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TUC 2020 A trade deal with Trump could erode workers' rights, congress hears

DONALD TRUMP’S expected trade deal with Britain could threaten workers’ rights, trade unionists were warned today. 

Speaking to a fringe meeting at the TUC conference today, policy officer Rosa Crawford explained that the deal could allow US corporations to erode workers’ rights in pursuit of profit. 

The deal, currently being negotiated between the two governments, clearly has a “corporate agenda,” she stressed, with the US seeking to lower tariffs and non-tariff barriers. 

“This is tradespeak for any kind of regulation or protection that businesses regard as unfair or discrimination against their ability to make profit,” she said.

The deal has faced a huge backlash from campaigners and politicians who fear that it could water down food and farming standards and put public services, in particular the NHS, at risk of privatisation. 

Today’s meeting, hosted by War on Want, highlighted the prospect of corporations across the pond using the trade talks to try to bring workers’ rights in Britain down to the US level.

US federal law does not entitle workers to sick, maternity or holiday pay and the ability of trade unions to organise is severely restricted. 

“So the fact there there is a much lower level of workers’ rights found in the US means that there will be pressure from the US side to bring down the UK to the same standard in order to enable businesses to profit,” Ms Crawford added. 

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