Fair Trade or BusTour to oppose ‘Fast Track’ on Feb. 17

The debate over undemocratic “Fast Track” trade authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other pending trade deals is coming to a head right now. Several members of Congress from the Pacific Northwest remain undecided on this critical issue and need to hear from their constituents.

To voice opposition to Fast Track and the disastrous impacts it would have on the Pacific Northwest’s economy, environment and public health, the Washington Fair Trade Coalition and its allies in the labor, environmental, public health, and human rights movements are getting on a bus called the “Blue-Green Machine” on Tuesday, Feb. 17 for an action-packed day of rallies, press events and briefings.

All union members and community supporters are urged to join in these important events:

9:30 a.m. in Mt. Vernon — Rep. DelBene: Stand with Washington against Fast Track! — 204 W. Montgomery St., Mount Vernon  — Constituents rally against Fast Track at the office of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene for Washington’s food suppliers, good-paying jobs, and a healthy environment.

2:30 p.m. in Tacoma — Rep. Kilmer: Port Workers Oppose Fast Track, Will You? — Fireman’s Park, A St. & S. 9th St.; Tacoma — A press event and rally overlooking the Port of Tacoma with port workers and other constituents denouncing the Trans-Pacific Partnership and calling on Congressman Derek Kilmer to oppose Fast Track.

6:30 p.m. in Olympia — Briefing on the TPP’s Threat to Washington State Sovereignty — Wash. State Labor Council Building, 906 Columbia St. NW, Suite 330, Olympia — A happy hour briefing with partners from The Evergreen State College and state legislature on ways in which leaked Trans-Pacific Partnership provisions threaten state and local policies on the environment, consumer safety, public procurement and more.

The Fair Trade or BusTour continues south on Wednesday, Feb. 18 with stops in Beaverton, Portland, and Salem to urge Oregon’s members of Congress to oppose Fast Track.

Click here to RSVP or get more details at the Fair Trade or BusTour’s Facebook page. For more information or to volunteer, please email Gillian Locascio of the Washington Fair Trade Coalition or call her at 206-227-3079.