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| POLITICAL | REPEAL RIGHT-TO-WORK | SUPPORT UNION | NATIONAL PAPER BARGAINING |
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Have Conference Questions? Read On! Where and when are the 2012 Regional Rapid Response Conferences being held? Atlanta, GA – February 21-24 Philadelphia, PA – April 2-4 Los Angeles, CA – March 13-16 Detroit, MI – May 9-11 Will there be a national conference in Washington, D.C. in 2012? No. Given that so many threats and actions are occurring at the state and local level, this year we’re going regional so that more locals will have the opportunity to participate and build the skills needed turn this nation around. But, this is a one-year change. We’ll certainly be back in D.C. again! What will the conference format be? The Rapid Response conferences will focus heavily on skill-building workshops, learning from each other through networking sessions and strengthening our ability to respond and lead on legislative issues. For each set of dates, Rapid Response sessions will be the first half, with the Regional Good Jobs Green Jobs (GJGJ) conferences occurring for the latter half. Can I earn a certificate of completion since this is training-focused? Yes. After participating in the series of training workshops that make up the roughly two-day Rapid Response portion of the conference, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Rapid Response Essentials. Is this geared towards those who are new to Rapid Response or for those with experience? Both. We’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn, share ideas and brainstorm and that requires those with experience as well as those who are new to Rapid Response. The skill-based programs will cover the basics, but also present new information and tools to take our programs to the next level. Which conference should our local attend? Locals can attend the conference of their choosing. We expect that most locals will choose the nearest conference geographically. Will the conferences be the same? Yes, for the most part. Each conference will feature the same basic information and the same workshops will be offered. Some details may vary by region. How can I register? Visit the Rapid Response website at www.uswrr.org to view the call letter and details on registration!What if I have more questions? Call us anytime at 412-562-2291. If you’re calling after hours, leave us a message and we’ll be back in touch!
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December 6, 2011 Unhappy Holidays? The U.S. Department of Labor tracks long-term unemployment. They’ve been at it since 1948. In that entire time, we’ve never seen a stretch of high unemployment and long-term joblessness like the present. Congress has never cut off federally funded benefits – those that kick in when state benefits are exhausted – when unemployment was anywhere near this high. That is, until now. At the moment, a number of obstructionists in Congress are putting this lifeline for jobless workers in jeopardy by holding it ransom for partisan priorities, like tax cuts for the wealthiest. It doesn’t matter that the jobs simply aren’t there – right now there are four job-seekers for every opening – or that when the new year arrives, nearly two million Americans will lose their federal benefits. Losing benefits has very real consequences. It can mean the difference between just scraping by and falling into poverty, between living in a home and living in a car, between food on the table and going hungry. And, it’s not just jobless workers who will fall further into economic despair if federal benefits evaporate. We can expect more foreclosures to impact the housing market, less money to bolster small businesses, and additional economic impacts that will directly or indirectly hurt us all. It’s time for Congress to act. This Thursday in Washington, jobless workers and allies will hold a prayer vigil and then lobby Congress to extend critical federal unemployment benefits. Across the country, dozens more events and meetings will take place. To find out if there is an event near you, visit: www.AmericaWantstoWork.org Reminder! Registration is now open for the 2012 Regional Rapid Response Conferences! Visit www.uswrr.org for details.
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After watching the video, take
action to oppose
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November 17 is a National Day of Action On Thursday, November 17, unions, religious leaders, community members and many allied organizations are coming together to stand and fight for jobs, for investment in our country and for policies that benefit us all rather than just the wealthiest CEOs. To find an event near you, check the following link. New events are being added regularly. If you are able to attend an event, make sure and share your photos afterwards!
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October 14, 2011 Congress Passes Free Trade Agreements Congress passed failed trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama this week. USW International President Leo Gerard summarized our union’s position, saying, "Historically, these agreements have closed American manufacturing facilities and cost American jobs. It is foolish to think that this latest round will do something different." While the outcome is disappointing, our continuing efforts helped create more intense debate and more votes in opposition. We are grateful to each and every Steelworker who acted in opposition. Through your letters, calls, trips to D.C. for lobby days in February and last week, as well as many more targeted efforts, you let lawmakers know that the United Steelworkers will never back down when it comes to a fight to protect our jobs! Please take a minute to THANK those who voted RIGHT. Also, express your disappointment to those voting WRONG. The toll-free number for the Capitol switchboard is 866-311-1889. Votes in the U.S. House of Representatives Korea Free Trade Agreement (278 to 151) All Democrats voted right (against the agreement) except for: Ackerman, Becerra, Berman, Blumenauer, Boren, Carney, Castor (FL), Chandler, Clyburn, Connolly (VA), Cooper, Costa, Crowley, Cuellar, Davis (CA), Davis (IL), DeGette, Dicks, Eshoo, Gonzalez, Hanabusa, Himes, Hoyer, Inslee, Johnson (Eddie Bernice), Kind, Larsen (WA), Larson (CT), Levin, Lowey, Maloney, Matheson, Matsui, McCarthy (NY), McDermott, Meeks, Moran, Neal, Owens, Pelosi, Peterson, Polis, Price (NC), Quigley, Rangel, Richmond, Ross (AR), Rothman (NJ), Sanchez (Loretta), Schiff, Schrader, Schwartz, Scott (VA), Sewell, Smith (WA), Thompson (CA), Van Hollen, Walz (MN) and Wasserman Schultz All Republicans voted wrong (for the agreement) except for: Aderholt, Bishop (UT), Coble, Duncan (SC), Duncan (TN), Ellmers, Foxx, Gowdy, Griffith (VA), Hunter, Hurt, Jones, LaTourette, LoBiondo, McHenry, McKinley, Mulvaney, Myrick, Rohrabacher, Smith (NJ), Wilson (SC)Colombia Free Trade Agreement (262 to 167) All Democrats voted right (against the agreement) except for: Ackerman, Berman, Boren, Cardoza, Castor (FL), Connolly (VA), Cooper, Costa, Crowley, Cuellar, Davis (CA), Dicks, Engel, Farr, Gonzalez, Himes, Hinojosa, Hoyer, Inslee, Kind, Larsen (WA), Matheson, Meeks, Moran, Polis, Price (NC), Ross (AR), Sires, Smith (WA), Van Hollen, Wasserman SchultzAll Republicans voted wrong (for the agreement) except for: Bishop (UT), Duncan (TN), Jones, LaTourette, LoBiondo, McKinley, Smith (NJ), Stearns, Young (AK)USW Rapid Response (412) 562-2291 http://www.uswrr.orgPanama Free Trade Agreement (300 to 129) All Democrats voted right (against the agreement) except for: Ackerman, Becerra, Berman, Bishop (GA), Blumenauer, Boren, Cardoza, Carney, Castor (FL), Clyburn, Connolly (VA), Cooper, Costa, Crowley, Cuellar, Davis (CA), DeGette, Dicks, Doggett, Engel, Eshoo, Farr, Fattah, Gonzalez, Himes, Hinojosa, Hoyer, Inslee, Johnson, E. B., Kind, Larsen (WA), Larson (CT), Levin, Lowey, Maloney, Matheson, Matsui, McDermott, Meeks, Moran, Neal, Olver, Owens, Pascrell, Pelosi, Peterson, Polis, Price (NC), Quigley, Rangel, Richmond, Ross (AR), Schiff, Schrader, Schwartz, Scott (David), Sewell, Sires, Smith (WA), Thompson (CA), Tsongas, Van Hollen, Wasserman Schultz, Watt, Waxman, Welch All Republicans voted wrong (for the agreement) except for: Bishop (UT), Jones, LaTourette, LoBiondo, McKinley, Smith (NJ)The following did not vote in any of the House trade votes: Giffords, Slaughter, Wilson (FL) and Paul Votes in the U.S. Senate Korea Free Trade Agreement (83 to 15) All Democrats, Republicans and Independents voted wrong (for the agreement) except for the following who voted RIGHT: Blumenthal (D-CT), Brown (D-OH), Cardin (D-MD), Casey (D-PA), Hagan (D-NC), Harkin (D-IA), Leahy (D-VT), Manchin (D-WV), Merkley (D-OR), Reed (D-RI), Reid (D-NV), Rockefeller (D-WV), Snowe (R-ME), Tester (D-MT), Whitehouse (D-RI)The following did not vote: Coburn (R-OK) and Sanders (I-VT) Colombia Free Trade Agreement (66 to 33) All Democrats Republicans and Independents voted wrong (for the agreement) except for the following who voted RIGHT: Akaka (D-HI), Begich (D-AK), Blumenthal (D-CT), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Cardin (D-MD), Casey (D-PA), Collins (R-ME), Coons (D-DE), Durbin (D-IL), Franken (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY), Hagan (D-NC), Harkin (D-IA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Kohl (D-WI), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Levin (D-MI), Manchin (D-WV), McCaskill (D-MO), Menendez (D-NJ), Merkley (D-OR), Mikulski (D-MD), Reed (D-RI), Reid (D-NV), Rockefeller (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Schumer (D-NY), Snowe (R-ME), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Udall (D-NM), Whitehouse (D-RI)The following did not vote: Coburn (R-OK) Panama Free Trade Agreement (77 to 22) All Democrats, Republicans and Independents voted wrong (against the agreement) except for the following who voted RIGHT: Akaka (D-HI), Begich (D-AK), Blumenthal (D-CT), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Casey (D-PA), Franken (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY), Hagan (D-NC), Harkin (D-IA), Inouye (D-HI), Manchin (D-WV), Merkley (D-OR), Mikulski (D-MD), Reed (D-RI), Reid (D-NV), Rockefeller (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Udall (D-NM), Whitehouse (D-RI) The following did not vote: Coburn (R-OK) USW Rapid Response (412) 562-2291 http://www.uswrr.org
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There's No Question: We Need Jobs. Americans want action on jobs! A CNN/Opinion Research poll released this week found that 65 percent of Americans would rather President Obama and Congress focus on job creation than deficit reduction. Meanwhile, the Census Bureau just released a new report covering key indicators of how our nation faired in 2010. The data is mostly grim – and in all likelihood has not improved for 2011. All indicators reinforce the fact that good jobs are desperately needed now!
Safety-net programs helped prevent further devastation.
For a bit of good news. . .
Watch for more information on strategies for job creation coming soon, including information on the President’s American Jobs Act. Thank you to all who have taken action to save jobs by opposing the free trade agreements. Please keep up the pressure! * Equal to the combined population of AK, AR, CT, DE, DC, HI, ID, IA, KS, ME, MI, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, ND, OK, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WV and WY based off the Census Bureau’s Annual Population Estimate, 2009. The poverty line is currently set at $22,113 for a family of four.
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Trade Action – Round II Last week’s national call-in days were extremely helpful in raising opposition to the three pending free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia and Panama. Thank you to everyone who called your U.S. Representative – especially those of you who shared feedback from the calls. Lawmakers ultimately pushed off the committee action that was scheduled for last week. However, the agreements continue to be a top priority in Washington. It is time to turn up the heat a little higher. We want Representatives to get a sense of just how many of their constituents are concerned about the negative impact of these agreements. We are requesting that your local write a letter to your Representative(s) and get as many members as possible to sign on. This is similar to a petition, but much more personal. The goal is to show lawmakers that we are constituents with broad reach throughout their congressional districts and we want them to oppose the agreements. We need participation from every local!Action Instructions 1 - Write a letter from the leadership and members of your local to your U.S. Representative(s). Please note our union’s concern and opposition to these agreements in your letter (see sample on the next page). 2 - Get as many members as possible to sign the letter to reinforce the widespread opposition from constituents. 3 - Mail the letter to your Representative(s). You may also want to fax your letter to ensure it draws attention. Fax numbers are available on most Representatives’ websites or by calling their offices. Find website links and phone numbers here: www.house.gov/representatives Mailing Address: Representative [first, last]U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 4 - Mail, fax or email a copy to your Rapid Response Coordinator (or, for Pennsylvania, the appropriate Congressional District Coordinator). Knowing what is happening across the country is extremely important. It allows us to better coordinate our legislative efforts and make a greater overall impact. For extra pressure: Hand-deliver the letter and signatures to the local office of your U.S. Representative. USW Rapid Response (412) 562-2291 http://www.uswrr.orgSample Letter The Honorable [first, last]U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative, The [number] members of United Steelworkers Local [number] stand in firm opposition to the three pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Korea and Panama. These agreements promise no jobs, but rather will put more jobs at risk.Along with our families and friends, we live in communities throughout your congressional district. We work at [name of facility/facilities] in [city, state] and understand the need for family-supporting jobs. Based on the results of free trade agreements to date as well as expanded trade with countries like China, we have no reason to believe that these deals will do anything more than threaten even more jobs and negatively impact our communities.The results of "free trade" deals have failed us repeatedly. In the last decade, we’ve watched six million manufacturing jobs and 55,000 plants disappear. Companies can easily set up operations overseas and export back to the U.S. market. In the 2000s, large companies cut their U.S. workforces by 2.9 million while increasing overseas employment by 2.4 million. Given that far too many Americans are still struggling in an economy that has left millions unemployed or underemployed, all our efforts should be on job creation – not job destroying – efforts. We urge you to oppose these agreements and look forward to your response. Sincerely, [Have your leadership and membership sign on!] Please note: Make sure to include a return address where the Representative can write your local back. Please personalize your letter as much as possible! Want more ideas for your letter? Check out the United Steelworkers’ recent letter to the U.S. House of Representatives at http://bit.ly/jDIWKy If you have members who live in multiple congressional districts, we encourage you to reach out to all of the area Representatives. Not sure who the Representatives are from your area? Visit www.house.gov If you have questions or need assistance, call your Rapid Response Coordinator or dial the Action Hotline anytime at 1-866-297-3817.
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ARE YOU A TEXTER? If so... Now you can have Rapid Response messages texted to you! Text:
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February 20, 2001
Take a Minute to Act This morning's Wall Street Journal is running a poll asking asking if state employees should have bargaining rights. This comes as a number of bills designed to destroy those rights have gained much attention this week in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere.
Click
here to take the poll! Once you take the poll, make sure to spread this to your lists far and wide.
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January 18, 2011 Repeal, Really? The new leadership in the U.S. House is holding a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act – our hard-won healthcare reform law – in its entirety. While this current House vote will largely be symbolic, there are future plans to go after the law again and again to gut its effectiveness despite the critical benefits it is already providing. That is why we must know the facts on what repeal would really mean – and share them as widely as possible. Those who want to repeal the Affordable Care Act want to: • Allow insurers to deny health care to sick babies and children because of “pre-existing conditions.” Thanks to the Affordable CareAct, insurers may no longer refuse to cover children with preexisting conditions. In 2014, this provision is extended to everyone, regardless of age. • Allow insurers to kick people off their insurance when they get sick. Previously, many insurers had revoked coverage when policy holdersdeveloped costly or chronic illnesses, but the Affordable Care Act prohibits insurers from dropping policy holders when they get sick. • Block dependents age 26 or younger from being covered by their parent’s health insurance. Because of the Affordable Care Act,young adults may be covered by their parent’s insurance until age 26 if the young adult’s employer does not offer insurance (in 2014, young adults may be covered by their parent’s plans even if insurance is offered by their employers). The young adult does not have to be a full-time student, a dependent on a parent’s tax return, single or reside in the parent’s home to qualify. • Limit the amount insurers will pay for annual and lifetime medical care. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurers may no longer set anannual limit for the amount they will pay for certain essential benefits such as emergency services, hospitalization and maternity care. The limits, called “annual maximums,” leave the policy holder on the hook for costs after the maximum is exceeded. Similarly, many plans previously included a “lifetime maximum,” after which the insurer would stop paying claims. This forced people with chronic diseases to pay the remaining costs out of pocket or to stop receiving care. • Stop the closing of the Medicare “donut-hole,” causing our seniors to have to pay hundreds or thousands for medicine. TheAffordable Care Act helps Medicare beneficiaries by providing full coverage for preventative screenings and reducing the “donut-hole” for prescriptions. In 2010, $250 checks were sent to senior citizens who were in the donut hole to help offset the cost of their prescription drugs; in 2011, senior citizens who are in the donut hole will receive a 50% discount on their brand name drugs, and every year after seniors will pay less for their prescription drugs in the donut hole until it is closed completely in 2020. • Deny seniors free preventative care and wellness exams. The Affordable Care Act provides Medicare beneficiaries full coverage ofcertain preventative services and a free annual wellness exam to help keep seniors healthy. For more information, please visit www.usw.org/healthcare.
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Please Make Your Opinion Known on China's Unfair Tactics! Click on the following link to register your opinion in the Washington Post online poll on China's currency manipulation. This practice gives China's domestic manufacturers a big advantage while hurting ours. Let's drive up the poll results and send a strong message that the White House should turn on the pressure!
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