Despite Poor Economy, Congress Passes Job-Killing Free Trade Agreements

As we progress through one of the worst years for public workers in recent history in this country, President Obama saw fit to push several Bush-era agreements through Congress to do business with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, countries where public workers have little to no ability to organize or improve their lives.

According to one study, the Trade Agreements will lead to the loss of more than 200,000 American jobs in the next seven years.

The Free Trade Agreements with Korea and Panama are bad enough, but Congress also passed an agreement with Colombia, where it is illegal for public workers to unionize. More than 50 union organizers were killed in Columbia last year. Colombia accounts for half of all murdered unionists worldwide.

The members of Congress who voted the RIGHT way on the Colombian agreement were:

• Senator Frank R. Lautenberg*
  
• Senator Robert Menendez*
  
• Representative Robert E. Andrews, D-1st
  
• Representative Rush Holt, D-12th
  
• Representative Frank A. LoBiondo, R-2nd
  
• Representative Frank Pallone, D-6th
  
• Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr., D-8th*
  
• Representative Donald M. Paynem D-10th
  
• Representative Steven R. Rothman, D-9th*
  
• Representative Christopher H. Smith, R-4th 

* Denotes member of Congress who voted correctly on the Colombian FTA, but voted wrong on the Panamanian and/or Korean FTAs.

The members of Congress who voted the WRONG way on the Colombian agreement were:

• Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-11th
  
• Representative Scott Garrett, R-5th
  
• Representative Leonard Lance, R-7th
  
• Representative Jon Runyan, R-3rd
  
• Representative Albio Sires, D-13th

You can use this online tool to find out if your Senator or Representative voted for this job killing agreement and send them a message.