Unions, Activists Protest Against Trans-Pacific Partnership

Incensed by the secretive nature of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement negotiations, organizations and individuals from across the state will convene at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 9 at the The Roosevelt 2.0, 1812 N. 15th Street, Ybor City, Tampa, FL for a Statewide Forum and March Against the TPP.

While there is little public awareness around the TPP, the Obama administration has announced that it hopes to finish the deal by October and to use the Presidential Trade Authority to bypass congressional input on the agreement. While being promoted as a “free trade agreement,” the TPP will impact numerous issues as varied as off-shoring of jobs, affordability of medication, internet freedom, food labeling and inspection, and environmental protections. Florida Against the Trans-Pacific Partnership is a grassroots effort that has come together to host this important rally.

Scheduled Speakers:
Anita Stewart – Green Party, Hillsborough County Soil and Water Conservation Board
Lorraine Tuliano – President, Central Florida Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Terry Weeks – former Chairperson of the Sun-Coast Sierra Club
Steve Wisniewski – President, Communications Workers of America, Local 3108
Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign
Coalition of Immolakee Workers
Student Farm worker Alliance
Dominique Aulisio – community activist

Rally organizers call upon Florida representatives in the U.S. House and Senate to block President Obama’s request to use the Presidential Trade Authority, or “Fast Track,” to slide this trade deal through Congress. To date, Congress members and the public have been denied access to the text that is being negotiated. Presidential Trade Authority will allow a rubber stamp vote on the deal, meaning they will not see the negotiating text until four years after it has been ratified!

From the two chapters of the TPP that have been leaked to the public, it is clear that the deal is a tool to increase power for multinational corporations while harming small businesses, small farmers, and the public.

One of the most egregious components of the TPP is a tribunal that will allow multinational corporations to sue sovereign nations when they are deemed to impede profits, overriding any existing national legislation to protect labor rights, human rights, public health, and the environment. The TPP also includes provisions to extend name-brand pharmaceutical patents, blocking access to generic drugs. There is also growing concern around provisions that threaten U.S. manufacturing and Buy American procurement preferences, as well as the undermining of internet freedoms and privacy.

In advance of the 16th round of TPP negotiations scheduled for March 4-11 in Singapore, more than 300 civil society organizations have signed on to a letter to Congress criticizing the secrecy of the negotiations and calling for transparency and protections for consumers, workers, and the environment in the agreement. The AFL-CIO also released an executive council statement on February 27 questioning the TPP as a pathway to further job loss and an increased trade deficit. On March 9th, Florida community members and organizations will add their voices to the mounting national resistance to the secretive TPP negotiations.

Parking is available at 1 block South of the Roosevelt.  A carpool will be leaving from Orlando at 9:45am from the IBEW union hall, 820 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803.