WASHINGTON, DC – AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is urging union members to lobby against the new NAFTA.
Trumka believes the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA would harm workers just as the treaty it replaced. Trumka is touring through states that have been hardest hit by anti-worker trade rules and agreements like NAFTA. His tour includes Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, swing states President Donald Trump won in 2016. Several hundred thousand Americans lost jobs between 1994 and 2016 under NAFTA.
“For decades, NAFTA has benefited corporations and hurt the rest of us,” said Trumka. “So, I’ll be meeting with workers to discuss how the new NAFTA is more of the same, and why we should all demand better.”
All three countries will have to ratify the USMCA trade pact in order for it to take effect. Because of Congress’ Fourth of July recess, a bill to ratify the USMCA can’t be introduced until July 9. With a presidential election around the corner, the White House wants the deal approved by the end of summer.
