Yesterday afternoon on Capitol Hill, labor leaders came together with Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representative Michael Michaud (D-ME) to announce the introduction of the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act.

The TRADE ACT would potentially fix many of the flaws of the current trade regime. According to Change to Win (which had a large presence at the press conference yesterday), "[The Trade Act] would provide a detailed list of what types of provisions will be required for approval of new trade deals, and what types of provisions must be omitted. 

Teamster General President Hoffa, who along with President Larry Cohen of the Communications Workers of America addressed the audience of press people and labor activists.

“At long last, we can see an end to 14 years of disastrous trade deals,” President Hoffa said. “The TRADE Act would make sure that the benefits of trade go to workers, not just Wall Street.

“It sets new rules for global trade that create good jobs and improve working conditions everywhere. The TRADE Act lays out the foundation of how a trade agreement should be negotiated, and what it can and cannot include.

“Finally, we can have fair trade that workers everywhere deserve.” 

President Cohen said, "I'm pleased to join Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator Byron Dorgan, Representative Michael Michaud, Representative Linda Sanchez, Teamsters President James Hoffa and others here today to support a much needed new direction for our nation's trade policy. That new approach, the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment Act, (TRADE Act) will help restore fair trade policy that will give worker, farmer, consumer and citizen interests, not just corporate interests, the importance they deserve." 

One of the things that stands out for me with the introduction of the TRADE ACT is who all is coming out in support of it; here is a list I acquired at the press conference:

International Brotherhood of Teamsters
AFL-CIO
Change to Win
Communication Workers of America
International Brotherhood of Machinists
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
UNITE-HERE
Sierra Club
National Farmers Union
National Family Farm Coalition
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Public Citizen
Citizens Trade Campaign