior met with Steve Yokich, president of the United Auto Workers, and Teamsters President James Hoffa. Minority Leader Gephardt, who has said he is undecided on the trade pact, did not have to endure union pressure Wednesday: He was with Clinton in Colorado attending gun violence awareness events.
While labor activists carried the day Wednesday, a coalition of business groups working the other side of the issue prepared for their first formal meeting with key GOP legislators working for passage--including House Majority Whip DeLay and Rules Chairman Dreier.
"Any member who is remotely in play has been visited," said a key industry source, "and in most cases visited repeatedly." The source conceded that they could not match the unions in turnout, but planned to influence members in other ways during the recess. "The numbers can't match up," said the source. -- By Charlie Mitchell, Geoff Earle and Stephen Norton -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <../attachments/20000413/b63d7f41/attachment.htm>