This explanation misses the significance of the vote. It is true that many Democrats are dependent on labor for campaign funds. But if political contributions determined the outcome, fast-track would have passed easily. Corporate political contributions outpace labor's by a ratio of eleven to one, and the disparity is growing. Four years ago, supporters of the North American Free Trade Agreement promised economic benefits, which have not materialized for the majority of people.
Violations are subject to drastic penalties.
In contrast, provisions governing workers' rights and environmental standards were relegated to side agreements. The procedures for enforcement of the labor and environmental agreements are so ill defined and convoluted as to render them ineffective. It has cost the jobs of hundreds of thousands of workers and undermined the job security of millions more. This is one reason why, despite a seven-year economic recovery, wages for most workers are lower than at the last peak of the business cycle in 1989. Guess, Inc. provides a startling example of the pressures at work.