Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO, Democratic National Convention, Thursday, July 29, 2004

/EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UPON DELIVERY OF SPEECH, SCHEDULED FOR 5:26 P.M. EDT TODAY, JULY 29/

BOSTON, July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech by Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO before the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, July 29, 2004:

Last month, our suicidal trade policies shipped another 11,000 manufacturing jobs overseas.  That makes 2 point 7 million good jobs shipped out over the last three and a half years -- highly-skilled jobs that pay decent wages, provide health insurance and pensions.

Jobs that help auto workers, steelworkers and aerospace workers in America's heartland raise families, pay taxes and sustain communities; jobs that create work and push up wages and benefits for others; jobs that provide an economic ladder for all workers to climb.

Jobs like those once held by men and women in Indiana producing our entire supply of rare earth magnets necessary for guidance in missiles and smart bombs; those jobs now filled entirely by workers in China, manufacturing jobs now being followed by millions of white collar jobs.

Two weeks ago, the Republican House members voted to spend billions of dollars in new tax breaks to encourage companies to increase the flow of American jobs to other countries, and our President continues to waive the 50 percent limit on goods and materials produced overseas for national security purposes.

Brothers and sisters, that's not only self-destructive trade policy, it's bad economic policy, and it is insane defense policy.

We need to rip up the roots of this madness by repealing tax subsidies that encourage corporations to send work overseas, and replace them with new incentives for companies to keep jobs here at home.

We need to include strong workers rights and environmental protections in all new trade agreements, so our workers, the most productive on the planet, can compete in the global workplace. We need to insist that sweeping treaties like CAFTA and NAFTA include those same rights and protections and we need to review and change all existing trade agreements that do not contain them.

Guess what?  That's just what John Kerry wants to do and more-- he has also pledged to reform health care and rein in the skyrocketing health insurance costs that are undermining the ability of American manufacturers to compete in the global marketplace.  That's why the AFL-CIO and 40 million people in union households in our country support John Kerry.

Because America's workers deserve better.  Because you deserve better. Because America deserves better.

Thank you and God bless all of you and God bless America.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/