Battle against TPP heads to Atlanta

Trade officials involved in the negotiations of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) may believe they are nearing the end of the process with meetings in Atlanta this week. But the Teamsters and other fair trade allies aren't going down without a fight.

Beginning tomorrow, unions members, environmentalists, health care advocates and others will take to streets of the Peach City as well as to the Internet to stress why this Pacific Rim trade agreement is bad. The pact, still largely a secret to the public, will result in thousands of U.S. jobs being shipped overseas, falling wages and unsafe food and products being shipped to our shores. It could also raise drug prices while hurting the environment.

Dissent remains rampant in this country and around the globe. This morning, for example, six House Democrats asked the U.S. State Department's inspector general to look into what led to Malaysia's upgrade on the agency's human trafficking list. Many believe the improved rating allowed fast track to proceed through Congress in June, The Hill newspaper reported:

The lawmakers said that given the significance of the report in helping to fight global human trafficking, they want to know if there was any request by officials at the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Commerce Department, or any other federal agency to influence or change Malaysia's standing in the latest report. 

They also want information about whether Malaysia’s promotion in status was “unduly influenced” by political considerations instead of unbiased expert analysis.

Meanwhile, Canadian dairy farmers brought their tractors and cows to Ottawa today to protest dairy concessions contained in the TPP.

As the Teamsters have said before, there are just no good reason for everyday Americans to support this agreement. First and foremost is the deal won't create any new jobs here. That is significant and can't be pushed aside by proponents. After all, TPP backers like to insist it will result in new work for Americans, although they can never quite explain how. There's a reason why their responses are so vague.

There is something for everyone to lose if the TPP moves forward. The U.S. and participating nations should keep that in mind as they mull this deal. Can they in good conscience say it will benefit the citizens of the world?

The answer is no.

UPS Teamster hero saves woman's life

UPS driver and Local 728 member David Bryant has spent much of his adult life in public service. A vet who served as a Marine in Afghanistan, he is trained to assist others. And earlier this week, that training helped save the life of an elderly woman.

David Bryant on the job at UPS.

Bryant was delivery packages in suburban Atlanta when he noticed a car pulled to the side of the road. When he approached the vehicle, he found an 83-year-old woman choking on some food. He then put his skills to work, performing the Heimlich maneuver on the victim which helped her dislodge the food. The woman was then taken to a local hospital

He told Atlanta's Fox 5 channel that he isn't a hero, but we at the Teamsters couldn't be prouder. He's just another example of the fine brothers and sisters who make up America's strongest union!

Today's Teamster News 02.01.12

Indiana poised to enter right-to-work era as unions prep protest amid Super Bowl festivities  Associated Press   ...The Indiana Senate scheduled a Wednesday morning vote on the bill that, if passed, would be sent to Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has said he will sign it as soon as it arrives on his desk...
Prison privatization plan debated in Senate  Associated Press   ...Faced with opposition from Republicans and Democrats alike, Senate President Mike Haridopolos cut off debate Tuesday on a South Florida prison privatization plan that once seemed likely to be approved and now is being harshly criticized...
In Atlanta, Housing Woes Reflect Nation’s Pain  New York Times   ....In November, prices of single-family homes were down close to 12 percent compared with a year earlier, the largest decline among major metropolitan areas, according to data released on Tuesday in the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Index...
Romney’s gift from Congress  Reuters   ...The idea that someone could pay zero gift taxes on contributions to a $100 million trust fund may surprise people who have heard arguments that the wealthy are overburdened by gift and estate taxes. But the Romneys’ gift-tax avoidance strategy is perfectly legal...
The Perils of 2012  Project Syndicate   ...The pragmatic commitment to growth that one sees in Asia and other emerging markets today stands in contrast to the West’s misguided policies, which, driven by a combination of ideology and vested interests, almost seem to reflect a commitment not to grow...
Norwood CertainTeed settles contract with Teamsters Local 25  Norwood Patch   ...The employees voted overwhelmingly, 69-0 to accept the contract offer and will be returning to work today with full shingle and granule production beginning at that time...

Atlanta mayor on TV in Teamster jacket!



 Brother Ben Speight from Local 728 sends us this tremendous link to an Atlanta news broadcast in which Mayor Kasim Reed is wearing a Teamsters jacket.

The mayor stopped by CBS's Atlanta studio on Monday to talk about the city's snow removal after a huge snowstorm hit the city. Brother Speight explains how he got the jacket:

Mayor Reed visited our local's general membership meeting following his election victory in 09 to show his appreciation for our support. He asked for some Teamster gear. So we gave him this jacket.  It says 'Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta' embroidered on it.

Watch the whole thing here.