May 1, 2015

UFCW President Perrone: With all due respect to President Obama, TPP will hurt hard-working families

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Marc Perrone, International President of the largest private sector union in the nation, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), sent letters to all 535 members of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate urging them to listen to hard-working families and oppose fast tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Perrone also directly responds to the assertion made by President Obama, and others, that critics of TPP and Fast Track do not understand the agreement.

“With all due respect to President Obama and the elected politicians who support this trade deal, this agreement will hurt hard-working families, workers, and our shared future,” said Perrone in the letter to Congress.

He further adds, “In actuality, we understand the harsh reality that workers and families will again pay the price.“

The letter details why fast tracking the TPP would make life more difficult for hard-working American families.

The following are excerpts from the letter:

“For over three decades, fast track trade deals have brought broken promises–not prosperity –to hard-working families. During the recent era of free trade agreements families have endured lost jobs, stagnant wages and rising levels of income inequality.

“In the face of these truths, we are told by those who support this bad trade deal that we are misunderstanding the positives. In actuality, we understand the harsh reality that workers and families will again pay the price.”

“For Members of Congress to accept a trade deal that will govern 40% of the world’s GDP with no opportunity to make changes that would ensure the interests of hard-working families isn’t just wrong–it’s dangerous.”

“Given the impact these agreements will have on our nation, we need more debate on trade, not less.”

“At a time when our elected leaders should be focusing on raising wages, creating more opportunity, and addressing income inequality, ‘fast track’ trade promotion authority accomplishes the opposite. With that in mind, we strongly urge you to vote no.”

The full letter to members of the House and Senate is pasted below.

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Dear Members of Congress:

On behalf of the 1.3 million hard-working men and women of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), I urge you to oppose “fast track” trade promotion authority. With all due respect to President Obama and the elected politicians who support this trade deal, this agreement will hurt hard-working families, workers, and our shared future.

For over three decades, fast track trade deals have brought broken promises–not prosperity–to hard-working families. During the recent era of free trade agreements families have endured lost jobs, stagnant wages and rising levels of income inequality. In the face of these truths, we are told by those who support this bad trade deal that we are misunderstanding the positives. In actuality, we understand the harsh reality that workers and families will again pay the price.

Fast track has been used to push through some of our nation’s most destructive trade agreements and the TPP may be the worst yet. It would roll back regulations that could be construed as a “barrier to trade,” which includes environmental, consumer, and labor protections. And it has been put together in secret, with the advice and counsel of hundreds of corporate special interests but absolutely no input from labor or other groups that fight on behalf of the working and middle classes.

For Members of Congress to accept a trade deal that will govern 40% of the world’s GDP with no opportunity to make changes that would ensure the interests of hard-working families isn’t just wrong – it’s dangerous. Given the impact these agreements will have on our nation, we need more debate on trade, not less.

At a time when our elected leaders should be focusing on raising wages, creating more opportunity, and addressing income inequality, “fast track” trade promotion authority accomplishes the opposite.

With that in mind, we strongly urge you to vote no.

Sincerely,

Anthony M. Perrone
International President