[mobglob-discuss] National Union attacks WTO disregard for workers' rights

[Tom Childs]

F.Y.I.  ....an interesting look at what's going on at the WTO
mini-ministerial in Montreal.   TC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   >>> During the bear-pit session, Brown said labour and NGO
representatives voiced
          "forceful and unrelenting criticisms" of the manner in which
the WTO and the 
           corporate world it serves have "eroded human and workers'
rights, and decimated 
           public services, all in a clandestine manner." <<<


http://www.nupge.ca/news_2003/n29jy03b.htm 

National Union attacks WTO disregard for workers' rights

Larry Brown joins Montreal bearpit session with WTO ministers

Montreal - Larry Brown, secretary-treasurer of the National Union of
Public and General Employees, participated in a bull-pit session Monday
with Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, director general of the World Trade
Organziation, and Pierre Pettigrew, Canada's international trade
minister.

Along with representatives from the Canadian Labour Congress, Sierra
Club, the Canadian Environmental Law Association, Polaris Institute,
Quebec Federation of Labour and other groups, the participants engaged
in a pointed discussion with global trade leaders.  

Panitchpakdi and Pettigrew were among about 25 trade ministers holding
discussions in Montreal in advance of a full-scale WTO meeting in Mexico
in September.

The bull-pit session was a preparatory exercise by Canada's labour and
non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives for the Mexico
meetings.

Secretive, undemocratic

"The fact is that the WTO has not shown any regard for workers rights
and operates in a secretive and undemocratic manner," says Brown. "We
wanted to make our position explicitly clear to both the WTO and the
Canadian government."

The events were held against a backdrop of street protests in which
anti-globalization demonstrators targeted a number of downtown stores
with international corporate glad names such as the Gap and Burger King.
More than 100 arrests were reported on the first day of the meetings.

During the bear-pit session, Brown said labour and NGO representatives
voiced "forceful and unrelenting criticisms" of the manner in which the
WTO and the corporate world it serves have "eroded human and workers'
rights, and decimated public services, all in a clandestine manner." 

"I wanted to make sure they heard my union's opposition to
international trade agreements, including the General Agreement on Trade
in Services (GATS), and the damage that is being done to public
services."

Pettigrew arrogant

Panitchpakdi, the director-general of the WTO, seemed more open to
dialogue with critics than Pettigrew, Brown said.

"Pettigrew went so as to basically dismiss concerns about the impact of
GATS on public services. Those of us in attendance were completely
flabbergasted at his refusal to even acknowledge our concerns." 

Supporters of the WTO attempted to portray the WTO as being necessary
in itself to address concerns raised by critics.

Brown said Panitchpakdi argued out that the world economy is
"experiencing serious difficulties" and the WTO process is the only way
to move forward.

"I pointed out that all this had occurred under the WTO regime and,
therefore, how could anyone put any faith in the WTO itself to dig the
global economy out of the mess that it has created."

Out of step

The reluctance of the WTO, and Canadian governments, to acknowledge the
failures of trade liberalization stands in contrast to what other
research has shown.

Recently, even a World Bank report found that privatization has not
helped the world's poor but has instead led to increased prices, reduced
access and increased corruption.  

"Even the European Union admits that the GATS, and by extension the
WTO, exists first and foremost for the betterment of business, but
Pettigrew refuses to be anything but a cheerleader for the process,"
Brown says.

The Cancun meetings are scheduled September 10-14. The National Union
is planning to participate in the protests and forums being organized in
conjunction with the meetings. Look for regular updates at  www.nupge.ca
.




--
Tom Childs - Audio/Visual Resources
Douglas College Library
New Westminster, B.C. Canada
T: 604 527-5713 - Library
T: 604 524-9316 - Lulu Island
E: childst at douglas.bc.ca 
U: BCGEU Local 703
W: http://www.globaljustice.ca 
   
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