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Did you know its illegal to form labor unions in Vietnam? The corporations that wrote the TPP know,
& they're LOVIN' it!
Vietnamese Labor Leaders Urge Congress To Reject Obama's Trade Agenda
6/11/15
...It is currently illegal to form labor unions in Vietnam, where the only formal union is a wing of the communist government.
Average worker wages, according to the letter, are far below the amount needed to cover basic living expenses including food and housing. Workers are routinely beaten and jailed for speaking out in favor of better labor rules.
"Workers who attempt to exercise their rights are met with verbal and physical threats by hired thugs working in conjunction with factory management and government operatives," the letter reads.
The House is expected to vote Friday on a bill that would grant Obama so-called "fast-track" authority, which would prevent Congress from amending or filibustering any trade pact he negotiates. Obama cannot pass his trade agenda without fast-track powers. U.S. labor unions are concerned that the pact will drive down domestic wages by forcing American workers to compete with low wages and abusive practices abroad. Obama and Republican leaders say the pact will benefit all parties involved by boosting economic growth. The vast majority of Democrats in Congress are opposed to both TPP and the fast-track bill.
In their letter, labor leaders in Vietnam noted that many American companies profit from the exploitation of Vietnamese workers, singling out Nike, which operates factories in the country. In May, Obama made a pitch for the TPP deal from a Nike facility in Oregon. The labor leaders also sent lawmakers a separate study on Nike's practices in Vietnam, detailing poverty wages paid to workers that forced them to borrow money to cover basic expenses. Nike was not immediately available for comment.
"In order for human and labor rights that are clearly spelled out in UN Conventions and in the Vietnamese Constitution to be truly respected in Vietnam, we believe that the U.S. Congress must use the opportunity of granting fast track authority as leverage to make immediate transformative changes so that the citizens of Vietnam can enjoy their human rights and basic freedoms," the letter reads..
Read the full letter here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/vietnam-tpp_n_7562390.html
6/11/15
...It is currently illegal to form labor unions in Vietnam, where the only formal union is a wing of the communist government.
Average worker wages, according to the letter, are far below the amount needed to cover basic living expenses including food and housing. Workers are routinely beaten and jailed for speaking out in favor of better labor rules.
"Workers who attempt to exercise their rights are met with verbal and physical threats by hired thugs working in conjunction with factory management and government operatives," the letter reads.
The House is expected to vote Friday on a bill that would grant Obama so-called "fast-track" authority, which would prevent Congress from amending or filibustering any trade pact he negotiates. Obama cannot pass his trade agenda without fast-track powers. U.S. labor unions are concerned that the pact will drive down domestic wages by forcing American workers to compete with low wages and abusive practices abroad. Obama and Republican leaders say the pact will benefit all parties involved by boosting economic growth. The vast majority of Democrats in Congress are opposed to both TPP and the fast-track bill.
In their letter, labor leaders in Vietnam noted that many American companies profit from the exploitation of Vietnamese workers, singling out Nike, which operates factories in the country. In May, Obama made a pitch for the TPP deal from a Nike facility in Oregon. The labor leaders also sent lawmakers a separate study on Nike's practices in Vietnam, detailing poverty wages paid to workers that forced them to borrow money to cover basic expenses. Nike was not immediately available for comment.
"In order for human and labor rights that are clearly spelled out in UN Conventions and in the Vietnamese Constitution to be truly respected in Vietnam, we believe that the U.S. Congress must use the opportunity of granting fast track authority as leverage to make immediate transformative changes so that the citizens of Vietnam can enjoy their human rights and basic freedoms," the letter reads..
Read the full letter here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/11/vietnam-tpp_n_7562390.html
"Average worker wages, according to the letter, are far below the amount needed to cover basic living expenses including food and housing. Workers are routinely beaten and jailed for speaking out in favor of better labor rules"
^^^ How is this different from slavery? Slaves at least had free room & board. I firmly believe those in favor of the TPP are in favor of slavery, & this disqualifies them from representing US in DC.
Here's what the Communist Vietnamese press have to say....
Washington redirects US investments to Vietnam
VietNamNet Bridge
6/19/2015
Vietnamese analysts, who noted that US capital has been flowing to Vietnam in recent years, said the capital was heading to many business sectors, from real estate to heavy industries and consumer goods.
Bui Ngoc Son, MA, said the US would be the Number 1 foreign investor in Vietnam for both geopolitical and business reasons within one to three years.
The strong rise of China is an important reason that US investors were going to Vietnam.
China, with its expansion strategy, will be a strong rival to both the US and Europe.
If the Chinese march towards the north, it will meet Russia. If it goes to the west, it will meet India, while Japan and South Korea are awaiting in the east. As such, going across Vietnam is the easiest path for China.
According to Son, the US is hurrying to Vietnam for two reasons. First, the US wants to impede China’s implementation of its geopolitical expansion strategy and China’s strategy to popularize its goods all over the globe.
Second, from an economic perspective, Asia is a very dynamic region. The country has great advantages that any long-term investor would highly appreciate – natural resources, a cheap labor force and political certainty.
Moreover, Vietnam is negotiating for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, which means that in the future, the TPP membership status would give it great opportunities to develop imports and exports.
Investors in Vietnam can make products at lower costs and enjoy tariff preferences....
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/133436/washington-redirects-us-investments-to-vietnam.html
VietNamNet Bridge
6/19/2015
Vietnamese analysts, who noted that US capital has been flowing to Vietnam in recent years, said the capital was heading to many business sectors, from real estate to heavy industries and consumer goods.
Bui Ngoc Son, MA, said the US would be the Number 1 foreign investor in Vietnam for both geopolitical and business reasons within one to three years.
The strong rise of China is an important reason that US investors were going to Vietnam.
China, with its expansion strategy, will be a strong rival to both the US and Europe.
If the Chinese march towards the north, it will meet Russia. If it goes to the west, it will meet India, while Japan and South Korea are awaiting in the east. As such, going across Vietnam is the easiest path for China.
According to Son, the US is hurrying to Vietnam for two reasons. First, the US wants to impede China’s implementation of its geopolitical expansion strategy and China’s strategy to popularize its goods all over the globe.
Second, from an economic perspective, Asia is a very dynamic region. The country has great advantages that any long-term investor would highly appreciate – natural resources, a cheap labor force and political certainty.
Moreover, Vietnam is negotiating for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, which means that in the future, the TPP membership status would give it great opportunities to develop imports and exports.
Investors in Vietnam can make products at lower costs and enjoy tariff preferences....
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/133436/washington-redirects-us-investments-to-vietnam.html
***And BTW, that China meme is BS.***
They want in on the TPP & that door has not been shut to them....
China may join the TPP...but it'll take a while
6/3/2015
President Obama, in an interview with Kai Ryssdal yesterday, revealed that the U.S. and China have been in talks about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Andy Rothman, investment strategist at Matthews International Capital Management, analyzes the impact of China joining the TPP....
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/president-obama-talks-trade/china-may-join-tppbut-itll-take-while
6/3/2015
President Obama, in an interview with Kai Ryssdal yesterday, revealed that the U.S. and China have been in talks about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Andy Rothman, investment strategist at Matthews International Capital Management, analyzes the impact of China joining the TPP....
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/world/president-obama-talks-trade/china-may-join-tppbut-itll-take-while
7 replies
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