Free trade agreement jeopardises local workers

1000 workers may be jobless within months as two Sydney car-part manufacturers plan to close, or move to Asia, as Australia moves towards a free trade agreement with China.

AMWU state secretary, Paul Bastian, said:

"The China free trade agreement, together with existing competition from China, makes it impossible for the Australian auto component industry to survive."

"Employers are demanding that workers adopt and compete on Chinese wage conditions."

"What the Federal Government should be doing is have an open and transparent debate in Parliament about not just the economic impacts but also the social costs and implications."

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