
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 19, 1993                   TAG: 9311190183
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

CLINTON TRIES FOR PEACE WITH LABOR DEBATE BEGINS IN SENATE

Organized labor responded frostily to an olive branch from President Clinton on Thursday after a bruising House struggle over the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Senate labored to complete passage by week's end.

Departing for an international trade conference in Seattle, Clinton said NAFTA's House passage Wednesday night would help him fight for open markets throughout the world.

He said Vice President Al Gore and Chief of Staff Mack McLarty would fly to Mexico City soon to work out implementation of the pact designed to blend the United States, Mexico and Canada into the world's largest free-trade zone.

Clinton also called for cooperation by labor and management to make sure the accord benefits "all the working people of our country."

Senate leaders confidently predict the measure will win approval. An AP survey showed 52 senators in favor and one leaning that way, 32 senators against and three leaning. Twelve were undecided.

The beginning of Senate debate duplicated arguments that ricocheted throughout the House on Wednesday, where a 234-200 vote showed more Republicans than Democrats supporting the legislation.

A vote seemed likely on Saturday, with passage widely expected. Clinton followed up on a midnight phone call to AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland by expressing respect for the "opinions and convictions of those who did not" embrace NAFTA.

On his way to Seattle, Clinton called Kirkland again from Air Force One. McLarty said the president invited labor's top leader to the White House for a visit in the next few weeks.

But neither Kirkland nor other labor leaders seemed ready to forgive the actions taken by the White House to secure passage in the House.

"We won't forget what happened here," Teamsters President Ron Carey said in an interview. "We're the folks who went out there and worked for a president who talked repeatedly about jobs, and here what we've done is export jobs."

by CNB