Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 28, 1993 TAG: 9308280139
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Wilder, who plans to oppose fellow Democrat Robb in the senator's re-election bid next year, criticized a proposed treaty intended to tear down trade barriers between the United States and its neighbors - particularly Mexico. The AFL-CIO opposes the treaty.
"If I were a member of the United States Senate today, I would not vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement," Wilder said.
He later quipped to reporters, "I was not speaking as a candidate, but as a statesman."
Robb did not bring up NAFTA in his speech, but he told reporters he has not decided how he will vote. He said he will look at recently negotiated side agreements to determine whether concerns about worker displacement and environmental policies have been adequately addressed.
Wilder said the treaty would not boost Mexican workers' salaries enough to allow them to buy U.S. products. Mexican wages also would remain temptingly low for U.S. manufacturers looking for cheap labor, he said.
"We will be trading off good-paying jobs at home for low-paying jobs abroad - and the benefits will be decidedly one-sided," Wilder said.
Wilder also told the approximately 300 union workers that he never tried to hide the fact that the AFL-CIO endorsed him in 1989, as well as in his 1985 race for lieutenant governor.
"I never said, `I want your vote, but I can't say too much about it publicly.' That's the way the labor movement is sometimes treated in this state," Wilder said.
Robb, who won the AFL-CIO's backing when he ran for the Senate, said labor and management must build a less-confrontational approach. He said workers can prosper only as much as their employers, so they should work together in a new spirit of cooperation.
"Partnership doesn't mean labor stands by and accepts whatever terms management says are essential for survival," Robb said. It should mean that workers are "in the loop every day," helping management make decisions that will help keep the business afloat.
"True job security can come only from being part of a successful enterprise," Robb said.
The union also heard from Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, who is seeking re-election in November, and Bill Dolan, candidate for attorney general. The AFL-CIO has endorsed the two Democrats, but has not endorsed anyone in the governor's race between Democrat Mary Sue Terry and Republican George Allen.
by CNB