Solidarity vs. Protectionism

Editor,

Edward Schumacher-Matos, in "Killing a Trade Pact" (3/29/08), asserts that "American labor unions . . . oppose the trade agreement [with Columbia] for traditional protectionist reasons." This is not correct. American labor unions oppose plunder of Columbia's economy by international "investors," intimidation of Columbian workers by the murders of union organizers that Mr. Schumacher-Matos discounts as "isolated," and abuse of Columbian workers by "free" trade rules that award corporations the cat-bird seat and workers lip service with respect to parity in labor negotiations. The key word with respect to American labor union activism is "solidarity" with Columbian workers and workers around the globe, not "protectionism" (the distracting bugaboo perennially invoked by right-wingers), because disempowered workers abroad translate directly into a race to the bottom with workers in the USA.