American unions must help raise standards for Chinese workers, U.S. labor leaders say

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070522-0652-china-us-labor.html

American unions must help raise standards for Chinese workers, U.S. labor leaders say

By Anita Chang
ASSOCIATED PRESS

6:52 a.m. May 22, 2007

BEIJING – A U.S. labor federation has agreed to find ways to cooperate with China's state-controlled union group, officials said Tuesday, arguing that improved standards for Chinese laborers would help protect U.S. workers.

The tentative cooperation, agreed to by Teamsters President James Hoffa and other leaders of the Change to Win federation of unions on a landmark trip to China, marks an about-face. For decades, American labor has generally shunned the All-China Federation of Trade Unions because it answers to the ruling Communist Party.

“This new direction that we're taking is propelled by the new challenges we face in a new world economy,” Greg Tarpinian, executive director of Change to Win, told reporters. “Our mission is to fight for the American Dream and we don't believe we can fight for the American Dream and restore the American middle class without linking up with Chinese workers.”

Anna Burger, chairwoman of Change to Win, would not call the cooperation with ACFTU a “formal” relationship but said the two groups shared the same mission of eliminating sweatshop conditions, stopping exploitation of workers and helping raise wages. She said the groups would exchange ideas but was not more specific, saying they had only begun talks on how to work together.

The labor leaders' comments came as Chinese and American officials were to begin high-level discussions in Washington aimed at lessening economic tensions. Beijing said it was trying to narrow the trade gap and pledged to import more U.S. goods.

Hoffa said unionizing companies in China would raise the cost of doing business here, which would help American workers stay competitive.

FULL story at link.