More than 100 state and local governments have introduced or passed resolutions opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In addition, more than 100 resolutions opposing the TPP were passed at recent precinct caucuses in Iowa.
[Kenneth Quinnell| February, 18 2016 |AFL-CIO|
Leaders like Jon Weissman, secretary-treasurer of the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO, have condemned TPP while passing the resolutions. On the resolution passed in Springfield, Massachusetts, he remarked: “These so-called trade deals empower corporations to eliminate regulations, so it’s not just about a particular banking ordinance, or mortgage ordinance—it’s about how we govern.”
Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain responded to a Monday vote passing a resolution in Eugene:
“Since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, over 50,000 Oregon workers have been certified by the Department of Labor as having lost their jobs due to trade. It’s time for localities, like the City of Eugene did on Monday, to say no to policies that ship their citizens’ jobs overseas, threaten the rights of workers and lower the standard of living for all of us. I hope that more local governments see Eugene’s example and follow it.”
Other local elected leaders have voted to officially oppose the TPP in New York; San Francisco; Seattle; Nashville, Tennessee; Miami; Baltimore; Oakland, California; Columbus, Ohio; Kenosha, Wis.; Berkeley, California; St. Paul, Minnesota; Toledo, Ohio; Duluth, Minnesota; Brockton, Massachusetts; and Granite City, Illinois.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:
“The grassroots opposition to TPP at every level of government shows that working people in communities across the country are standing up and fighting back against corporate trade deals. Last week, two more plants in Indiana announced they’re shifting operations to Mexico, eliminating more than 2,000 family-sustaining jobs. TPP will bring more of the same and must be defeated.”
The AFL-CIO is partnering with groups like the Sierra Club and the Alliance for Retired Americans to pass additional resolutions and this effort will continue through the end of 2016.
State and local labor leaders and union activists traveled to Washington, D.C., last week for a national lobby day with members of Congress. The lobby day was preceded by a national drive for activists around the country to call Congress. It resulted in nearly 3,000 calls reaching 90% of House members.
