We’re Holding Members of Congress Accountable for Their Votes on TPP

CWA members and retirees from Locals 7400 and 7470, along with activists from the Nebraska AFL-CIO, Nebraska Farmers Union and Bold Nebraska, rallied outside the University as President Obama followed his State of the Union speech with a visit to Omaha. The crowd of 8,000 people waiting to get into the stadium all filed past the "Stop the TPP" message.

Activists warned members of Congress that voting to “Fast Track” the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would have consequences in election year 2016. Now, because of their votes, Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ami Bera (D-CA), for starters are feeling the sting of being denied endorsements this election cycle.

By voting to Fast Track the TPP, Johnson and Bera sided with corporate lobbyists and big business instead of the constituents who asked for their help: workers, veterans, environmentalists, community activists and others.

In Texas, the Dallas AFL-CIO and Dallas unions made clear why they won’t endorse Johnson, said CWA District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings.

In California, Democrats are making sure that Bera is held accountable for his vote. Bera failed to reach the 70 percent threshold needed to secure the support of the Sacramento County Democratic Party, after earlier failing to get the endorsement of two local Democratic clubs.

“It’s an obvious showing that delegates in the district are not happy with Congressman Bera’s voting record,” said Robert Longer legislative and political director for CWA Local 9421. “About 40 percent of the delegates decided that no endorsement is better than endorsing,” he said.

In North Carolina, activists from CWA, Food & Water Watch, North Carolina AFL-CIO, Black Workers for Justice, Greenpeace, the A. Philip Randolph Institute and many more put Representatives GK Butterfield, David Price and other North Carolina legislators on notice that the TPP must be rejected.