Trade Promotion Authority is Simply "Fast Track" for a Bad Trade Deal

CWAers and community allies recognize the "Trade Promotion Authority" for the threat that it poses to good U.S. jobs. They are urging members of Congress to reject "fast track" for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.

Activists visiting Rep. Joyce Beatty from Ohio's 3rd District. From left-to-right: Tim Quinn, CWA Local 4501; Thomas Lee, CWA Headquarter Staff; Wayne Crawford, 4501; three members Beatty's staff; Cynthia Stewart, 4501; Ohio AFL-CIO Legislative Director Matt Smith and CWA District 4 Administrative Director CWA D4.

Below: In Oregon, activists from "Fight for the Future," a grassroots organization that's committed to ensuring an open Internet with access for all, followed Sen. Ron Wyden to his town hall meetings in the state, urging him to oppose "fast track" authority. They launched a giant, 30-foot blimp with the message: "Ron Wyden, It's Up to You. Don't Betray Us. Save the Internet. No Fast Track for the TPP."

Democrats and Republicans members of Congress have been publicly declaring their opposition to "fast track."

CWA members and other labor, environment and community groups are holding town hall meetings and rallies and are visiting their members of Congress to alert them to this effort by Big Business and political allies to push "fast track" through Congress. Members of Congress must vote on the 1,200+ page TPP deal with almost no debate and no ability to amend it.

CWA members and allies have also been writing letters, sending e-mails and making phone calls to Congress Members. To date, they have written 4,234 hand-written letters, made more than 2,000 phone calls and written 55,000 emails to their representatives in the House and Senate.

Not all Congress members are yet on board in opposing "fast track," which is why tonight, at 6 p.m., CWAers and allies will hold a Town Hall in Rep. Gregory Meek's New York 5th district at the Jamaica Performing Arts and Learning Center at 161-04 Jamaica Avenue, Queens, NY.

On Wednesday, in Columbus, OH, labor, environment and community groups will hold a public forum to urge U.S. Sen. Rob Portman to oppose "fast track" and stand up for good jobs and consumer protections. The forum at the Neighborhood House of Columbus at 1000 Atcheson St., Columbus, OH, starts at 6 p.m. Unions, environmental, progressive and community groups and others will participate in a public discussion of the devastating impact of "fast track" and TPP on good jobs and our communities.

And on March 30, Steny Hoyer's Maryland 5th District will be the venue for a AFL-CIO Town Hall at 9:30 a.m. at 270 W. Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230.

The TPP trade deal – being negotiated in secret between the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim countries, including Brunei, Malaysia, Mexico, Japan, and Vietnam – will send more U.S. jobs overseas, raise prescription drug prices, and allow multinational corporations to challenge any U.S. law or regulation that affects "expected future profits" in a secret, overseas court.