Union members demonstrated for fair trade policies as U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and a Bush administration official promoted free trade at a Minneapolis conference.

Coleman and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans were featured speakers at the ?Manufacturing Tomorrow Summit? Monday at the Minneapolis Hilton, where businesses were forming a new group, the Minnesota Manufacturers Coalition.

According to an article in the Star Tribune, Evans planned to talk about the benefits of international trade and criticize restrictions on free trade.

Unions that protested outside the hotel said the rules of trade agreements favor corporations ? not workers, communities or the environment. They called for fair trade agreements that incorporate measures to raise the standard of living around the globe.

Union members demonstrated for fair trade outside a business conference Monday.

The protest is particularly timely given the Bush administration?s poor economic record, said Jon Youngdahl, a leader of the Service Employees International Union and one of the organizers of the event.

?Even with 300,000 new jobs (created last month), Bush has still lost over 1.8 million jobs during his presidency,? Youngdahl said.

?A lot of it?s trade and a lot of it is lack of focus on the economy. He seems to be more interested in giving big tax breaks to his corporate buddies than creating jobs.?

While the group picketed outside the main entrance to the Hilton, they watched as two limousines, possibly carrying Evans and Coleman, drove around the side of the hotel and entered through a parking garage.