Labor Leaders Win Strong Fair-Trade Platform Language

ORLANDO—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Lee Saunders and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers President Bob Martinez on the Democratic Party platform committee’s adoption of the Saunders amendment on fair trade:

“The Democratic Party made history today on the crucial issue of fair trade. We adopted language in our platform that declares our support for working families by setting the highest possible standards for worker and environmental protections and significantly strengthening enforcement and accountability tools.

“We are proud to oppose trade agreements that do not support good American jobs, raise wages and improve our national security.

“This amendment is a clear statement of where we stand on the Trans-Pacific Partnership and all other trade deals, past and future: We stand with American workers and against bad trade deals.

“Even in a tense negotiating environment, our bold statement in support of fair trade standards for working people passed overwhelmingly, by a count of 117 to 64.”