The #StopFastTrack Week of Action is in full swing as labor and other trade advocacy organizations across the country rally to stop Congress from passing “Fast Track Trade Authority,” legislation that would allow for the swift passage of the highly-flawed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets with door-to-door canvassing in Chicago, rallies in Boulder and Denver, CO, a march to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, and 17 protests in New Zealand and six in Australia.
The #StopFastTrack Week of Action began Saturday, November 8, during the start of President Obama’s meeting with other heads of state in Asia in an attempt to push the TPP agreement forward. The weeklong push concludes Friday, November 14.
It’s not too late to get involved. Join the IAM in telling Congress to vote “NO” on Fast Track for the TPP by emailing your members of Congress or calling 202-224-3121.
IAM members are also encouraged to write letters to the editor and send sample tweets with the #StopFastTrack hashtag. Print out or post this flier online showing the effect of free trade agreements on IAM members.
Defeating Fast Track is the first major fight to stop the corporate-backed TPP. If passed, the Fast Track legislation would only allow a yes or no vote by Congress on the final TPP agreement. The bill would bar any amendments or other actions to change provisions that are harmful to American workers and the economy. The same tactic was used to pass NAFTA.
And just like NAFTA, TPP has the potential to destroy hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs, erode workers’ rights, undermine Buy American laws and ignore environmental protections.
For more information, visit the IAM’s TPP Member Action Center.
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