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CWA, Allies Take on CAFTA and High-Tech Industry
A new study, released at CWA headquarters by a coalition of technology unions and inventors, spotlights the false claims that the U.S. high-tech industry is making about the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and its likelihood to boost exports, create jobs, and increase intellectual property protections.
The report, "The Real Pirates of the Caribbean: U.S. High-Tech Industry's False CAFTA Promises," contends that high tech industry executives pushing for the pact are "the real pirates" because the trade deal would result in lower wages for U.S. workers - and fewer U.S. jobs - while failing to open markets of any new significance.
"High-tech workers are facing a crisis today with seeing their jobs exported overseas, increased job insecurity and downward pressure on wages. Microsoft's support of CAFTA only erodes domestic jobs and does nothing to create fair trade policies to protect U.S. workers," said Marcus Courtney, president of WashTech, CWA Local 37083.
"The industry is misleading Congress and the country with its false CAFTA promises," said Stan Soresch, labor representative for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA-IFPTE Local 2001).
Ian Chan Hodges of the American Ingenuity Alliance noted that many of the high-tech firms lobbying for CAFTA because of its intellectual property provisions are simultaneously urging Congress to undermine the IP rights of inventors within the United States.
Ronald Riley, an independent inventor in the U.S, agreed with Hodges. "It is ironic and hypocritical that the supporters of CAFTA want to increase their IP rights in Central America while they are undermining the IP rights of inventors in the United States," he said.
Congress has been holding hearings on CAFTA and a vote could come next month.
The report, "The Real Pirates of the Caribbean: U.S. High-Tech Industry's False CAFTA Promises," contends that high tech industry executives pushing for the pact are "the real pirates" because the trade deal would result in lower wages for U.S. workers - and fewer U.S. jobs - while failing to open markets of any new significance.
"High-tech workers are facing a crisis today with seeing their jobs exported overseas, increased job insecurity and downward pressure on wages. Microsoft's support of CAFTA only erodes domestic jobs and does nothing to create fair trade policies to protect U.S. workers," said Marcus Courtney, president of WashTech, CWA Local 37083.
"The industry is misleading Congress and the country with its false CAFTA promises," said Stan Soresch, labor representative for the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA-IFPTE Local 2001).
Ian Chan Hodges of the American Ingenuity Alliance noted that many of the high-tech firms lobbying for CAFTA because of its intellectual property provisions are simultaneously urging Congress to undermine the IP rights of inventors within the United States.
Ronald Riley, an independent inventor in the U.S, agreed with Hodges. "It is ironic and hypocritical that the supporters of CAFTA want to increase their IP rights in Central America while they are undermining the IP rights of inventors in the United States," he said.
Congress has been holding hearings on CAFTA and a vote could come next month.