Surging Grassroots Opposition to "Fast Track"

From Seattle to Pittsburgh, a broad coalition of labor, environmental, social justice and faith leaders are successfully pressing local governments and political parties to say "no" to "fast track."

This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Pittsburgh City Council and New Jersey's Hudson County Board of Freeholders all passed strong resolutions opposing "fast track" for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). In Florida, the Broward County Democratic Party voted in favor of a resolution opposing "fast track" and requesting that Congress fully debate and be able to amend the treaty.

Tonight, in Cleveland, OH, labor, environment, and community groups will again gather in a town hall to urge U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) to oppose "fast track" legislation and stand up for good jobs and consumer protections. And, on Monday, leaders from New York City's labor, environmental, social justice and faith communities will rally and testify in support of City Councilwoman Helen Rosenthal's resolution declaring New York City a "TPP-free zone."

These are just the latest efforts by grassroots activists to put the brakes on the TPP. Last week they witnessed the Ohio Democratic Party pass a resolution telling the state's congressional delegation to vote "no" on "fast track" for the TPP. Ohio's Board of Mahoning County Commissioners recently voted in favor of a resolution urging their congressional representatives to oppose "fast track." There have also been anti-"fast track" resolutions from the city councils of Seattle; Los Angeles; Bellingham, Wash.; Madison, Wis.; Fort Bragg, Calif.; and Guadalupe, Ariz. In California, the city councils of Berkeley and Richmond have both passed resolutions declaring themselves TPP-free zones. So did Wisconsin's Dane County Board of Supervisors.