TPP Roundup

Syracuse

Nick Mazzeo, vice president of CWA Local 1152, had a pretty smart idea to generate even more handwritten letters to Rep. John Katko (R-24). CWA Local 1152 and 1123, plus partners Sierra Club, Syracuse Peace Council, Greenpeace and Alliance for a Green Economy held a letter writing party at a Syracuse movie theater. Groups set up tables and even were able to project a sample letter on the big screen. Participants handwrote 384 letters to Rep. Katko that night alone. The letters were delivered to the congressman's office and Rep. Katko told the group he was voting against Fast Track authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

"I'm happy that we can go back to our members who contributed to this cause and let them know they made a difference," Mazzeo said.

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San Antonio

More than 95 activists rallied outside the office of Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-20) in San Antonio, calling on Castro to listen to his constituents and reject Fast Track authority for the flawed TPP.

Participating were members of CWA, Move San Antonio, Sierra Club, the Esperanza Center, Teamsters, TOP (Texas Organizing Project), Amalgamated Transit Union, San Antonio Central Labor Council, AFSCME, the Texas AFL-CIO and others.

A delegation delivered more than 300 petitions that were collected from constituents throughout Castro's district.

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Louisville

CWAers and partners rally against the TPP outside the Louisville office of Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell. The rally was organized by Larry Gardner, CWA Local 3310, and Josh Swiney, Local 3321, with participants from CWA, IUE-CWA, UAW, UFCW, Teamsters, Kentucky Teachers Association, and Sierra Club.

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Queens, NY

About 200 CWAers and allies rally outside the Queens, N.Y., office of Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-5). Meeks is one of just two Democrats co-leading the "pro-TPP" caucus.

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Florida

In Tallahassee, activists from CWA, AFSCME, the Postal Workers, Letter Carriers, Office and Professional Employees, Longshoremen and the Federation of Public Employees met at the office of Rep. Gwen Graham (D-02), calling on her to oppose Fast Track authority for the TPP.

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Lynn, Massachusetts

IUE-CWA Local 81201 activists and partners are keeping the heat on Rep. Seth Moulton (D-06). About 30 activists rallied outside Moulten's Lynn office, then delivered petitions to his staff from workers, Lynn business leaders and community activists calling on the Congressman to oppose Fast Track and the TPP.

When Moulton toured the General Electric plant in Lynn recently, he was greeted by the overwhelming majority of workers wearing "No Fast Track" stickers. Local President Pete Capano says Moulton has been "defensive" and says he's still undecided.

Moulton should listen to his Lynn constituents who increasingly are coming out in opposition to Fast Track and the TPP. This week, the Lynn, Mass., city council passed a resolution opposing the TPP. And the Democratic City Committee in Lynn, the largest city in Moulton's district voted unanimously to oppose Fast Track and the TPP and plan to send a letter to Moulton and generate phone calls.

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Virginia

CWA and Legislative-Political activists from CWA Local 2201, IUE-CWA Local 82162, plus members from a broad coalition of unions and allies held a "very intense" meeting with Senator Tim Kaine (D) and his staff. When asked whether he would vote against the bill if it didn't address workers' concerns, Kaine said "yes." The delegation left scores of handwritten letters from constituents for Kaine to read.

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Los Angeles

More than 50 community leaders protested against the TPP, calling on Congress to oppose the massive trade deal and on the Obama administration to release the text of the deal so the public can see what is being discussed. The group included the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Presente.org, Council of Mexican Federations (COFEM), CWA, East Yard Community for a Better Environment, and other labor and local organizations.

Arturo Carmona, executive director of Presente.org, said the TPP "would be a disaster for Latinos across America," in the U.S., and in many Latin American countries where free trade agreements have destroyed the economies and livelihoods of ordinary people.

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Cleveland

A town hall meeting in Cleveland, organized by Local 4340, District 4 and allies including the Steelworkers, Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, faith groups, Green City Blue Lake Institute, and others, was attended by about 80 people. Participants turned in 59 handwritten letters and 42 commitments to step up the fight to stop Fast Track authority for the TPP. Local media interviewed several participants, including Local 4340 President Gary Kundrat. Among the speakers was CWA District 4 Vice President Linda Hinton.