The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Charity Jackson (202) 637-5018

AFL-CIO Mobilizes Tens of Thousands Against Fast Track

As Congress prepares to consider Trade Promotion Authority, also known as Fast Track, the AFL-CIO, community allies and their members including leaders like former Labor Secretary Robert Reich are taking action to stop this legislation. Working families have been holding local events, writing their Members of Congress, making phone calls and signing petitions.

WASHINGTON

As Congress prepares to consider Trade Promotion Authority, also known as Fast Track, the AFL-CIO, community allies and their members including leaders like former Labor Secretary Robert Reich are taking action to stop this legislation. Working families have been holding local events, writing their Members of Congress, making phone calls and signing petitions. The level of grassroots activity around giving the President fast track authority shows workers' fear of yet another set of bad trade deals that lower wages and send jobs overseas while undermining labor, health and environmental standards.

  • Over the last few months, tens of thousands raised their collective voices in opposition to Fast Track: over 86,000 calls were made to Members of Congress while over 40,000 people signed onto a national petition to stop Fast Track. Around the country over 400 events were organized in Congressional districts.

In the month of March alone there has been tremendous activity. Actions will continue to ramp up during the week of April 13 leading to a National Day of Action on April 18.

  • On March 2, 60 unions united and sent a letter to all Members of Congress urging them to stand for higher wages, more jobs, and greater opportunities for America's hardworking families by opposing Fast Track legislation.
  • On March 4, over 400 hundred union members, labor leaders and other working Americans met with more than 120 Senators, members of Congress and their staff to discuss how bad trade policy has harmed their communities.
  • On March 9, 250 Oregonians rallied in Portland to put pressure onto Senator Wyden to stand against Fast Track.
  • On March 25, 200 people from AFL-CIO, CWA, SEIU, Sierra Club, Common Cause, Working America, ARA, and others joined together to in Ohio to write letters to Senator Rob Portman to stop Fast Track legislation. Current US Senate candidate and former Governor Ted Strickland joined the group and penned his own letter to his opponent.
  • Also on March 25, a radio advertisement was launched in Oregon to put pressure onto Senator Wyden to stand against Fast Track.
  • On March 28, 250 Ohio union members heard Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congressman Tim Ryan talk about the impact of bad trade agreements.
  • On March 30, 300 union members, elected officials, and community partners rallied in Toledo, OH with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur against Fast Track legislation and the TPP.
  • On March 26, Seattle and Bellingham City Councils passed anti-TPP resolutions, and hundreds of union members, community activist and working families circulated a public sign-on letter against Fast Track representing 60 organizations.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million working men and women.