Representative Paul Tonko, Labor, Faith and Advocacy Groups call on Congress NOT to Fast Track the TPP

Representative Paul Tonko, Labor, Faith and Advocacy Groups call on Congress NOT to Fast Track the TPP Fast Track Legislation for mega-trade deals would result in lost jobs while eliminating environmental and consumer protections

Related Media

ALBANY, NY (03/13/2015)(readMedia)-- Today at 12:00pm a coalition of labor organizations, faith leaders, and advocacy groups will join together with Congressman Paul Tonko at the CWA 1118 Hall (4 Wembley Ct., Albany) to oppose Fast Track legislation for the massive Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The TPP is currently being pushed by big corporations and negotiated in secret between the United States and 11 other countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Japan, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam which make up 40 percent of the world economy.

This legislation is called "Fast Track" for a reason. It rams trade deals through Congress in a behind-closed-doors and undemocratic process. It is a process that doesn't allow our representatives to amend trade deals, no matter how problematic some provisions may be.

"So-called 'free trade' agreements like the TPP are bad for jobs, bad for U.S. manufacturing, and bad for workers across the globe – and Fast Track legislation would jam these bad deals through the approval process without proper consideration from Congress. These trade deals have a worrying track record of hurting American workers and can have far reaching implications in arena like food safety and affordable medicine," said Congressman Paul Tonko.

Trade policies adopted under Fast Track have already resulted in one million American jobs lost and 60 thousand factories closed. The rushed deals have jeopardized the safety of our food and overturned environmental protections.

"Fast Track is a one-way ticket down a dangerous road. 'Free Trade' agreements have been proven to hurt workers in the United States by lowering safety and health standards, erasing family-sustaining jobs, and nullifying existing environmental protections. The only reason to Fast Track something like the TPP is to rush it through before anybody looks too closely at how bad for Americans it really is. Our working families, communities, and children deserve better," said Frank Natalie, Executive Vice President of the Capital District Area Labor Federation.

"Together, we must rise up and reject the TPP fast track. We can't allow the fundamental principles of democracy to be skirted as Congress considers legislation that could have a such a tremendous negative impact on U.S. jobs and job security," added Sara Niccoli, Executive Director of the Labor Religion Coalition of NYS.

We need a trade policy that strengthens labor and human rights, protects us from unsafe imports, and promotes the export of goods instead of jobs.

The coalition asked the public to contact their Representatives today to ask them to #StopFastTrack, by texting TPP to 877877 or by calling their Representative toll free at 888-706-4535.