Labor solidarity helps derail federal Trans-Pacific Partnership Union solidarity and strong grassroots political action efforts are being credited for the recent derailing of a trade agreement that would have potentially jeopardized good, middle-class jobs and harmed local economies. The House of Representatives recently voted down a key provision of the legislation that would have formalized U.S. involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade deal with a dozen other countries that make up 40 percent of the world’s economy. The Obama administration sought to fast-track the partnership, a free-trade deal between the United States, Canada and 10 countries in the Asia-Pacific region that would eliminate tariffs on goods and services and end other barriers. Fast track is a process used to negotiate huge trade deals that will not only drive wages down and ship jobs overseas, but will weaken regulations that keep our food safe and our financial system fair. This deal would have also potentially endangered working conditions and the environment. Negotiations on the partnership were held largely behind closed doors between corporate interests and lobbyists. Labor, community and retiree organizations stood together to fight the plan. Partnership opponents, including the AFL-CIO and AFSCME, worked together to derail the deal. Opponents contacted their representatives in droves to urge them to vote against the legislation, held hundreds of events to highlight how communities could be harmed by TPP and ran numerous print and electronic ads slamming the trade deal. When the legislation reached the House floor on June 12, representatives overwhelmingly voted down the related trade adjustment assistance measure that would have aided workers displaced by TPP. Without this particular measure passing, TPP is unable to advance because the full bill is contingent on the trade assistance measure passing. “The House of Representatives has done the right thing, but the fight isn’t over,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said. “American workers came together and spoke with one voice about the path their country and economy should follow. We are very grateful for all the activists, families, community leaders, and elected officials who worked so tirelessly for transparency and worker rights in international trade deals. This was truly democracy in action.” As The Work Force went to press, the bill was headed back to the Senate. — Janice Gavin July-August 2015 The Work Force 5
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