TEAMSTER LEADERS CARRY ‘NO PNTR’ MESSAGE TO CAPITOL HILL
May 12, 2000

"This is the latest effort in our fight to stop Congress from passing this flawed trade agreement," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa."In district offices and on Capitol Hill, Teamsters are meeting with their elected officials in record numbers to oppose PNTR for China."

More than 50 local union leaders from across the country in Washington for the TLA, spoke to members of Congress today.

In an overwhelming show of opposition, more than 5,000 Teamsters from across the country rallied in Washington, D.C. on April 12. The rank-and-file members then lobbied Congress to vote no on PNTR for China. Since then, Teamsters have extended their lobbying efforts to congressional districts across the country, highlighting the importance of defeating permanent trade status for Communist China.

Communist China should not be rewarded with PNTR because of predicted American job losses, China’s atrocious record of human rights abuses, use of forced labor, and violations of past trade agreements.

"The cost of bad trade deals continues to have a debilitating affect on regular working families," said Hoffa. "Our members will not sit quietly while this Congress ships more of their jobs overseas. Our voices will be heard in this debate. And we will be heard in the November elections."

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.5 million hard working men and women throughout the United States and Canada.