In response to the introduction of Trade Promotion Authority in the U.S. Senate today, Iowa Federation of Labor President, Ken Sagar issued the following statement:
“Workers across Iowa 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. Iowa, and other states, 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.
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.
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 Iowa congressional delegation to do the same.”
“Trade deals have wide-ranging impacts and shouldn’t be negotiated behind closed doors and then rubber-stamped.”
Public employee union contract negotiations are done behind closed doors, because they don’t want you (the taxpayer) to know what they are asking for, until after the fact. Some of them are only paying $20.00 a month towards their health insurance premiums.