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Teamsters take Dept. of Trans to court.

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Rancher aren't the only ones who are getting hosed for Bush's North American dream.........

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Teamsters' Rally Draws 450 Outside San Francisco Courthouse

The Teamsters Union now awaits a decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the legality of the Bush administration's cross-border truck pilot program.

The three-judge panel questioned attorneys for the Teamsters, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association, who joined the Teamsters in the lawsuit.

"I'm counting on the judges to prevent the Bush administration from shredding the Constitution and endangering the driving public with this reckless, lawless pilot program," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

Congress set safety requirements before the southern border could be opened to long-haul trucks. Those included upgrading inspection facilities, computer databases and state enforcement capacity. The Teamsters argued those requirements were not met.

The Teamsters further argued that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters broke another law after Congress cut off funds for the program in December. Peters defied Congress and announced she would keep the border open.

Before the hearing, 450 Teamsters rallied outside the courthouse. They waved "Keep U.S. Highways Safe" and "NAFTA Kills" signs as seven Teamster trucks circled the block, blaring their air horns. Passing cars, trucks and buses honked their horns in support.

"The ink hadn't even dried on the action taken by Congress when Transportation Secretary Mary Peters authorized this reckless pilot program," Teamsters Western Region Vice President Chuck Mack said at the rally. "It's outrageous what the Bush administration is trying to get away with in the last few months they have left in office."

A family member of victims of an accident caused by a Mexican truck spoke to the crowd.

David Jennings lost his mother, father and son after the truck suffered a catastrophic drive train failure -- something that could have been prevented had the truck been properly inspected at the San Diego border station.

"NAFTA has already compromised our jobs," he said from the flatbed truck parked outside the court. "NAFTA has already compromised our environment. Now it's being pushed to compromise our lives."

Tony Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 890 in Salinas, Calif., said that Mexican truckers oppose the program as well. "They fear it will destroy the trucking industry there," he said.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Why are we doing business with companies/countries that we have to get formal permission for to do an "inspection" of...I'm sure the conditions on the day of the inspection are the same as they were months earlier when we requested permission :roll: :???:
How many folks is GW going to kill or maim in the name of Freetrade?
:???:


February 14, 2008, 8:11 am
China Plant Produced Key Ingredient for Baxter’s Heparin
Posted by Joe Mantone
A new twist was added to an investigation into deadly allergic reactions to a generic blood thinner from Baxter International.

The FDA hadn’t inspected a Chinese facility responsible for the active ingredient in the drug, heparin, that is derived from pig intestines, the WSJ reports on page one.

It’s not known whether the facility played a role in the drug’s problems; Baxter had previously announced it was halting production of the drug, given to patient undergoing dialysis and some surgeries, because of bad reactions and fatalities.

“While no FDA inspection of the facility has been conducted to date, preparations are being made to perform an inspection as soon as possible,” an FDA spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. “We have already requested expedited access to the facility, facilitated through a recently signed agreement with the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration.”
Whether the facility played a role in the problems of heparin or not, the revelation is likely to bring fresh criticism to the FDA’s policy of inspecting foreign plants.

The GAO has said that the FDA may only inspect around 7% of foreign drug-making facilities in a year and some see it as a warning sign to increase funding for the taxed agency. China’s State Food and Drug Administration has also been trying to crack down on unregulated chemicals getting into drugs.

And this is what occurs when we let a company/country take over all production of vital necessities.....

The company provides roughly 50 per cent of all the heparin administered in the US, and it is thought that further recalls could create a shortage in the drug that could be more dangerous to patients that the increased risk of adverse reactions.
 

TSR

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Rancher aren't the only ones who are getting hosed for Bush's North American dream.........

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Teamsters' Rally Draws 450 Outside San Francisco Courthouse

The Teamsters Union now awaits a decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on the legality of the Bush administration's cross-border truck pilot program.

The three-judge panel questioned attorneys for the Teamsters, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association, who joined the Teamsters in the lawsuit.

"I'm counting on the judges to prevent the Bush administration from shredding the Constitution and endangering the driving public with this reckless, lawless pilot program," said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

Congress set safety requirements before the southern border could be opened to long-haul trucks. Those included upgrading inspection facilities, computer databases and state enforcement capacity. The Teamsters argued those requirements were not met.

The Teamsters further argued that Transportation Secretary Mary Peters broke another law after Congress cut off funds for the program in December. Peters defied Congress and announced she would keep the border open.

Before the hearing, 450 Teamsters rallied outside the courthouse. They waved "Keep U.S. Highways Safe" and "NAFTA Kills" signs as seven Teamster trucks circled the block, blaring their air horns. Passing cars, trucks and buses honked their horns in support.

"The ink hadn't even dried on the action taken by Congress when Transportation Secretary Mary Peters authorized this reckless pilot program," Teamsters Western Region Vice President Chuck Mack said at the rally. "It's outrageous what the Bush administration is trying to get away with in the last few months they have left in office."

A family member of victims of an accident caused by a Mexican truck spoke to the crowd.

David Jennings lost his mother, father and son after the truck suffered a catastrophic drive train failure -- something that could have been prevented had the truck been properly inspected at the San Diego border station.

"NAFTA has already compromised our jobs," he said from the flatbed truck parked outside the court. "NAFTA has already compromised our environment. Now it's being pushed to compromise our lives."

Tony Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 890 in Salinas, Calif., said that Mexican truckers oppose the program as well. "They fear it will destroy the trucking industry there," he said.

Darn unions ruining everything aren't they?? lol
 
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