Washington
Fair Trade
Coalition
The Washington Fair Trade Coalition (WFTC) is a coalition of over 60 Washington labor, faith, environmental, farmer, and social justice groups that are committed to creating a fair, balanced, and sustainable global trading system.
News & Analysis
We’re hiring!
Job posting: Director and Trade Justice Organizer
The Washington Fair Trade Coalition is seeking a talented organizer to direct the coalition’s work on behalf of people and the planet to achieve a fair global trading system.
The Director will be at the center of our campaign to influence NAFTA renegotiation, educating and mobilizing our coalition members and allied groups in these policy debates, securing support from elected officials, and building long-term vision and momentum for fair trade policies that put people and the planet above profits.
Apply today!
read moreTake Action
-POSTPONED- Public Hearing: A New NAFTA
–THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED and will NOT be happening September 19. Stay connected for more ways to get involved —
read moreSeattle area folks: Our allies have called for people to show up in support of DACA at this press conference at 2PM today. Please join in support if you are able!
Emergency Rally & Press Conference: Save DACA
September 5, 2017, 2:00pm - September 5, 2017, 6:00pm
Following President Trump's announcement ending the DACA program, a large coalition of undocumented immigrants, elected officials, and community, faith, business and labor leaders will join in solidarity to respond and demand a solution for millions of American families that leaves no one behind.
BREAKING: WA Fair Trade Coalition will be holding a hearing on NAFTA renegotiation on September 19!
Join us to hear from workers and immigrants who have been affected by NAFTA, and to send back with our elected officials to D.C. ideas of what we need to see in a New NAFTA that works for all of us!
Postponed! - A New Nafta: Putting Worker, Immigrant Voices First
Postponed! - A New Nafta: Putting Worker, Immigrant Voices First
September 19, 2017, 6:30pm - September 19, 2017, 10:00pm
--- THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED, it will NOT be happening on September 19 --- NAFTA negotiation is rolling at breakneck pace. What can we do to raise the profile of how NAFTA has impacted workers and immigrant workers in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, and demand a new NAFTA that works for all of us? Join us to hear from people in our community that have been impacted by NAFTA, and be part of a conversation on what must change! A New NAFTA: Putting Worker and Immigrant Voices First Tuesday, September 19, in SeaTac doors open at 6, hearing from 6:30-8PM IBEW 77 Hall, 19415 International Blvd Join the Washington Fair Trade Coalition to hear the testimonies of community members and advocates who have been impacted by NAFTA, and to send back to D.C. our priorities for a NAFTA replacement that works for all people. Sponsors: WA Fair Trade Coalition, WA State Labor Council AFL-CIO, Faith Action Network, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21, Community Alliance for Global Justice, Pierce County Central Labor Council, WA State Alliance for Retired Americans, Legacy of Equality Leadership and Organizing, Community to Community Development, Puget Sound Advocates for Retiree Action, Occupy Bellingham, Mangrove Action Project, Backbone Campaign, South Sound Democratic Socialists of America, Health Alliance International
NAFTA renegotiations are rolling, and despite strong talk and big promises, the public and press have been shut out. Meanwhile, hundreds of corporate lobbyists have been given special “cleared advisor” status that grants them privileged access to proposed texts and to the negotiators themselves.
We can still introduce accountability to the NAFTA renegotiation process -- but we have to get Congress to act!
Tweet at your U.S. Representative, urging them to demand transparency : www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/blog/2017/07/31/demand-transparency-in-the-nafta-negotiations/
Not on Twitter? Send an email instead: org.salsalabs.com/o/1034/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=22171
Last week, we joined the thousands gathered in Seattle to participate in the May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights #maydayseattle #maydaywa
TODAY: Climate Justice Contingent Pre-Rally and May Day Seattle March for Workers and Immigrant Rights!
SCHEDULE:
10AM Join us at the Judkins Skatepark for a short pre-rally with speakers on the intersections of climate change, workers rights, and immigrant rights. We will then march together as a "solidarity contingent" up the hill to the May Day Main Stage.
11AM Program and rally at Judkins Park as part of the Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights.
1PM We march! Join the May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights as we make our way to Seattle Center.
INFO for the climate justice pre-rally here: www.facebook.com/events/1111593638986085
INFO for the main Seattle May Day march here:
www.facebook.com/events/1600651136614959/
Climate Justice Contingent Pre-Rally for May Day Seattle
May 1, 2017, 10:00am - May 1, 2017, 1:00pm
Inseparable Struggles - Inseparable Solutions: Climate Justice Now! Deportation - Worker Exploitation - Climate Crisis: Same Root Cause! ***10 AM START TIME *** LOCATION ANNOUNCED: Judkins Skatepark - 2100 S Judkins St, Seattle, WA 98144 WHAT: Meeting at 10am for a short pre-rally and program of speakers on the intersections of Climate Justice with Immigrant and Workers Rights. Then we will march together as a "solidarity contingent" up the hill to the May Day Main Stage at Judkins Park to join with the Annual May Day March for Workers and Immigrant Rights RSVP for that "main" May Day March HERE: www.facebook.com/events/1600651136614959/ NOTE: We will be to Judkins Park by 11 am and are coordinating closely with the May 1st Action Coalition so you can march in both! WHY THIS MARCH: We know that the issues of climate change and immigration are intrinsically tied together. As these issues intersect deeply, our movements for just solutions must intersect as well. As climate change drives resource scarcity, increased government repression and conflict, migration accelerates globally. Yet often, the people forced to migrate contributed the least to the problem of climate change. We have to stand together. Join us on May 1st at 10 am! PLEASE SHARE THIS EVENT WITH FRIENDS AND COMRADES! Welcome input on this march, including recommendations for the program and starting location as it's still coming together. Art builds info coming soon on Sunday 4/16 and 4/23. PLS SHARE! EVENT CO-SPONSORS: People's Climate Movement - Seattle Greenpeace USA 350 Seattle Climate Solutions Sierra Club Washington Chapter BlueGreen Alliance – Washington State Washington State Labor Council Washington Environmental Council Washington Conservation Voters
Current Campaign
Free Trade Facts
The Impact Of Free Trade Policy In Washington State
Manufacturing Jobs Lost in Washington State
Jobs Lost due to the Rising Trade Deficit With Mexico
Current Free Trade policy has proven to be a losing battle for workers, farmers, and communities in WA State and around the world.
Why Should I Care?
- Mexican farmers unable to compete with cheaper American
corn lose their land and migrate to cities to find work in maquilladoras
(sweatshops) or to the US and WA State as farm workers
- 65,193 workers were certified under Trade Adjustment Assistance
1994-2011 as directly losing their job because of US trade policy (US DoL statistics).
positions associated with these jobs such as drivers, suppliers and
small businesses do not qualify and are not counted.
- Mexican farmers unable to compete with cheaper American
corn lose their land and migrate to cities to find work in maquilladoras (sweatshops) or to the US and WA State as farm workers
Fair Trade
Not Free Trade
What Would It Look Like?
For too long, U.S. trade policy has benefited transnational corporations at the expense of workers’ rights, consumer safety and the environment at home and abroad. The Washington Fair Trade Coalition, working with local, national, and international partners, aims to build a new model of trade, a model that supports our communities and our world. What could that look like?
