How Sweet This Protest Will Be Thanks to Ben & Jerry’s

5678314449_c8b40206e7 — Labor Day Rally Image by peopleworld

On Labor Day, as trade representatives gather in Chicago to negotiate the proposed Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement, Chicagoans representing dozens of local community organizations and national allies will rally and march to demand a deal that’s fair to working families in Chicago.

Join in on Monday, September 5, 2011, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning at Balbo Ave. and Columbus Drive and ending outside the Hilton Hotel Chicago at 720 S. Michigan Ave., the meeting site for the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement negotiations taking place September 6 through 14, 2011.

The organizers are calling this “A Rally and March to Demand that Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement representatives deliver a FAIR DEAL or NO DEAL.”

The rally begins at 11 a.m. in Grant Park (Balbo and Columbus, Grove 5). Speakers include:

Jorge Ramirez, President, Chicago Federation of Labor
Jim Robinson, Director United Steelworkers District 7
Steve Hunley, SEIU 73 – School Bus Driver
Michael Tikili of HealthGAP
Laura Garza, SEIU Local 1
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream

At 11:45 a.m. the group will march toward the Hilton, where they will continue their demonstration, calling for fair trade in the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement. Many labor groups, including those sending speakers, do not hold that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was fair to workers. According to Standup Chicago representative Catherine Murrell, the aim of the rally, march, demonstration, and postcard distribution, is “To prevent a NAFTA-style agreement that will outsource the jobs of the future, and to demand that working families have a voice in negotiations. Protestors will insist upon a FAIR DEAL for Chicago workers, instead of a sweetheart deal for big banks and corporations. Demonstrators will call for a trade deal that protects jobs, the health of families, the environment and basic human rights, rejecting the business-as-usual trade model that favors the interests of rich corporations over the needs of working people at home and abroad.”

The marchers will be treated to Free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream at 12:30 p.m.

There are a series of actions taking place during these trade negotiations. They include the delivery of over 10,000 postcards personally signed postcards demanding a fair deal from negotiators coordinated by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and others. The post card event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m. outside the Hilton Hotel at Balbo and Michigan.

More information on the Trans-Pacific FTA is available at http://standupchicago.org/press-room.