By The PA. AFL-CIO
– As you know, we have been sounding the alarm bells on Fast Track legislation and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) all year. After Pennsylvania lost half a million good manufacturing jobs to unfair trade deals of the past 25 years, we simply can’t afford another bad trade deal that will ship more US jobs overseas. Fast Track would eliminate any transparency or accountability from the process, and would ensure that corporate interests continue to write the rules behind closed doors.
We are asking members of Congress to oppose Fast-Track for TPP. The AFL-CIO toll free number for workers to call and leave their message with their U.S. Representatives in the Congress is 1-855-712-8441. Also the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have designated every Wednesday as National Call-In Day for their members and for all workers to use the toll free number 1-877-795-7862 to leave a message with their U.S. Senators in Congress to strongly oppose Fast Track. Please share these phone numbers with your friends and co-workers.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey opposes Fast Track. Senator Pat Toomey has not stated his position.
Across Pennsylvania, Area Labor Federations and Central Labor Councils are organizing meetings with their members of Congress in district offices to get a commitment on whether they support or oppose Fast Track.
Earlier this week, President Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Snyder attended a meeting with Republican Congressman Tim Murphy which was held at the Allegheny County Labor Council offices led by President Shea – and the Congressman agreed that Fast Track legislation is terrible for American jobs.
Workers have also been asking Congressman Tom Marino at his public meetings this week throughout the district what is his position on Fast Track. He has been telling us that he opposes it and supports fair trade.
Several other meetings are taking place this week and next, and we will keep you posted when we learn more about the positions of Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation.
This bad trade deal will destroy jobs and drive down the wages and benefits of all workers.
The members of our Congressional Delegation are back in their districts for one more week giving their constituents the opportunity to meet them in their offices and ask them where they stand on Fast Track and TPP. If you get an answer from your congressman, please let us know!
Submitting letters to the editor of your home town newspaper is good way to elevate this issue in the eyes of the public and build additional support among working families. Contact our Communications Director Jim Deegan to obtain materials for the letter writing campaign as well as talking points and fact sheets. He can be reached via email at editor@paaflcio.org.
We are also asking our Area Labor Federations and Central Labor Councils to conduct a ten minute letter writing session before each meeting, collecting letters from local union leaders and activists to their members of Congress. The letter will be sent to President Trumka, and he will deliver them to Congress.
Keep building momentum, and help all of us fight back against Fast Track!
Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5906
