Taking Back Our Economy-Part 11: Globalization

What do they Really Mean?

This week our defining of “Corporate Agenda” terms wraps up.

Corporate Agenda Term #4: Globalization

What they say:

"Globalization is a way of life and the way of the future.
Outsourcing is what we need. We have obligations to our stockholders."

What they mean:

• We want to take advantage of cheap wages, non-existent safety standards, and minimal environmental laws around the globe to make more profit.
  

• Money is more important than any commitments to U.S. workers, even though they built and made our company successful – and they’re the ones we have to rely on to buy the stuff we make offshore.
  

• We need every U.S. business to run like the “Wal-Mart Model” where we can pay low wages, not worry about health care costs, be able to drive out all competition with our presence, and keep costs cheap by searching the globe for the most exploitable people to make our products.
  

• We aren’t worried about finding U.S. workers who will work for next to nothing (they’ll have no other option), but we need to take care of our corporate executives with seven-figure salaries to stay competitive.
  

• It is critical that logos and trademarks be protected and backed up with sanctions and serious penalties for theft of property rights. Worker protections, however, are a barrier to trade.
  

• Sure, some workers – even children – are forced to work in sweatshops, but just think how bad they would have it if we didnt have those jobs there. If it wasn’t for us they would probably starve. They should just appreciate having any job.
  

Source: USW Rapid Response