For Immediate Release
June 12, 2015
Contact: SG Sarmiento, sgsarmiento@ndlon.org
NDLON REACTION TO HOUSE VOTE TO BLOCK TPP: “A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF GRASSROOTS EFFORTS”
Los Angeles, CA–In response to today’s vote to block TPP in the US House, Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), made the following statement:
“Today’s vote in the US House reflects the concerns of working people across America: these corporate trade deals aren’t working. This fight against Fast Track was led by a broad labor movement that includes Worker Centers from across the US that have stood shoulder to shoulder with the AFL-CIO and its affiliates.
“It was shameful to see the passage of the customs bill that contained an anti-immigrant trade negotiating objective—inserted by House leadership to gain votes from its right wing—but it was encouraging to see Democrats speaking out in opposition to that provision. Trade agreements should ensure that all workers—regardless of national origin or immigrant status—can exercise the rights to organize and bargain and have access to strong remedies when those rights are denied. Today’s vote was a testament to the power of grassroots efforts, but it’s not over. We are ready to continue the fight with the rest of the labor and immigrant rights movements to ensure that there are no more trade deals that disregard immigrant workers and their families.”
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