{"id":55,"date":"2008-08-13T04:06:17","date_gmt":"2008-08-13T11:06:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citizenstrade.org\/ctc\/oregon\/?p=55"},"modified":"2011-12-24T10:58:18","modified_gmt":"2011-12-24T18:58:18","slug":"trade-pacts-cost-oregon-forest-jobs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citizenstrade.org\/ctc\/oregon\/2008\/08\/13\/trade-pacts-cost-oregon-forest-jobs\/","title":{"rendered":"Trade Pacts Cost Oregon Over 10,000 Forest Products Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Immediate Release<\/strong>
\nAugust 13, 2008<\/p>\n

NEW ANALYSIS:<\/strong>
\nTrade Agreements Cost Oregon Over 10,000 Forest Products Jobs<\/strong>
\nSouthern Oregon Is Hardest Hit with Over 3,500 Forest Products Jobs Lost<\/em><\/p>\n

Medford, OR \u2014 A new analysis of U.S. Labor Department data released today by the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign finds that Oregon has lost at least 10,521 forest products jobs since 1994 as a result of U.S. trade agreements.This analysis indicates that trade policies are responsible for the majority of forest products jobs lost in Oregon since the mid-1990s.Southern Oregon is the region of the state that has been hardest hit by this trend, with a combined 3,511 or more forest products jobs lost in Douglas, Klamath, Josephine and Jackson Counties.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe data shows that free trade agreements have contributed dramatically to recent job loss in the state\u2019s forest products industries,\u201d said Arthur Stamoulis, director of the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign.\u201cThe important thing to note is that this job loss isn\u2019t inevitable.It\u2019s the result of trade policies put in place by Congress.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunities across the country and right here southern Oregon have been hit hard by layoffs resulting from the nation\u2019s failed trade policies,\u201d said State Representative Peter Buckley (D-Ashland). \u201cOregon needs strong, family-wage jobs. Unfortunately, Senator Smith and Congressman Walden have repeatedly undercut efforts at economic development in the region by voting in favor of unfair, unbalanced job-killing trade deals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe worst part is that since we\u2019ve been laid off,we\u2019re not making the same money as before. This has happened throughout the area with other layoffs and closures, and has had a major impact on the local economy,\u201d said Brandon Maupin, of Merlin, who was laid off at Timber Products in Grants Pass in late 2007.<\/p>\n

Data for this analysis comes from petitions certified by the U.S. Department of Labor as qualifying for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).The TAA program is designed to assist individuals who have lost work as a result of increased imports from, or shifts in production to, countries with which the United States has a trade agreement.The analysis looked at petitions from the forestry, timber, wood products, pulp and paper industries.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoliticians who vote in favor of free trade agreements often act as if retraining alone is the answer.It isn\u2019t,\u201d said Gregory Pallesen, vice president of the Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers.\u201cJob retraining programs can be beneficial for individual displaced workers, but on the whole, these programs are inadequate if the jobs being shipped overseas aren\u2019t replaced with long-term, new jobs that provide equal pay and benefits.Unfortunately, many of the jobs being lost in Oregon\u2019s forest products sector simply aren\u2019t being replaced.Just look at the financial crisis most Oregon counties are facing for evidence of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Douglas County lost the most forest products jobs in the state as a result of trade agreements — at least 1,230.Klamath County lost the second most — at least 1,094.Josephine County lost at least 610 and Jackson County at least 577.<\/p>\n

The voting records of most Members of Congress representing southern Oregon has encouraged trade-related job loss.Senator Gordon Smith and Congressman Greg Walden have consistently voted in favor of free trade agreements that have hurt Oregon\u2019s forest products industries.They both received a 0% \u201cfair trade\u201d score from the Oregon Fair Trade Campaign.Senator Ron Wyden also received a low 33% \u201cfair trade\u201d score.Congressman Peter DeFazio is the only Member of Congress from Oregon to consistently vote against free trade agreements.He received a 100% \u201cfair trade\u201d score.<\/p>\n

Free trade agreements cause job loss in Oregon\u2019s forest products sector by removing tariffs on imports, thus forcing local businesses to compete with companies benefiting from the weak labor and environmental standards, as well as direct and indirect government subsidies, often found abroad.The Oregon Fair Trade Campaign recommends new legislation called the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act as beneficial to Oregonians employed in the forest products industry.The TRADE Act would:<\/p>\n