American Labor Leader Says Trade with Israel Benefits U.S. Workers
Seth Eisenberg, an elected official representing one of America's largest labor unions, says the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Area Agreement benefits American workers. The labor leader is in Israel for a fact-finding mission to study the availability of American-made products in the market. During his visit, Eisenberg is encouraging Israeli entrepreneurs to increase efforts to introduce U.S. manufactured products to their marketplace.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) June 10, 2004 -- A national official of one of
America’s largest labor organizations said today that the U.S.-Israel Free Trade
Area agreement is good for American workers. Seth Eisenberg, chairman of the
United Auto Workers Technical, Office and Professional Department Advisory
Council, said he was impressed to find American-made products available to
consumers throughout the Israeli marketplace.
"America's leading
industries are well represented throughout Israel," Eisenberg said after three
days of visits to some of the nation’s leading retail, technology and
manufacturing facilities. "In every segment of the Israeli economy, you see
significant examples of America’s influence."
Eisenberg said he was
particularly impressed to see Israeli spin-offs of American television series.
"From the concept of ESPN sports to Hollywood game shows and much more, Israelis
are eager partners for American goods and services," he
said.
Traditionally, American labor groups have been opposed to America’s
free trade agreements and reduced tariff treaties because of the short-term
impact on American factories and their workers. "Israel is unique," the American
labor leader said. "America and Israel are democracies with a common commitment
to the rule of law, political expression, the sanctity of human life and the
rights of workers. Whether you look at the Israeli labor movement, environmental
regulations, standard of living or practically any other national measure,
Israeli industry and society closely mirrors values held dear by American
workers."
Before returning to the U.S. at the end of the week, Eisenberg
will hold private meetings with Israeli entrepreneurs and industrialists to
learn from their personal experiences introducing American products and
technologies to the country.
While he praises the open nature of the
Israeli market, Eisenberg said he remains concerned that government bureaucracy
sometimes makes introducing American products to Israel unnecessarily expensive
and time-consuming.
"Israel may be one of America’s closest friends and
allies in the world," Eisenberg said, "but with under seven million consumers,
it remains a relatively small market."
"While the Israeli government has
a clear responsibility to protect consumers, bureaucratic red tape can become a
hidden barrier to free trade. It's important to see the country's political
leaders recognize their responsibility to assure systems are in place to
facilitate the import of goods and services from America. Extended delays and
red tape often comes at too high a price for the spirit and cause of trade
relationships between our countries."
Eisenberg said his findings will be
reported to the union’s leadership later this summer. He expects his report will
be instrumental in developing the labor organization’s future positions on
issues involving trade between America and Israel.
"American labor
strongly endorses the potential of fair trade, which is often quite different
than the concepts of 'free trade' regularly touted by international trade
officials as they promote expanded treaties in South and Central
America.
"After 20 years," Eisenberg added, "the U.S.-Israel Free Trade
Area Agreement appears to be an exceptional model that meaningfully benefits
workers and consumers in both nations."
About UAW:
UAW-represented
workplaces range from multinational corporations, small manufacturers and state
and local governments to colleges and universities, hospitals and private
non-profit organizations.
The UAW has approximately 710,000 active
members and over 500,000 retired members in the United States, Canada and Puerto
Rico.
There are more than 950 local unions in the UAW. The UAW currently
has contracts with some 3,200 employers in the United States, Canada and Puerto
Rico.
A solid majority of the union's half-million retirees stay actively
involved in the life of their union, participating in some 700 retiree chapters
and playing a vital role in the UAW's community action program.
Since its
founding in 1935, the UAW has consistently developed innovative partnerships
with employers and negotiated industry-leading wages and benefits for its
members. UAW members have benefited from a number of collective bargaining
breakthroughs, including:
* First employer-paid health insurance plan for
industrial workers
* First cost-of-living allowances
* Pioneering
role in product quality improvements
* Landmark job and income security
provisions
* Comprehensive training and educational programs
From its earliest days, the UAW has also been a leader in the struggle
to secure economic and social justice for all people. The UAW has been actively
involved in every civil rights legislative battle since the 1950s, including the
campaigns to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
the Fair Housing Act, the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988 and legislation
to prohibit discrimination against women, the elderly and people with
disabilities.
UAW also has played a vital role in passing such landmark
legislation as Medicare and Medicaid, the Occupational Safety and Health Act,
the Employee Retirement Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act. In Washington
and state capitols, the UAW is fighting for better schools for kids, secure
health care and pensions for retirees, clean air and water, tougher workplace
health and safety standards, stronger worker's compensation and unemployment
insurance laws and fairer taxes.
The UAW's commitment to improve the
lives of working men and women extends beyond America’s borders to encompass
people around the globe. Through vigilant political involvement and coordination
with world labor organizations, UAW fights for enforcement of trade agreement
provisions on human and worker rights, fair labor standards and a new approach
to international trade -- one that raises the quality of life for working people
worldwide.
About the Technical, Office and Professional
Department:
Known as TOP, the UAW’s technical, office and professional
department is one of the labor movement's fastest growing. The department
includes nearly 100,000 workers, representing approximately 15 percent of the
UAW’s membership. Members include workers at manufacturing companies as well as
in the public sector, health care, schools and universities, telecommunications
and news media. They work in a wide range of occupations, including draftsmen,
industrial designers, engineers, graphic designers and illustrators, computer
specialists, health care professionals, social service workers, journalists and
writers, curators and librarians, graduate teaching assistants and state and
local government employees.
These include Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky
state employees; service, clerical, technical and graduate student employees at
more than 20 colleges and universities; artisans at Greenfield Village; the
staffs of The Village Voice, Mother Jones, and The Stamford Advocate; technical
and on-air staff of WDET, Detroit’s public radio station; workers at the three
Detroit casinos, staff lawyers of the Legal Services Corporation; and more than
5,000 members of the National Writers Union.
More information is
available at www.uawtop.org.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb132486.htm