UNION MAKES CHINESE ALLIANCE.Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer The Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Federation of Labor, looking to bolster its negotiating position with international corporations, said Thursday it has signed a historic agreement with unions representing 6 million workers in Shanghai, China. Maria Elena Durazo Maria Elena Durazo is the current executive secretary–treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. She was appointed the interim executive secretary–treasurer following the resignation of Martin Ludlow in February 2006, and was voted as the permanent , executive secretary-treasurer of the 600,000-member County Fed, compared the agreement to a sister city relationship and said there may be opportunities for joint efforts with the Port of Los Angeles The Port of Los Angeles is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately 20 miles (30 km) south of downtown. Also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT LA . "The primary reason for this relationship is that Shanghai and Los Angeles have the two biggest ports," Durazo said. "We are both dealing with multinational global corporations and we have to act globally to protect our interests. "We are looking to protect and grow our middle class while providing them with some help as their middle class grows," Durazo said. Durazo said the American labor movement also can learn from Chinese workers, who have been able to organize unions at Wal-Mart, McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken Fried chicken is chicken which is dipped in a breading mixture and then deep fried, pan fried or pressure fried. The breading seals in the juices but also absorbs the fat of the fryer, which is sometimes seen as unhealthy. -- U.S.-based corporations that have fought unionization efforts at home. Durazo said the Chinese were able to organize at those firms because of support from the national government. The trade movement in China is relatively new, with government sanctions against unions being involved in strikes, said Kent Wong of the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Labor Center. But, he said, it has not prevented job actions by workers against companies that have been privatized. Durazo said she wants to establish similar relationships with Korea and Vietnam, as well as Central and Latin American countries List of American countries Nations:
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