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Jobs, Trade & Democracy Act, And A State Senate Resolution Asking Congress Not To Renew Fast Track Authority For The United States President

Fourteen Local Union members went to the State Capitol of Albany, New York to lobby on worker issues.   The USW members teamed up with the United Auto Workers and met with numerous NYS Senate and Assembly members asking for co-sponsorship on Labor’s issues.  

The primary focus of the meetings was the Jobs, Trade & Democracy Act.  This Act would require consent of the state legislature, not the Governor alone, in binding the State to international trade agreements.  It would also establish State Legislative Points of Contact to serve as official liaisons with the Governor’s office and the Federal Government on trade policy.   

The second major lobbying issue was the proposed Safeguarding Federalism in Trade Resolution.   This Resolution is addressed to the President of the United States, the President of the Senate (VP Cheney), the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States, and to the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Susan Schwab.  The Resolution states as follows:

We, the Senate and Assembly of the State of New York, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

a         Whereas, democratic, accountable governance in the States generally, and specifically the authority granted to the legislative branch by New York’s Constitution, is being undermined by international, commercial, and trade rules enforced by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and established by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and is further threatened by similar provisions in an array of pending trade agreements;

The resolution goes on to say more and includes a number of resolutions that transcend into a more labor-friendly agreement and also gives the State Legislature input provisions.

The previous lobbing efforts by the USW WNY Legislative Committee have had a huge affect on the Workers Compensation Reform Bill which was signed into law by the Governor of New York on Monday, March 12, 2007.  This bill has a vast list of improvements that will benefit not only the workers that are affected, but also the business community.  

Another issue where we have taken up the fight is the Unemployment Insurance Reform Bill.