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Reps. Boyle and DeLauro Joined By Labor Leaders To Advocate For Fair Trade

October 18, 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) joined local Philadelphia labor leaders today to condemn unfair trade practices that have tipped the scales against the American working men and women and have decimated middle class families.

"For years, we've seen unfair trade practices cost foreign workers their rights and dignity, and cost U.S. workers their jobs," said Congressman Boyle. "We've seen CEO pay skyrocket while wages are stagnant, as firms struggle to compete with low foreign costs. And we've seen businesses and factories – like the Nabisco plant right here in Philadelphia – shut their doors. If United States businesses and workers are going to have a chance to compete, we must level the playing field and bring unfair trade practices to an end."

"Over the last two decades, the United States has conferred extensive new rights to corporations in numerous free trade agreements—with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as the most prominent example—at the expense of workers," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "The damage from those trade deals are easy to see, from the Nabisco plant in Philadelphia to the Bic plant, the Phillips facility, and Ansonia Copper and Brass in my own district. Outsourcing is destroying American workers' livelihoods, gutting manufacturing, and erasing millions of good-paying jobs. That is why Democrats are continuing to fight for trade deals that contain strong, enforceable labor and environmental standards, raise wages for all workers, and remove incentives for companies to continue outsourcing good-paying jobs."

Congressman Boyle is a founder and co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, a group focused on addressing wage stagnation, job insecurity, trade, offshoring, and dwindling career opportunities for America's working people.

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro serves in the Democratic leadership as Co-Chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and she is the Ranking Member on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, where she oversees out nation's investments in education, health, and employment.

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