Coalition of Activists Continued Fast Track Fight until Last Vote Counted

In the run-up to the U.S. Senate's vote this week on cloture for Fast Track authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, CWA activists and grassroots partners across the country rallied in the districts and outside the offices of Democratic Senators, some of whom turned their back on working families.

On Monday activists from CWA Local 3122 delivered over 8,000 "No Fast-Track" petitions to Sen. Bill Nelson's (D) district office in Florida. Police and building security refused to let the activists, constituents of Nelson, in the building.

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Members of IUE-CWA Local 86821 and other allies visited Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill's office this week to urge her to vote no on cloture for Fast Track.

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CWA District 7 locals, Food & Water Watch, SEIU, AFL-CIO and 350 Colorado all turned out folks to call on Sen. Michael Bennet (D) to do the right thing. Activists encouraged drivers to "Honk if you want Colorado Senator Michael Bennet to protect our climate and jobs." Although Bennet's staffer maintained that he was still undecided, he ended up betraying his constituents by voting for cloture.

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CWA activists and allies in Maryland raised the "No Fast Track" message at the office of Senator Ben Cardin.

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In the run up to the vote, activists also appeared at the offices of Senators Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), all of whom refused to listen to constituents and activists who have supported their campaigns.

Sen. Warren: Trade Agreements Should Benefit All Americans, Not Industry Only

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) proposed, in an opinion-editorial published in the Boston Globe this week, a trade policy that produces a good deal for all Americans – not just for a handful of big corporations. "Here's a realistic starting point: Fix the way we enforce trade agreements to ensure a level playing field for everyone."