[Antiracism] [Workers Rights] Peru FTA now in Senate

[WMass Jobs With Justice]

Dear Social & Economic Justice Advocates,

Tho we lost the recent vote in the House of Representatives, eight out of
ten Mass. Congressmen, including John Olver, voted "no" on the Peru Free
Trade Agreement, mainly due to input they received from their districts,
despite all the other pressure they were under to support it. The fight
isn't over - now the Senators need to hear from us.  The Senate debate on
the Peru FTA is scheduled to begin late next week and the final vote set for
Tuesday, Dec. 11. 
 
Sen. Kerry is, unfortunately, leaning toward supporting the NAFTA expansion
to Peru while Kennedy is leaning toward opposing, but neither office has
confirmed their position. Please contact them and strongly urge that they
vote "NO" to expanding NAFTA's failed policies. 

Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO Pres. Rick Brown has sent the following letter to our
Senators.  Please adapt it and send them a similar letter, as soon as
possible.  More info at http://www.citizen.org/trade/afta/ and attached.

Fax numbers: 
Edward M. Kennedy, (202) 224-2417 (email him at
http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm);  
John F. Kerry, (202) 224-8525 (email him at
http://kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm).

Dear Senator ..., 

	We very much appreciate and continue to look forward to your
leadership on the issues that matter most to Massachusetts working families.
	In that regard, we are writing on behalf of our membership in the
state of Massachusetts to urge you to vote “no” on the U.S.–Peru Free Trade
Agreement, HR 3688.
	As you know Labor was strongly opposed to the Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA).  Unfortunately, despite efforts to address some
areas of concern, the most damaging provisions that CAFTA contained are
still replicated in the Bush-negotiated Peru Agreement. 
	The Peru Agreement builds on the same flawed NAFTA/CAFTA model.  The
Peru FTA does not remove bans on anti-offshoring and includes the
detrimental agriculture provisions and NAFTA’s “Chapter 11” foreign investor
privileges – giving foreign companies extraordinary rights to challenge our
environmental and other laws.  
	Due to its provisions, the Peru Agreement is likely to continue
suppressing U.S. wage levels, promoting offshoring of jobs, and exposing our
environmental and health laws to attack in foreign tribunals.  It will also
have devastating consequences for workers and farmers in Peru, effects we
still see today in Mexico from NAFTA. Consequently, the Peru FTA does not
offer the kind of policy that our state needs to ensure that the benefits of
trade are widespread.  We urge you to oppose the extension of CAFTA-style
trade rules to Peru.
	We look forward to hearing your views on this important matter. 
	Sincerely,

Please send your version of this letter today.  Thank you!

In solidarity,

Jon Weissman
(413) 827-0301

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