Labor worried about Mayor Kirk nomination

President-elect
Obama’s plan to nominate former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk to be his U.S. trade
representative is a worry for organized labor.

The news comes
shortly after it was learned that Obama plans to nominate Rep. Hilda Solis
(D-Calif.) to be his secretary of labor, a decision immediately hailed by unions.

{mosads}A senior Democratic official confirmed the nominations. They could come as soon as Friday.

Kirk is a worry for labor because he does not have a record of criticizing trade deals, according to Thea Lee, a lobbyist for the AFL-CIO. 

“We want someone who will take trade in a different direction,” said Lee. “He doesn’t have much of a record. That’s a concern.”

Kirk, a former Senate candidate, has spoken out in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and permanent normal trade relations with China. Labor unions believe NAFTA and the China trade legislation have cost the U.S. thousands of jobs.

In contrast, business appears optimistic about Kirk. Bill Lane, a lobbyist for Caterpillar, said Kirk gets the value of trade because he is a border-state mayor.

“As a Texas mayor, he clearly understands the importance of trade,” Lane said.

Thursday’s announcements amounted to a mixed bag for labor, which was thrilled by the Solis nomination but is worried about Kirk. 

It also could be
seen as a shift in fortune since Obama had been poised to nominate Rep. Xavier
Becerra (D-Calif.) as his trade representative. Becerra voted against a
controversial trade agreement with Central American countries and has said he
regretted his vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Becerra pulled out
of the running for the trade post this week, telling La Opinion that he decided to stay in Congress because trade was
not going to be a high priority for Obama.

Business and labor sources said that by effectively replacing Becerra with Kirk, Obama replaced what was seen as a known commodity with an unknown.

Kirk could have a full plate if he wins confirmation.

The Bush
administration has negotiated trade deals with Colombia, Panama and South
Korea, but the Democratic Congress has raised objections to all three. Obama
will inherit the three deals when he takes office.

Kirk would also be
faced with a global round of World Trade Organization talks launched two months
after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Those negotiations have sputtered, but could
take on a new urgency as the world economy weakens.

Ian Swanson contributed to this article.