Statement by Pennsylvania AFL-CIO: Stop the Fast Track to Lower Wages
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale and Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder issued the following in response to the Introduction of Fast Track Legislation in the U.S. Senate
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Workers across Pennsylvania are standing up for higher wages but Congress is considering legislation that will speed through corporate-driven trade deals. For decades, we've seen how fast-tracked trade deals devastated our communities through lost jobs and eroded public services. We can't afford another bad deal that lowers wages and outsources jobs. That's why Congress must reject Fast Track and maintain its constitutional authority and leverage to improve the TPP and other trade deals," Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Bloomingdale said.
"Trade deals have wide-ranging impacts and shouldn't be negotiated behind closed doors and then rubber-stamped. The current Trans-Pacific Partnership deal under discussion would cover 40 percent of the world's GDP. In Pennsylvania, the trade deficit is already $42,944,000,000. We can't afford another bad trade deal," Secretary-Treasurer Snyder stated.
"A deal this big should be debated in a full and open manner like every other piece of legislation. Working people are showing tremendous courage standing up to the low-wage, corporate agenda. It's time for the members of the Pennsylvania's congressional delegation to do the same. We also urge all Pennsylvanians to call Senator Toomey and tell him to stand with workers and Senator Casey in opposing Fast Track and the TPP," Mr. Bloomingdale concluded.
SOURCE Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
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