NEWS AND ANALYSIS FROM THE LABOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
May 12, 2001
>>Unions Prepare to Battle Bush Over 'Fast Track'
Undeterred by the more than 20,000 protesters who railed against globalization in Quebec City last month, Corporate America is itching for Congress to grant Bush "Fast Track" trading authority that would allow him to negotiate new free trade deals that will further strangle workers' rights and destroy the environment. If granted Fast Track, Bush will virtually disarm Congress, giving it a mere "Yay or Nay" vote on trade deals such as the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and making it impossible for Congress to amend or tailor trade agreements to address environmental and labor concerns.
http://www.laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?fastrk.txt
>>Food Service Workers Tell the Metropolitan Opera to Change Its Tune on
Union
As members of New York City's high society pranced into the Metropolitan Opera for opening night of the ballet on April 30, they were greeted by something other than an ordinary night of pirouettes, pas de deux and classical music. What they also experienced was the old familiar sound of chanting, whistle-blowing, and speeches of a union rally being held across the street from the Met.
http://www.laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?here_met.txt
>>Can Employers Ask Workers to Star in Union-Busting Videos?
A union organizing campaign is under way, and the boss has hired a union-busting consultant. As part of the campaign, the company sends a video crew around the office to film workers for an anti-union video. A question that quickly arises is whether this action is legal, that is: Can a boss or supervisor directly ask a worker for permission to be filmed for use in a company anti-union video?
http://www.laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?nlrb_video.txt
>>NAFTA at Seven: Still Hammering Workers, Jobs and Wages, New Study Shows
Despite the efforts of Corporate America's foot soldiers in Washington, D.C. to brand it a huge success, the reality is that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an unqualified disaster for working people. Widespread job losses, stagnated worker incomes, increased insecurity, and rising inequality have accelerated in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. since NAFTA took effect in 1994, according to "NAFTA at Seven," a new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).
http://www.laborresearch.org/dis.shtml?nafta5.txt
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