The IAM will be joining labor and other trade and advocacy organizations in a week-long push to stop Congress from passing “Fast Track Trade Authority” for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement – a secret deal negotiated behind closed doors by government bureaucrats and more than 600 corporate lobbyists.
The #StopFastTrack Week of Action will take place November 8-14, 2014.
You can start now by taking action to Tell Congress to vote NO on Fast Track for the TPP.
The legislation, known as the “Camp-Baucus Fast Track” bill, would limit the ability of Congress to meaningfully debate and amend trade agreements like the TPP – effectively pushing the bill through with just an up or down vote.
The week of action comes as President Obama and other heads of state head to Asia in an attempt to push the TPP agreement forward. It also comes as the Lame Duck session of Congress gets underway, with various Congressional leaders already calling for Fast Track legislation to be considered.
“It is a time of year when a lot of people take a break after the elections, and start getting ready for the holidays, such that political accountability is very low,” says Arthur Stamoulis, Executive Director of the Citizens Trade Campaign. “We need your help remaining vigilant so that Fast Track does not sneak through then or in early 2015.”
TPP threatens everything working families care about: democracy, jobs, the environment and the internet.
Just like NAFTA, it has the potential to destroy hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs, erode workers’ rights, undermine Buy American laws and ignore environmental protections. Worse, TPP negotiations are being conducted in total secrecy.
“It’s time our nation’s leaders support trade rules that work for America’s working families,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “We need trade policies that create jobs here at home, not overseas; trade policies that improve working conditions and strengthen workers’ rights; uphold and strengthen ‘Buy American’ laws; protect the rights of sovereign governments to make policies in the public interest and transparency throughout the entire negotiation process.”
“The IAM encourages all our members to take part in this important week of action,” said Buffenbarger.
For more on the #StopFastTrack Week of Action, visit the website at StopFastTrack.com.
For now, take action – Tell Congress to vote NO on Fast Track for the TPP today.
