May 07, 2015
Most Post readers know that the paper is prepared to say pretty much anything to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade deals that are likely to have the effect of redistributing income upward. Therefore it is not surprising to see a column by Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, lecturing the labor movement that they should support President Obama’s trade deals.
Alden’s basic point is that rather than oppose a trade deal that would likely further the upward redistribution of income, labor should demand conditions that ensure workers will benefit.
“They could insist, for example, on linking trade to new investments in infrastructure that would help U.S. exports flow to world markets. Or they could demand funding for comprehensive worker retraining programs like those in Europe, rather than the paltry Trade Adjustment Assistance that isn’t available to 99 percent of the unemployed.”
This sounds great. My guess is that most unions would gladly sign on to a deal that included $2 trillion in spending on infrastructure and education over the next decade as a quid pro quo for TPP. Or, if we’re making comparisons to Europe, how about a package that made U.S. look more like European welfare states, with the government largely picking up the tab on health care, college education, and childcare. Also, no more dismissal at will. If an employer wants to dump workers who have been with the company for twenty five years, how about six months of severance pay. That’s small by European standards, but a big step over what they get now (i.e. nothing).
Anyhow, if Alden could produce a deal with these provisions from President Obama and the Republican leadership in Congress, I’m sure those dunderheads in the labor movement would quickly sign on. Of course, my guess is Alden is instead arguing that the labor movement should settle for a few largely meaningless trinkets, and pretend that they are a big deal. As a practical matter that is all that would be on the table.
At the beginning of the piece Alden quotes president Obama:
“The Chamber of Commerce didn’t elect me twice — working folks did.”
This is partly true. President Obama did win because of votes from workers, but like his Republican opponents he raised huge amounts of money from rich people. No presidential candidate can win election in the United States without raising large amounts of money from rich people. This likely explains the structure of the TPP (which increases protection in areas that benefit corporations) and the president’s determination to get it through Congress.
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