360 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 28 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing Summarizing
General News    H2'ed 7/15/09

WILL PROTECTIONISM PROTECT AMERICAN JOBS?

By       (Page 1 of 4 pages)   6 comments

Danny Schechter
Message Danny Schechter




Can Doing What Seems to be The Right Thing Turn Out To Be The Wrong Thing?

I n Promoting Protectionism, American Labor May Be Putting US Workers At Risk


By Danny Schechter

Author of Plunder: Investigating Our Economic Calamity


Leo Gerard of the United Steelworkers union is one of America's most progressive and outspoken labor leaders. I was impressed when I met him at a Cornell University conference that brought environmental organizations and labor unions together to fuse a forward looking consensus on the need for green jobs as key to the transformation of our declining industrial base.


A union blog speaks of us being in the best of times and the worst of times. The best because we finally have a Democratic president sensitive to labor concerns. The worst because American workers are up against hard times as unemployment grows because of a financial crisis that labor had no role in. Among the trends cited: "30 years of stagnant and declining wages while workers productivity climbed by 75%; lower take home pay than in 1973; Yawning inequality."


Yet for all the union's activism and militancy, it has also been looking for someone to blame for this situation. Rather than focus on Wall Street's predatory practices or financing job outsourcing, it has turned its anger on workers on the other side of the world. China has become "the enemy." It is seeking protectionism in the belief that that can save American jobs.


Their target are tire companies in China that manufacture the least expensive tires on the market for cars and light trucks and sell them in America. The union argues that its imports are stealing American jobs and "disrupting the market" and has petitioned a government body, the International Trade Commission (ITC), to slap limits on them.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

Danny Schechter Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

News Dissector Danny Schechter is blogger in chief at Mediachannel.Org He is the author of PLUNDER: Investigating Our Economic Calamity (Cosimo Books) available at Amazon.com. See Newsdisssector.org/store.htm.
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Israel Gives All Jews A Bad Name

Is There A Threat of Fascism in the USA?

Free Marketers Going After Occupy Wall Street --Danny Schechter

WHO OWNS OUR MEDIA AND WHY IT MATTERS

COG OR COA: WHY IS OBAMA MORPHING INTO BUSH 2?

WERE THE BANKS TOO BIG TO FAIL OR THE BANKERS TOO BIG TO JAIL?

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend