More than 100 events last week during Congressional Recess build pressure against TPA
As the House prepares to consider Trade Promotion Authority, AFL-CIO affiliated labor unions and our progressive allies are continuing to demonstrate the widespread popular opposition to fast track. Yesterday, organizations held a “National Call in Day.” Last week, union members, environmentalists, small business owners, consumer advocates and progressive allies held more than 100 events during the Congressional Recess in dozens of Districts across the country, urging Members of Congress to oppose fast track.
Highlights of recess events include:
- A protest outside of Rep. Steny Hoyer’s Greenbelt office where participants presented Rep. Hoyer’s staff with a symbolic Memorial Day picnic basket that included pink slips and prescription drugs, which could become more expensive because of the TPP
- A funeral for middle class jobs in Rep. Lee Zeldin’s Long Island district
- A protest with giant Q Tips in Sacramento urging Rep. Ami Bera to clean out his ears because his constituents don’t want to fast track TPP
- A neighborhood watch in Rep. Jim Costa’s district to prevent trade deals that send jobs overseas
- A protest in San Diego to pressure Rep. Susan Davis and Rep. Scott Peters
- An action outside of Rep. Ashford’s office in Omaha
- A protest in Savannah urging Rep. Buddy Carter to oppose TPA
- A protest outside of Rep. David Young’s office in Des Moines
- A demonstration outside of Rep. David Price’s office in North Carolina
- Phone banks in Washington state and a protest with senior groups in Seattle against Rep. Dave Reichert’s amendment to fund TAA with cuts in Medicare
This week, the AFL-CIO challengedthe USTR to declassify the TPP and prove whether it is progressive and will create good-paying jobs. The AFL-CIO also launched a new round of digital ads in The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico and The Hill that deliver the message: “Fast Track Kills Jobs, Drives Down Wages, & Weakens Competition.” The AFL-CIO is also running a TV ad in Sacramento criticizing Rep. Ami Bera for his support of fast track and, over the weekend, posted a classified ad in the Sacramento Bee, on Career Builder and on Sacramento Craigslist, looking for a Congressman in CA-7 with a backbone.
Since March, union members have organized more than 650 events against fast track and thousands of workers have traveled to D.C. to rally and lobby Congress. Unions have made 2.05 million phone calls to union members warning against fast track, generated more than 161,000 phone calls and nearly 18,000 handwritten letters to Members of Congress and gathered more than 40,000 petition signatures. Digital advertisements targeting dozens of Members of Congress have made more than 25 million impressions.
Contact: Sean Savett (202) 637-5018