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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2015)
PAGE 10 | May 15, 2015 | NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS Fast track filibustered! Who’s on our side? By Tom Chamberlain Oregon AFL-CIO President Majority oppose fast track O regon has been consumed by the fight against the Trans-Pacific Partnership since January. This fight is a testament to a united labor movement. At February’s Executive Committee meet- ing of the National AFL-CIO, international labor leaders pledged to stand united against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and against granting Fast Track Authority to President Obama. It was not a surprising move, considering that some in our labor movement were apa- thetic towards the passage of the North Amer- ica Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 21 years ago. After two decades of jobs being Amer- ica’s largest export, we now understand that free trade agreements cut deeply in all sec- tors—both public and private. We know that America’s workers actually earn less money today than before the passage of NAFTA. We know that free trade agreements undermine the sovereignty of our state and nation. And we know that free trade agreements have little enforcement power, thereby undermining en- vironmental and labor standards. I could go on, but like the vast majority of Oregonians, chances are you already oppose unbalanced trade deals. In fact, the last polling in Oregon’s 1st Congressional District reveals that 53 percent of voters oppose giving Fast Track Authority to the president. Congresswoman Bonamici, I hope you are listening. All across America, the labor movement has drawn a line in the sand. We’ve spoken out at town halls, held rallies, marches and picket lines. Oregon’s unions and allies at- tended town halls in Medford, Bend and Port- land. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called for a “National Day of Action” against the Trans-Pacific Partnership and our united labor movement responded, with over 1,000 people attending rallies in Coos Bay, Medford, Bend, Eugene, Salem and Portland on April 18. The Oregon AFL-CIO took to the airwaves by raising funds to launch a radio campaign, which has been supplemented by the National AFL-CIO’s television and internet advertise- ments. On May 7, President Obama attended a fundraiser at the Sentinel Hotel in downtown Portland and over 400 Oregonians showed up to make our voices heard. We were loud, de- fiant, and our message was clear: No Fast Track. No Trans-Pacific Partnership. Media from across the state and the coun- try reported on our demonstrations. On May 8, President Obama spoke at Nike headquarters near Beaverton, where he was greeted by nearly 100 demonstrators outside the gates. Obama is one of the most gifted speakers in our nation’s history. He charmed the crowd and the television audience. The president’s hypnotic description of trade painted a picture that stands in stark contrast of two decades of trade gone wrong. Over and over he asked Oregon to just trust him; that this free trade agreement would be different; that it would be better because he’s learned from the fail- ures of the past. I can’t forget Barack Obama as a candi- date, standing in front of a crowd of 10,000 union members and their families during the 2007 presidential debate, where he promised that he would pass crucial labor law reform under the Employee Free Choice Act. A year later, workers were told to wait until after the passage of health care reform. Mr. President: American workers are still waiting and suffering from an economy that rewards wealth and punishes hard work. An- other free trade agreement is not the answer we’re waiting for. Tom Chamberlain is president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, a 120,000-member-strong federation of labor unions. JAIME RODRIGUEZ for Hillsboro School Board, Pos. 7 ENDORSED BY: Northwest Oregon Labor Council; Just as this issue went to press May 12, an effort to pass fast track failed on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Supporters of fast track were unable to get the three-fifths supermajority (60 votes) needed to close off debate and move to a vote. The vote was 52-45 in favor of closing off debate. But some of those voting to uphold the filibuster—like U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore- gon)—weren’t doing so because they oppose fast track, but be- cause the Senate’s Republican leadership was refusing to vote on another set of trade-related bills at the same time: a customs bill that would address currency manipulation, a package of trade preferences for sub-Saharan Africa, and a bill renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance, which helps workers displaced by foreign competition. on Oreg rs Vote DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! 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PCC Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals; PCC Federation of Classified Employees; Hillsboro Education Association; State Sen. Chuck Riley; State Rep. Joe Gallegos; Hillsboro City Councilor Kyle Allen VOTE May 19 Hillsboro School District needs to increase Teacher and Staff Retention/ Professional Development; Increase Security and Safety at Schools; Keep from outsourcing services; Increase Nurses and Librarians at Schools (Authorized and paid for by the Friends of Jaime Rodriguez) (Ballots are due by 8 p.m.) Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9:30-5:30, Sun 12-6 stock without pistol grip. 503-366-0218 MISCELLANEOUS GAS WATER HEATER, new, 50 gallon, $100; gas furnace, free; 200 amp main breaker panel w/GFCIs, $50. 503-413- 4300 INVACARE WHEELCHAIR, 250# ca- pacity, new condition, $55. 503-320- 5724 GARDEN IRRIGATION pump, Jacuzzi brand, 1.5” inlet, 1.5” outlet, 3 hp gas motor, exc. condition, $150. 503-324- 3941 BLUEBERRY BUSHES, Early Blue 20 yrs old, $40, Draper 14 yrs old, $35. In pots, ready to plant. 503-312-1518 CLASSIFIED AD GUIDELINES Subscribers may place one free classified ad per issue. Ads should be 15 to 20 words, all in lower case (NO CAPITAL LETTERS). Ads must include a phone number, including area code, or they will not be published. No commercial or business ads. HOW TO SUBMIT A CLASSIFIED AD Indicate which union you are a member of, and send your ad to michael492@comcast.net or by mail to PO Box 13150, Portland OR 97213. We publish the first and third Fridays of each month, and the deadline is one week prior to that.
