Government has failed to make the case for TPPA

The government has not made an adequate case for signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) tomorrow.

E tū, the union representing 50,000 New Zealanders working in the private sector, urges the government not to sign the controversial agreement while the benefits for the country are so uncertain.

“We believe the TPPA is a step in the wrong direction for workers and our economy,” says Bill Newson, E tū National Secretary.

“We’re a trading nation, and our union represents workers in many industries who should benefit from a good international agreement.

“But there’s no such thing as true free trade, and the case hasn’t been made that this particular agreement will put regular Kiwis in a better position.”

Bill says that the compromises involved are worrying.

“It creates barriers to legislating in the public interest. It strengthens corporate power over people, and encourages companies to outsource and put Kiwis out of work.

“I haven’t seen any evidence to suggest the benefits outweigh the risks.

“The best case scenario is a GDP boost of less than 1% in 15 years. Without meaningful gains, how are New Zealanders to benefit here?

“Of all the big economic ideas that could improve New Zealanders’ lives, the government is going with a plan that their own ministers have described as having ‘ugly compromises’.

“We hope that the government will accept that this deal is lacking and put more effort into economic growth that doesn’t come with some fairly nasty fishhooks,” says Bill.

ENDS

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