Chicago and Chinese Imports Brings 11,000 US JOBS.

May 22,2012 - Chicago is often billed as the nations top destination and departure point for Chinese imports and exports. The citys capacity for trade with China is supposed to get a big boost in the coming years because of a planned new $200 million cargo handling center at Chicago OHare International Airport, which was announced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel last week. The center drew praise from both labor and business leaders, as it is projected to create more than 11,000 jobs actually 1,200 temporary construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs, while indirectly sparking the creation of 10,000 jobs regionally. While the jobs are sorely needed and the Chicago Federation of Labor endorsed the plan in a joint statement with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, skeptics question how great the jobs will actually be and, in principle, whether facilitating more imports of Chinese goods is a positive thing for local U.S. workers. The plan involves $62 million of city airport funds and a $130 million investment by the private firm Aeroterm LLC...