IAM International President Bob Martinez made the following statement about the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the reopening of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):
“The IAM is heartened by today’s announcement that the U.S. is withdrawing from the TPP and is seeking to reopen NAFTA. The move signals the beginning of changing a culture that has for years encouraged companies to ship American jobs overseas.
“While this is an important first step in stopping corporations from offshoring good manufacturing jobs to countries like China and Mexico, the real work is still ahead. Establishing a new trade policy that actually works for working people must include a number of essential changes that are fair and just.
“The IAM and our powerful coalition of labor and other allied groups will continue the fight to create new trade and economic rules that are fair. These policies must ensure fair pay, safe and healthy working conditions, and protect the environment.”
The IAM is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, shipbuilding, woodworking and other industries. Visit goIAM.org for more information about the IAM.
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