The National Union of Workers posted on Facebook:
The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP) has passed its first hurdle in parliament with the Federal Labor Party giving their support in the lower house last week.
The National Union of Workers is deeply concerned about the effects this legislation will have on workers and on our democracy if passed.
Twelve countries signed up to the TPP in February 2016, representing roughly 40% of the world’s economic output. The deal was designed to create a single trading zone, like the EU, to allow goods and information to be passed between countries more freely. The claim was that opening up trade borders would create more jobs.
However, TPP is a deal that puts the profit of large corporations before the safety and security of workers. It would intensify competition between different countries’ labour forces and undermine job security and pay rates for working people in Australia.
It would pave the way for companies to sue governments that change their policy in areas like health, education and worker’s rights. TPP would also make it harder for a government to favour state-provided services over the involvement of private companies.
In short, the TPP begins a process to undermine the social protections for all citizens while big business makes bigger profits and pays less tax.
The NUW has raised concerns around the ratification of TPP in the past and, like many in our movement, are deeply disappointed that this anti-worker legislation is back on the table. It should not be possible for a private company to sue our government for making choices that improve the lives of people in this country.
In the interests of every Australian the ALP must reconsider their support of TPP, rejecting it when it reaches the Senate – the promise of extra protections when in power does not negate the damage this bill will cause to whole communities in Australia.
One commenter wrote, “This is Shorten at his best. Labor stopped being for the worker years ago.”
Another wrote, “Why do people think Labour is any different to the Libs? All work for the same Corporation folks….”