Reply #7: Labor urges no vote on Colombia trade deal in '08

[Judi Lynn]

Labor urges no vote on Colombia trade deal in '08
Fri Nov 9, 2007 12:13pm EST
By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress should wait at least one year before voting on a free trade agreement with Colombia because of continuing violence in that country against trade unionists, the largest U.S. labor group said on Friday.

"In sum, the Colombian government needs to make considerable changes to fully address our concerns. This will no doubt take some time, and it appears to us highly unlikely that all of the needed changes can happen in the next 12 months," John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO labor federation, said in a letter to members of Congress.

The letter was another blow to Bush administration hopes of persuading Congress to approve the pact next year.

On Thursday, Democratic presidential front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton announced she opposed the Colombia trade deal, joining an election rival, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who also has come out against the pact.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0934950220071109