Labor unions are coming out in strong opposition to President Barack Obama's fast-track trade agenda with a national and international campaign.
The AFL-CIO is launching its "week of action" on trade, which will include 50 grassroots events across the country and around the world,
The Hill is reporting.
The AFL-CIO will begin with a rally on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, which will include several Democratic lawmakers, labor union leaders, union members, and other activists.
"The week of action will increase the political momentum and grassroots opposition to fast track the same week Congress is expected to begin consideration of a trade promotion authority bill," the AFL-CIO said.
Lawmakers expected to attend include Democratic Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Al Franken of Minnesota and Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Keith Ellison of Minnesota.
There will also be letters, phone calls, petitions, and door-to-door canvassing as part of the campaign.
"The grassroots movement against fast track is nationwide — and it’s not just labor," said Celeste Drake, the AFL-CIO’s trade policy specialist.
"It’s folks from the environmental, consumer, faith, farm, business and good-governance communities as well, and we’re having an impact."
Obama wants congressional approval for "fast track" authority to use when it comes to large-scale trade agreements with countries in the Asian-Pacific region and Europe. He contends that such authority would make agreements easier to execute so that trade partners do not have to worry that Congress will change the final terms.
The deal is supported by Republican lawmakers, but several Democrats oppose the deal out of fear that it will lead to the outsourcing of jobs.
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