/images/banner.jpg)
3309 Dibrell Dr.
Plano, Texas 75023
469-835-6211 (tel)
866-695-8776 (fax)
info (at) texasfairtrade (dot) org
Plano, Texas 75023
469-835-6211 (tel)
866-695-8776 (fax)
info (at) texasfairtrade (dot) org
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3309 Dibrell Dr. Plano, Texas 75023 469-835-6211 (tel) 866-695-8776 (fax) info (at) texasfairtrade (dot) org |
     
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Across the country dozens of fair trade candidates were successful in their bid for office. According to an analysis by Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, there was a net gain of 31 House and Senate seats for the fair trade cause. In addition, there were 15 Congress Members with either a 100% voting record for fair trade or who are co-sponsors of the TRADE Act that faced tough challenges and yet prevailed. In Texas, Congressman Ciro Rodriguez won in a tough fight against Lyle Larson. Congressman Rodriguez voted against the Peru Free Trade Agreement and is a co-sponsor of the TRADE Act. This sends a strong message that voting fair trade can be a winning strategy in Texas. The election of Senator Barack Obama also signals a shift nationally that bodes well for changing course on trade policy. President-Elect Obama committed, during the campaign, to renegotiate NAFTA, as well as to make other changes to trade policy to protect jobs, food safety, and the environment. See the Texas Fair Trade Coalition questionnaire that Obama filled out in March for details on his commitments. Our challenge now will be to hold him and members of Congress accountable to their commitments so that we can successfully fix existing bad trade agreements, and make sure future agreements are fair for workers and the environment. It is well past time that we ended the devastating NAFTA-era and lay the ground work for trade rules that promote the interest of workers and protect the environment. Trade was one of the defining issues of this election because it shows which side politicians come down on -- for the people or for big corporations. The Texas Fair Trade Coalition held forums and town halls across the state to point out the harmful effects of free trade, and to show that in this key moment in our state and our nation's history, ordinary people are organizing and speaking out for a fair trade future. EL PASO Stories from NAFTA's Wake: A Town Hall on Trade Tuesday, September 16th Dozens of community members came out for this town hall on trade issues. We heard from a number of workers who lost their jobs due to NAFTA or whose current jobs are threatened. Check out the TV news report discussing the town hall. And read the articles on it in the El Paso Times and El Diario El Paso. HOUSTON Leading the Way to a Fair Trade Future: A Town Hall Discussion Wednesday, October 1 Congressman Gene Green joined with Houston AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Shaw, Deacon Sam Dunning of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and Ella Tyler of the Citizen Environmental Coalition to discuss the need to put an end to NAFTA-style trade policies, and the importance of supporting the TRADE Act as a way to put forth a new fair trade agenda. AUSTIN Fighting For a Fair Trade Future: 2008 Community Forum Saturday, October 18th People from local labor, environmental, family farm, and community groups joined with many concerned citizens to discuss how we can fight for a fair trade future. Panel and workshops looked at trade's impact on family farmers and consumers, workers locally and globally, and our Texas environment. Highlights included a presentation by Chie Abad, a former Saipan sweatshop worker. Dozens of people took action by writing letters to Congressman Lloyd Doggett urging him to co-sponsor the TRADE Act.  On June 4, over 50 Members of Congress, including Representatives Al Green (D-9) and Gene Green (D-29), introduced a new bill that lays out a fair trade agenda for the future. The bill was spearheaded by Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The TRADE Act (Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment) lays out a framework for how we can turn our free trade policies into fair trade policies, and how we can create a more democratic, just approach to globalization.
Specifically, the TRADE Act:
Labor unions and human rights groups have called on the U.S. Congress to oppose passage of the Colombia FTA because of the incredible number of murders of labor leaders across Colombia. More than 2500 such murders have been documented since 1986, while less than 1% of the perpetrators have been successfully prosecuted. Under these conditions, it is impossible for labor conditions to meet International Labor Organization standards. These murders are continuing. There have been at least 25 killings of union leaders so far in 2008. The response of the Colombian government has been woefully insufficent as an AFL-CIO report from January illustrates. And new information continues to come to light about the connections between the right-wing paramilitary groups that carry out the killings and the Colombian government. Learn more about the harmful impact of the Colombia FTA and contact your Congress Members today to make sure that they are publicly committed to opposing it. |
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On May 21st, TFTC and other groups testified before the Texas House Committee on Border and International Affairs. For a review of the impact of trade on Texas, see the 
In cities across the state, we are helping spearhead local coalitions to pass city and county sweatfree ordinances. These ordinances require government institutions to ensure that they are not using taxpayer dollars to purchase uniforms and other garments made in sweatshops.