We could see this coming, surprised it's not happening more
Today in Portland, Ore., for the first time in Barack Obama's presidency, a union plans to picket one of his fundraisers. The 5,000 member-strong Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers (AWPPW) will picket the luncheon fundraiser because of their disgust with Obama’s handling of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade agreement, which they feel will cost them jobs if ratified.
The TPP is currently being negotiated between the United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. While the terms of the deal are being negotiated in secret, a recent analysis of leaked trade documents led Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch to declare that the deal would “extend the incentives for U.S. firms to offshore investment and jobs to lower-wage countries.” AWPPW Vice President Greg Pallesen is convinced that, much like previous trade deals, the TPP would be particularly destructive to jobs in the Pacific Northwest.
“It’s really so disappointing with Obama," says Pallesen. "He ran on a promise of change and change with regard to the trade agreements. The last three trade treaties [South Korea, Colombia and Panama] make clear there wasn't that much change. The Trans-Pacific Partnership will be the largest trade treaty ever negotiated. It’s wrong, it’s going to lead to a job loss on the manufacturing side.”
In the midst of an election year, other unions that have endorsed Obama have been far more circumspect in their criticism of the TPP.
Where exactly are our democratic congresspeople on the TPP?
I assume there'll be some comments along the lines "we're eating our own" again.
Our workers are getting stomped, from numerous directions, I'm not surprised this picket is occuring. How convenient the new terms of the agreement are being discussed/debated in secret. Weak
http://inthesetimes.com/...