[CTC] TPP Hearing in Senate Finance on Wednesday (with GE, Chamber, Farm Bureau, Dairy Export Council)

[Arthur Stamoulis]

http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/04/us-dairy-farmers-bring-fight-against.html
Friday, April 19, 2013
U.S. dairy farmers bring fight against TPPA to Chicago, Washington

Teamsters and family farmer representatives, en route to the  
Congressional dairy caucus today.
Teamsters and family farmers told members of Congress today that the  
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement  could seriously harm American  
dairy farms and American dairy workers.  Meanwhile, in Chicago, family  
farmers protested the trade deal at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

The TPPA, which involves a dozen Pacific Rim countries, will enter its  
17th round of talks in May. Negotiators are hoping to wrap up the  
talks by October. The U.S. Congress has been asked to expedite  
approval of the deal through the Fast Track mechanism.

The labor and farm representatives urged members of the Congressional  
dairy caucus to reject Fast Track. They said Congress needed to vet  
every word of the TPPA for its impact on American dairy farms and  
dairy workers.

The labor-farm coalition members presented a letter outlining the  
potential dangers of the trade deal. It said, in part,

New
market
access
for
New
  Zealand’s
  monopolistic
dairy
sector
would
  be
  especially
  damaging
  to
U.S.
  dairy
farmers
and
  those
who
produce
and
  process
  nonfat
  dry
milk,
butter fat
or
cheese.
The U.S. dairy industry generates $140 billion in economic activity  
and employs an estimated 900.000 workers, while providing nourishment  
to millions more. The nation simply cannot afford to compete with  
dairy imports produced under unfair conditions. It is critical that  
Congress provide clear direction and oversight regarding expectations  
for U.S. negotiators in order to avoid serious disruptions to  
agricultural sector livelihoods...
The
TPP’s
potential
impact
on
the
U.S.
dairy
sector
is
too
important
to
adopt
a
  “wait
  and
  see”
approach
towards
the
pact’s
negotiation.

Speaking out against the TPPA in Chicago
The Teamsters Dairy Conference represents 30,000 dairy workers.  
Attending the meeting were Kathy Ozer,  with the National Family Farm  
Coalition, Mike Stranz with the National Farmers Union, Mike Dolan and  
Dennis Sullivan with the Teamsters.

In Chicago, the Family Farm Defenders held a speak out at the  
Merchandise Mart to protest the TPPA, which they said will "hurt  
farmers, workers, and consumers for the sake of greater corporate  
profits."

They are concerned that New Zealand's dairy industry will undercut the  
prices paid for fresh fluid milk to U.S. dairy farmers.

According to FFA's press release,
...the global corporate elite seeks to further undermine good paying  
jobs for US workers. TPP countries include Vietnam and Brunei, where  
independent unions are illegal and sweatshop labor is rampant.   In  
Vietnam wages are only $2 a day and it is referred to as the low cost  
labor alternative to China. Not only will the TPP be detrimental to US  
workers, but it will likely continue in the steps of NAFTA, which  
dislocated millions of small farmers and workers in developing  
countries, and fueled the US immigration crisis.

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