-
News and Updates
May 1, 2015
UFCW President Perrone: With all due respect to President Obama, TPP will hurt hard-working families
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Marc Perrone, International President of the largest private sector union in the nation, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), sent letters to all 535 members of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate urging them to listen to hard-working families and oppose fast tracking the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Perrone also directly responds to the assertion made by President Obama, and others, that critics of TPP and Fast Track do not understand the agreement.
“With all due respect to President Obama and the elected politicians who support this trade deal, this agreement will hurt hard-working families, workers, and our shared future,” said Perrone in the letter to Congress.
He further adds, “In actuality, we understand the harsh reality that workers and families will again pay the price.“
The letter details why fast tracking the TPP would make life more difficult for hard-working American families.
The following are excerpts from the letter:
“For over three decades, fast track trade deals have brought broken promises–not prosperity –to hard-working families. During the recent era of free trade agreements families have endured lost jobs, stagnant wages and rising levels of income inequality.
“In the face of these truths, we are told by those who support this bad trade deal that we are misunderstanding the positives. In actuality, we understand the harsh reality that workers and families will again pay the price.”
“For Members of Congress to accept a trade deal that will govern 40% of the world’s GDP with no opportunity to make changes that would ensure the interests of hard-working families isn’t just wrong–it’s dangerous.”
“Given the impact these agreements will have on our nation, we need more debate on trade, not less.”
“At a time when our elected leaders should be focusing on raising wages, creating more opportunity, and addressing income inequality, ‘fast track’ trade promotion authority accomplishes the opposite. With that in mind, we strongly urge you to vote no.”
The full letter to members of the House and Senate is pasted below.
###
Join the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) online at www.ufcw.org
We are 1.3 million families standing together to build an economy that every hard-working family deserves.
www.facebook.com/UFCWinternational @UFCW
Dear Members of Congress:
On behalf of the 1.3 million hard-working men and women of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), I urge you to oppose “fast track” trade promotion authority. With all due respect to President Obama and the elected politicians who support this trade deal, this agreement will hurt hard-working families, workers, and our shared future.
For over three decades, fast track trade deals have brought broken promises–not prosperity–to hard-working families. During the recent era of free trade agreements families have endured lost jobs, stagnant wages and rising levels of income inequality. In the face of these truths, we are told by those who support this bad trade deal that we are misunderstanding the positives. In actuality, we understand the harsh reality that workers and families will again pay the price.
Fast track has been used to push through some of our nation’s most destructive trade agreements and the TPP may be the worst yet. It would roll back regulations that could be construed as a “barrier to trade,” which includes environmental, consumer, and labor protections. And it has been put together in secret, with the advice and counsel of hundreds of corporate special interests but absolutely no input from labor or other groups that fight on behalf of the working and middle classes.
For Members of Congress to accept a trade deal that will govern 40% of the world’s GDP with no opportunity to make changes that would ensure the interests of hard-working families isn’t just wrong – it’s dangerous. Given the impact these agreements will have on our nation, we need more debate on trade, not less.
At a time when our elected leaders should be focusing on raising wages, creating more opportunity, and addressing income inequality, “fast track” trade promotion authority accomplishes the opposite.
With that in mind, we strongly urge you to vote no.
Sincerely,
Anthony M. Perrone
International President
May 1, 2015
Celebrating UFCW Moms: Local 655 Member Fights Right To Work; Stands Up for Union Rights that Gave Her and Her Daughter Better Life
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, we couldn’t think of a better time to celebrate the great work that UFCW mothers do, each and every day!
One such union mom, Theresa Hester of UFCW Local 655, recently shared her story of how the union has changed her life in a testimony before the Missouri State Senate to explain why Right to Work laws are wrong:
In 1998, Theresa moved to St. Louis after graduating from high school. That year, she established three goals her herself: continue her education, provide a better living for herself and her young daughter, and get off government assistance.
For a few years, she moved from job to job, but none allowed her to be able to support her daughter the way she wanted – until 2003 when she started working at Shop ‘n Save and became a member of UFCW Local 655.
Unfortunately, that same year, she and her co-workers were forced to go on strike in order to save their healthcare and benefits. Theresa experienced union solidarity first-hand, saying “we were out there, walking day and night, fighting for the things we needed to support our families. The thing that stood out to me was how united we were on our common issues during that period. I realized the real power of a union is how people come together.”
Theresa has come a long way since that first eye-opening experience and has now been a Local 655 member for 12 years. She says that being a union member has allowed her to raise her daughter in a good environment, and have the flexible scheduling she needs to attend PTA meetings or participate in after school activities with her daughter. “There’s no greater feeling than knowing you can tell your child that you’ll be at their performance, or Christmas party, or whatever the case may be,” she says.
Additionally, Theresa’s union job has enabled her to meet the goals she set for herself years ago. She now lives in North St. Louis in a home she owns and is able to afford. Not only does she no longer need government assistance, she was able to pay for and attend accounting school.
“I know personally the benefits of having a union job and what it does for hardworking families,” Theresa told the state Senate during her testimony. “I’m free to work any place I choose.”
That’s why Theresa has been speaking out about Right to Work laws in her state. When she talks to her co-workers and friends about the legislation, they are very concerned because the proposed law is so confusing, deceptive, and has such potential to hurt hard-working families.
Theresa argues that legislators should be discussing raising the minimum wage, creating jobs that pay living wages, and investing in education and infrastructure. She knows that Right to Work laws create unsafe workplaces, weaken worker power, and diminish the likelihood of workers having a pension or healthcare.
“Because I have a union job, I sleep easier at night knowing I have great benefits, better working conditions, great healthcare, and a voice that someone will hear,” Theresa says. She gives credit to her local union (UFCW Local 655) and the contract she and her co-workers help to negotiate for making that possible.
Our union family wouldn’t be what it is without your brave, strong, and united voices. Are you a UFCW mom, or a member with a story to share? Tell us at http://www.ufcw.org/resources/members/share-your-story/.