FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C., December 09, 2010 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today issued a strongly-worded
statement in response to the proposed U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
“This Bush-era agreement fails to even remotely satisfy the concerns of recession ravaged U.S. workers,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “The last thing the U.S. economy needs is another flawed trade agreement built on the disastrous framework of NAFTA.”
Buffenbarger warned that workers in manufacturing industries will be hit particularly hard and encouraged members of Congress to vigorously oppose the legislation. “This agreement could have represented an opportunity to demonstrate real and meaningful change when it comes to building a fresh, new trade agenda,” said Buffenbarger. “Sadly, it will further empower the same old trans-national business interests that are all too eager to shift more U.S. production jobs to countries like South Korea, China, and Mexico.”
Tom Buffenbarger is International President of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), representing nearly 700,000 active and retired members in transportation, aerospace, manufacturing, shipbuilding and defense related industries. For more information, visit
www.goiam.org.
