In China, Hoffa Calls for Inclusion of Labor Rights in U.S., China 'Economic Dialogue'

In China, Hoffa Calls for Inclusion of Labor Rights in U.S., China 'Economic Dialogue'

May 21, 2007

    BEIJING, China, May 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President
Jim Hoffa today called on the U.S. and Chinese governments
to include labor rights in the economic dialogues that are
scheduled to continue in Washington this week.

    "I do not understand how our two nations can claim
to hold an economic dialogue without the inclusion of worker
rights and labor issues," Hoffa said. "Right now
the trade imbalance is in the favor of large transnational
U.S., Chinese, and other corporations. The perspectives and
interests of working people are not represented at these
talks."

    Both the U.S. and Chinese labor movements are
advocating for legislation at this very moment that would
improve the lives of working people. Hoffa and the
Teamsters Union have been a leader in the fight for the
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which has passed the House
of Representatives and faces a threatened veto from
President George Bush.  Meanwhile, the All-China Federation
of Trade Unions (ACFTU) has been promoting the new Contract
Labor Law in China, which is expected to become law in the
near future, despite efforts by some American corporations
operating in China.

    Hoffa, International Vice President and Port Division
Director Chuck Mack and International Vice President John
Coli are part of a 10-day Change to Win fact-finding
mission and have previously met with activists, workers,
employers and labor leaders in Hong Kong and Shanghai. On
Sunday, the delegation toured the new Shanghai deep-water
port and discussed worker issues with the head of the port
workers' union.

    While in Beijing, the delegation will meet with
representatives from the ACFTU and the American Chamber of
Commerce.

    "We are listening and learning," Hoffa said.
"It has become abundantly clear that in order to
secure the economic future of working Americans, we must
work with our Chinese counterparts to improve worker
standards in China, and work to ensure that our respective
governments reflect the interests and needs of working
people, not just profit-driven corporations.

    "While we are establishing links with Chinese
workers on our trip, we will also alert U.S.-based
companies, including some of our employers, that we expect
them to set a positive example in China in their treatment
of workers," Hoffa said. 



    For more information, please contact: 

    Bret Caldwell
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]