For Immediate Release

Contact Heidi Mitchell 603-289-6333

Statement by Maine AFL-CIO President Ed GorhamOn Introduction of the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act

June 4, 2008

I commend Congressmen Mike Michaud and Tom Allen today for introducing the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act.  Fixing broken trade policy is a vital step in turning around our failing economy. Reps. Michaud and Allen have once again demonstrated their leadership by promoting the protection of good jobs in Maine and across the country, and promoting workers’ rights around the world.

The TRADE Act is a key step to reforming our unfair trade policies and creating a new path forward that prioritizes good jobs, workers rights, healthy communities and environmental protections.  Working families in Maine are all too aware of the urgent need to fix our flawed trade policies and put good jobs and domestic growth at the center of a meaningful global economic strategy.

The Maine AFL-CIO is proud to support the TRADE Act and the efforts of Congressmen Mike Michaud and Tom Allen, the Maine Fair Trade Campaign and its coalition partners.  Restructuring U.S. trade policy so that it works for working families is long overdue.

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