[CTC] Unions, progressives pressure Democrats to oppose trade deals

[Arthur Stamoulis]

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2015/04/unions-progressives-pressure-democrats-to-oppose.html <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2015/04/unions-progressives-pressure-democrats-to-oppose.html>
 
 
Unions, progressives pressure Democrats to oppose trade deals
 
The Business Journals
By Kent Hoover
April 1, 2015
 
Labor unions and progressive organizations are sending a message to Democrats: If you support fast-tracking trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, don’t be surprised if we oppose you in your next Democratic primary.

Six of these groups held a press call Wednesday afternoon to highlight their grass-roots efforts to defeat Trade Promotion Authority, which would allow President Barack Obama <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Barack%20Obama> to bring trade deals to Congress for an up-or-down vote, with no amendments allowed. They also oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade deal being negotiated among the U.S. and 11 other nations that would reduce tariffs and other trade barriers.

Many business groups strongly support new trade deals, contending they would increase export opportunities for U.S. businesses. Opponents, however, argue that TPP would lead to more offshoring of American jobs and undermine U.S. laws that protect the public.

President Barack Obama <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Barack%20Obama> supports TPA and TPP, and administration officials are campaigning for the legislation, as evidenced by this op-ed <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2015/03/sba-administrators-from-both-parties-say-trade.html> written by Small Business Administration head Maria Contreras-Sweet <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Maria%20Contreras-Sweet> and four of her predecessors.

But opponents of this trade legislation are fighting it with grass-roots activities. They’re showing up at town hall meetings being held by members of Congress during the spring recess, dropping in on congressional offices in their districts, holding rallies, signing petitions and making thousands of telephone calls.

“We’ve never seen a more united labor front against a single issue like we have in this case,” said Rafael Navar <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Rafael%20Navar>, national political director of the Communication Workers of America.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the progressive movement so united,” said Murshed Zaheed <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Murshed%20Zaheed>, deputy political director of Credo, a social change organization that also operates its own mobile phone company.

Labor unions and progressives provide much of the base for today’s Democratic Party, so any Democrat that opposes them on such a big issue as trade could be in trouble. Much of these groups’ attention is now focused on Sen. Ron Wyden <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Ron%20Wyden>, the Oregon senator who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which handles trade legislation.

TPP opponents have showed up at 15 of Wyden’s town hall meetings in Oregon, and an RV with anti-TPP signs has been parked outside his Portland office.

“I don’t think he’s ever faced more constituent pressure on an issue,” said Arthur Stamoulis <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Arthur%20Stamoulis>, director of the Citizens Trade Campaign.

Anti-TPP activists also won a big victory when the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a resolution <http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2015/03/30/seattle-city-council-unanimously-opposes-trans.html> Monday opposing the trade deal.

Last month, the AFL-CIO announced that it will suspend campaign contributions <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2015/03/afl-cio-cuts-off-campaign-money-until-trade.html> to members of Congress until the battles over fast-track and TPP are over.

Wyden and other Democrats in Congress may be feeling the heat now, but it soon could beHillary Clinton <http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/search/results?q=Hillary%20Clinton>’s turn on the hot seat. Will anti-TPP activists pressure the presumed presidential candidate (and former secretary of State) to oppose a trade deal that her ex-boss supports?

“Stay tuned,” Zaheed said.

It would “be difficult for someone not to be with us on this fight against fast track,” Navar said.


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