AFL-CIO Ad Tells Congress: Listen to Workers, Say No to Fast Track

Today, the AFL-CIO and its affiliates began an unconventional four-week ad campaign designed to ensure that when Congress returns this November, they do not undermine our already fragile economy by moving forward with any form of "Fast Track" trade legislation.

The ads, running through the entirety of the Capitol South Metro station through November 23, convey the too often hidden but always dramatic stakes in trade negotiations for working people. The graphics of the ads, as well as the stories that underlie them, can be found at our companion website, https://NoFastTrack.com .

"We will not stand by while fast track paves the way for another secretly negotiated trade deal that will cost hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs by making it easier for U.S. corporations to flee our shores," said International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) President Tom Buffenbarger. "The IAM is fighting against fast track and the outdated, cynical trade deals that go with it."

"Trade agreements should not be designed to limit the ability of governments to implement and enforce laws that regulate business and protect our food, our environment, worker safety and the public's health," argued Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees. "TPP would allow global corporations to challenge U.S. laws through secret, unaccountable and undemocratic, international trade tribunals that do not have to adhere to U.S. law or even abide by the U.S. Constitution when making decisions that impact U.S. citizens or companies. Fast Track would set the U.S. on a path to concluding a trade deal that would take policy-making out of the hands of anyone who has to answer to the voters, and turn it over to trade arbitrators who favor corporate interests over the public interest."

"Fast Track is a misguided and undemocratic policy that advances the corporate trade agenda and bad deals like NAFTA, CAFTA, and the Korea FTA," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. "Congress must end the secrecy and create a new process to develop and implement trade, investment and economic policies that will promote good jobs, rising wages, a clean environment and a fair economy for us all. America's workers simply can't afford more Fast Track."

This campaign demonstrates that while the labor movement is focused on critical midterm elections, we also remain focused on potential legislation that would undermine workers and their families, here and abroad. This ad is just the beginning of an array of diverse tactics that will be deployed once the "lame duck" session of Congress convenes this November.

These ads were sponsored by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, CWA, IAMAW, UAW, and USW.