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LOOK FOR UPDATES AND PICTURES FROM THIS MONTHS
RAPID RESPONSE CONFERENCE! |
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Leo W. Gerard
International President
September 3, 2010
On Labor Day, Work to Save the Middle Class
This Labor Day feels gloomy. It's a celebration of work when there is not enough
of it, a day off when too many desperately seek a day on.
America has commemorated two Labor Days since this brutal recession began near
the end of George Bush's presidency in December of 2007. Now the relentless high
unemployment, the ever-rising foreclosures, the unremitting wage and benefit
take-backs have replaced American optimism and enthusiasm with fear and anger.
Happy Labor Day.
On this holiday, we can rant with Glenn Beck, kick the dog and hate the neighbor
lucky enough to retain his job. Or we can do something different. We can join
with our neighbors, employed and unemployed, our foreclosed-on children, our
elderly parents fearing cuts in their Social Security lifeline and our fellow
workers worrying that the furlough ax will strike them next. Together we can
organize and mobilize and create a grassroots groundswell that gives government
no choice but to respond to our needs, the needs of working people.
We can do what workers did during the Great Depression to provoke change, to
create programs like Social Security and achieve recognition of rights like
collective bargaining. These changes were sought by groups to benefit groups. In
a civil society, people care for one another. And America is such a society -
one where people routinely donate blood to aid anonymous strangers, children set
up lemonade stands to contribute to Katrina victims and working families find a
few bucks for United Way.
The self-righteous Right is all about individuals pulling themselves up by their
bootstraps. That proposition - the do-it-all- by-yourself-winner-takes-all
philosophy - clearly failed because so many Americans are jobless, homeless and
too penniless to afford boots.
Over the past decade, the winner who took all was Wall Street. The banksters
gambled on derivatives and other risky financial tomfoolery and won big time.
Until they lost. And crashed the economy. After the American taxpayer bailed
them out, those wealthy traders returned to making huge profits and bonuses
based on perilous schemes.
Still, they believe they haven't taken enough from working Americans. They're
lobbying to end aid for those who remain unemployed in a recession caused by
Wall Street recklessness. And they're demanding extension of their Bush-given
tax breaks. This is the nation's upper 1 percent, people who earn a million or
more each year, the 1 percent that took home 56 percent of all income growth
between 1989 and 2007, the year the recession began.
Since 2007, 8.2 million workers have lost jobs. Millions more are underemployed,
laboring part-time when they need full-time jobs, or barely squeaking by on
slashed wages and benefits. Since the recession began, the unemployment rate
nearly doubled, from 5 percent to 9.6 percent, and that does not include those
so discouraged that they've given up the search for jobs, a decision that is,
frankly, understandable when there are only enough openings to re-employ 20
percent of the jobless. Five unemployed workers compete for each job created in
this sluggish economy.
And American workers weren't prepared for this downturn, having already suffered
losses in the years before it began. The median income, adjusted for inflation,
of working-age households declined by more than $2,000 in the seven years before
the recession started.
At the same time, practices like off-shoring jobs and signing regressive
international trade deals contributed to the loss of middle class, blue collar
jobs. A new report, "The Polarization of Job Opportunities in the U.S. Labor
Market," by the Center for American Progress and The Hamilton Project, says:
"The decline in middle-skill jobs has been detrimental to the earnings and labor
force participation rates of workers without a four-year college education, and
differentially so for males, who are increasingly concentrated in low-paying
service
occupations."
The recession compounded that, the report says:
"Employment losses during the recession have been far more severe in middle-
skilled white- and blue-collar jobs than in either high-skill, white-collar
jobs or low-skill service occupations."
What that means is high roller banksters are living large; lawn care workers and
waitresses subsist on minimum wage, and working class machinists and
steelworkers are disappearing altogether.
The researchers found the U.S. economy is increasingly polarized into
high-skill, high-wage jobs and low-skill, low wage jobs. America is losing the
middle jobs and with them its great middle class.
No wonder the rising anger in middle-class America.
But fury doesn't solve the problem. This Labor Day, we must organize to save
ourselves and our neighbors. We must stop America from descending into
plutocracy. We must demand support for American manufacturing and middle class
jobs. That means terminating tax breaks for corporate outsourcers, ending trade
practices that violate agreements and international law and punishing predator
countries for currency
manipulation that subverts fair trade by artificially lowering the price of
products shipped into the U.S. while artificially raising the price of American
exports.
We must demand support for American industry, particularly manufacturers of
renewable energy sources like solar cells and wind turbines that create good
working class jobs, increase America's energy independence and reduce climate
change.
We must insist on policies that support the middle class, including preserving
Social Security and Medicare, extending unemployment insurance while joblessness
remains high, and enforcing the health care reform law so that every American
worker and family can afford and is covered by insurance.
On this Labor Day, we should all have a picnic, invite neighbors, friends and
family, and over hot dogs and potato salad, organize to save the American middle
class.
Mobilize to end the gloom and restore American optimism.
***
For help: the Union of the Unemployed, the AFL-CIO, USW, Working America. Join
the One Nation March for jobs Oct. 2 in Washington, D.C.
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What a Response!
Yesterday Rapid
Response asked you to weigh in on a key poll that dealt with
critical tariffs that are helping Steelworkers keep their jobs.
While the poll still isn’t closed out, well over 1500 of you have
weighed in and made sure that our suggested response – a response
that supports Steelworker jobs – is leading all others with a
whopping 89.6%. Thank you for responding and for standing up for
U.S. jobs!
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Take a Quick Survey to Support U.S. Jobs
Last fall, our union won a key trade case when the President agreed to
impose tariffs on certain tire imports from China. The result meant
that thousands of Steelworker jobs were taken off the immediate chopping
block, and some companies have even started hiring. China was sent a
signal that we wouldn’t tolerate job-destroying practices.
Of
course, free traders want to see those tariffs lifted, and we need to
fight back whenever we can. Today, there is a poll running that asks
about these tariffs. Free traders are weighing in, and we need to as
well!
For more information on the
outcome of the tire case, click
HERE.
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TALKING POINTS: CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS OFFER MORE OF
THE SAME FAILED ECONOMIC POLICIES
In a speech in Cleveland today, House Minority Leader John Boehner laid out
Congressional Republicans’ economic dream. Their prescription for the future =
the same policies that led to the worst recession since the Great Depression.
They want more tax breaks for the rich, less oversight of Wall Street, and a
tougher burden for middle-class families.
·
We are
finally working our way out of the enormous hole many of the same Republicans in
Congress helped drive the country into.
o
After 22 straight
months of job losses, the economy has created private-sector jobs for seven
months in a row.
o
We are cutting
government spending, and reducing the deficit by more than $1 trillion over the
next ten years.
o
We are investing
smartly in our children’s future with a better education and a stronger economic
foundation.
o
We are cutting
taxes for and opening access to capital for America’s small businesses.
o
We are breaking
the hold that special interests have had on Washington for too long.
·
On tax cuts
for American families, John Boehner’s math doesn’t add up. The middle class can’t afford higher taxes in the midst
of this recession. That’s why the President wants to extend the tax cuts for 98
percent of Americans. But Republicans in Congress want to spend another $700
billion to give millionaires a $100,000-a-year tax cut.
·
Congressional
Republicans’ millionaire tax cut won’t help Main Street businesses. More
than 97 percent of all small businesses would not qualify for the millionaire
tax cuts in the Boehner plan. This is a Wall Street tax cut, not a Main Street
tax cut. Few credible economists believe that this will spur the economy
because the people who will cash in already have plenty of money to spend.
·
To help the
economy right now, Republicans in Congress should end their opposition to the
small business tax cut bill that they’ve been blocking for months in Congress.
The President has laid out a series of proposals to make it easier for small
businesses to open their doors, expand their operations, and hire more workers,
cutting small business taxes eight times and supporting new capital to grow
their operations. But there’s more to do. Republicans should end their
stonewalling of a new business tax breaks and lending incentives to spur hiring.
·
Representative
Boehner is ignoring his party’s own record, and he’s hoping that American
families will, too. In
the eight years before the Obama Administration took office, the Republican
Leadership took the record surplus and turned
it into a record $1.3 trillion deficit. Their irresponsible policies helped to
create the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, resulting in 22
months straight of job losses across America.
·
Congressional
Republicans are offering nothing new. If they were to control of Congress, the Republicans have
pledged to go back to “the exact same agenda” they were pursuing before
President Obama took office. They think the policies they had in place during
the Bush years were the right ones. There are millions and millions of
Americans who saw their paychecks shrink or their jobs, houses, and savings
vanish. They don't want to go back. They want to move forward.
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THE WHITE
HOUSE
Office of
the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August
24, 2010
FACT
CHECK: John Boehner’s Attacks on the President’s Job Creation Agenda
Today
John Boehner proved once again that his party
would only take the country back to the failed policies of the past –
policies that cost more than 8 million American jobs – and launched a series
of false attacks on the measures that the President is pushing to create
jobs, invest in our small businesses and cut taxes for businesses and middle
class families.
Boehner
belittles the jobs and livelihoods of firefighters, cops and teachers.
First,
Congressman Boehner attacks the jobs bill the President signed last month
that saved hundreds of thousands of jobs of hardworking teachers, cops and
firefighters, dismissing these hardworking Americans who teach our kids keep
our communities safe as “government jobs.”
·
Boehner
claim: “Not
long after we spoke, he signed a 26 billion dollar ‘stimulus’ spending bill
that funnels money to state governments in order to protect government
jobs.”
·
Fact:
The recently
enacted legislation will save the jobs of hundreds of thousands of teachers,
firefighters and police officers. This includes people like Rachel Martin’s
in Illinois:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-08-13/news/ct-talk-matteson-teacher-0814-20100813_1_fund-jobs-obama-sign-laid-off-teacher
Boehner
defends the most egregious tax loopholes that gives multinational companies
tax credits on taxes they didn’t even pay.
·
Boehner
claim:
“Even
worse, the bill is funded by a new tax hike that makes it more expensive to
create jobs in the United States and less expensive to create jobs overseas.”
·
Fact:
The jobs
bill is not only fully paid for, but does so by closing
a particularly egregious
tax loophole, one that gives US corporations an incentive to shift their
profits and jobs abroad. It’s a loophole that shifts almost ten billion of
American taxpayer dollars to these multinational corporations for credits on
taxes they didn’t even pay.
Boehner
opposes job-creating tax cuts for small businesses while continuing to
support a tax break for wealthiest two percent of Americans.
·
Boehner
claim:
“President Obama has stated he wants to stop some tax hikes, and not others,
once again putting the government in the position of picking winners and
losers and pitting taxpayer against taxpayer. …raising taxes on families
and small businesses during a recession is a recipe for disaster – both for
our economy and for the deficit.”
·
Fact:
The expiration of the Bush high income tax cuts
would have no effect on more than 97 percent of small businesses. Instead,
extending these tax cuts would provide an average tax cut of $100,000 for
households making more than $1 million
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/11/AR2010081105864_pf.html.
The CBO found that the tax cut for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans is
actually the least effective means of stimulus for the economy
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/108xx/doc10803/01-14-Employment.pdf . At the
same time, Boehner opposes the small business tax cuts currently before
Congress that would actually help small businesses grow and create jobs –
including eliminating capital gains on key investments in small businesses.
Boehner
is playing revisionist history on the deficit, ignoring the fact that it was
his party that took a record surplus and turned into a record deficit.
·
Boehner
claim:
President Obama hasn’t gotten serious about bringing down the deficits that
threaten our economy.
·
Fact:
In the eight years before the Obama Administration took office, the
Republican Leadership took the record $237 billion surplus Bill Clinton
turned it into a record $1.3 trillion deficit, and nearly doubled the
national debt. They gave free rein to the special interests to write their
own rules at the expense of everyday people. Their irresponsible economic
policies helped to create the worst economic downturn since the Great
Depression, resulting in 22 months straight of job losses across America.
Boehner
alleges that the President isn’t listening to small businesses, while it is
the Republicans who continue to obstruct a Small Business Jobs Bill that
will cut taxes for small businesses and extend credit to small businesses so
they can grow and hire.
·
Boehner
claim:
Lastly, employers and small business owners are rightly frustrated by the
fact that no one in the White House -- not the president, not the vice
president, not his economic team -- is listening to them.
·
Fact:
It is the Republican leadership that continues to block a package of tax
cuts and relief for small businesses, the engines of our private sector job
growth.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/07/small-business-aid-bill-blocked-in-senate.html
·
Fact:
Rep. Boehner and 168 other House Republicans voted against passage of a bill
to make credit available to small businesses.
[HR
5297, House Vote #375, 6/17/10]
Boehner
alleges that the stimulus has gotten us “nowhere,” yet praised stimulus
projects
in his own district:
·
Boehner
claim: “All
This ‘Stimulus’ Spending Has Gotten Us Nowhere.”
·
Fact:
According to
the CEA, as of the second quarter of 2010, the Recovery Act has raised
employment by between 2.5 and 3.6 million jobs. This puts us well on track
to reach the 3.5 million jobs benchmark by the end of this year. (Council of
Economic Advisors,
7/14/10) Furthermore, independent economists have found that without
the efforts to save the economy, including the Recovery Act, the nation’s
gross domestic product would be about 6.5 percent lower this year and there
would be about 8.5 million fewer jobs, on top of the more than 8 million
already lost. (New York Times,
7/28/10)
·
Fact:
Boehner himself praised Recovery Act jobs in his district, saying “I’m
pleased that federal officials stepped in to order Ohio to use all of its
construction dollars for shovel-ready projects that will create
much-needed jobs. (Boehner.House.gov,
6/15/09).
Boehner
claims that Republicans reached out to the “employer community” to talk
about the economy when in fact they met with leading Washington lobbying
groups like the Chamber of Commerce.
·
Boehner
claim:
“Last month,
as part of our America Speaking Out project, Republican lawmakers met with
leaders of America’s employer community to hear their concerns and talk
about ways to end this economic uncertainty.”
·
Fact:
“As promised,
House Minority Leader John Boehner, along with Reps. Aaron Schock (R-IL) and
Peter Roskam (R-IL), huddled this morning with representatives of the most
powerful conservative business and trade groups in the country to field
policy ideas and build a legislative agenda ahead of the November elections,
when Republicans could retake the House. If what they discussed in any way
resembles the coming GOP platform (and, of course, it does), then get ready
for more tax cuts and deregulation… Last week, Republicans were caught with
their pants down when news of today's meeting was first reported. Democrats
howled and pressed Republicans to let cameras into the room. Republicans
agreed. That undoubtedly added to the scripted nature of the event. But the
attendees weren't shy about their prescriptions, and the hosts were happy to
continue soliciting them. ‘We'll continue to stay in touch with all of you,’
Boehner said.” [Talking
Points Memo, 7/16/10]
Boehner
claims that Republican Governor Bob McDonnell balanced Virginia’s budget
without raising taxes while ignoring the $2.5 billion Virginia received from
the Recovery Act to close its budget shortfall from 2010-2012.
·
Boehner
claim: “Let’s
look at what two Republican governors who have been in office only a matter
of months have been able to accomplish: In Virginia, Governor Bob McDonnell
entered office facing an unprecedented $4.2 billion deficit. His
predecessor, the chairman of the Democratic party, proposed closing the
shortfall by imposing the largest tax increase in the state’s history.
Governor McDonnell refused to balance his state’s budget by making it harder
for Virginia families and business owners to balance their own… Both
governors forged bipartisan cooperation, set priorities, cut spending, and
closed their shortfalls – without raising taxes. ”
·
Fact:
“McDonnell’s ‘prudence’ would be a shining example for the federal
government if he hadn’t relied on one important contributor: the federal
government. According to a Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis report
released this week, last year’s Recovery Act provided
$2.5 billion in stimulus relief to ‘maintain crucial services for
[Virginia] citizens’ and ‘help close the state’s budget shortfall in
2010-2012.’ Virginia legislators relied on $1.3 billion in enhanced Medicaid
funding, $1 billion in funding for K-12 and higher education, $39 million
for public safety, and $200 million in general support to reduce ‘what would
otherwise have been a $5.4 billion budget hole.’” [ThinkProgress,
8/21/10]
The White House · 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW · Washington DC 20500 ·
202-456-1111
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Fighting for Fair Trade
for Paper Workers
Early last month, Rapid
Response reported on the roughly 200,000 paper industry jobs lost in the last
decade – a third of the total jobs – and the uncertain future for all the
Steelworkers in this sector. Since that time, we’ve been busy working in
targeted ways to raise this issue with our lawmakers:
- Rapid Response activists joined in an
effort to secure over 100 signatures on a letter to the President that asks
for action on the illegal subsidies China is giving to its domestic paper
industries. These subsidies are a big part of why we’re seeing such
devastation in U.S. paper jobs.
- Activists also delivered the paper
report that details these practices to multiple lawmakers at their local
offices across the country, with more to come.
Our efforts will now move to
a specific pending trade case that holds promise for many paper sector workers
and is part of our union’s larger efforts to beat back unfair trade practices
around the globe – and particularly in China.
Coated Paper Trade Case
If you have ever picked up a
glossy brochure from a car dealership, then you’re familiar with what is known
as coated paper. Steelworkers who produce this type of paper have been under
attack from a flood of subsidized imports from Indonesia and China in recent
years, resulting in far too many idled and closed plants.
This paper product – and the jobs that remain – are at the center of a pending
trade case filed by our union and three domestic companies. The case argues
that we must enforce trade rules against the flood of subsidized imports. The
U.S. Interational Trade Commission started their investigation into the case
last fall, and final rulings are expected sometime this fall. Many Steelworker
jobs are at risk.
Get Ready! Later this week, Rapid Response will be kicking off
another targeted action that focuses on the coated paper case.
Please be ready to act!
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July, 2010
Action Tops 100,000 Notes
Rapid Response tells lawmakers: we must
secure current jobs and create new green jobs!
Rapid Response recently took on a
national action with a simple goal: remind lawmakers that we desperately need
good jobs, and that we can secure and create jobs by investing in the clean
energy economy.
|
We are pleased to
report that Rapid Response activists have generated over 100,000
notes on this Action!
Thank you to everyone
who participated, especially those members in USW District 10
who, through their outstanding efforts, secured almost 33,000
notes!
And, special recognition
also goes out to District 9 whose members contributed a whopping
22,000 notes. |
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Through these efforts,
we’re ensuring that “green jobs” – those blue collar jobs that our sisters and
brothers do for green purposes across the United States – are a priority now and
in the future. We’ll be continuing our Action through strategic deliveries of
the notes planned in July.
For those
Rapid Response Teams who are still in the process of taking Action, it’s not too
late to get your notes mailed in! And, if your local hasn’t acted yet, there’s
still time.
View a copy of the Action Call HERE.
Rapid Response will be taking on other
job-creating and sustaining initiatives throughout the summer. Watch for more
activity to come!

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It's
About Jobs.
Each day
millions of Americans are struggling to find or keep good jobs that provide
decent pay and benefits as well as some stability. It’s our neighbors, our
family members, our kids – and maybe even us. Too many jobs have gone
overseas. Good jobs aren’t easy to come by. The devastation caused by the
economic meltdown and resulting recession has only made a bad situation worse.
Join your fellow members in fighting back.
Your participation is a critical part of the
effort!
| The
current national action is about sending a message to Washington
that we need to: 1) secure our current jobs and 2) fight to
ensure that as we develop the clean energy economy, the new
green jobs – which are centralized in the manufacturing sector –
are created in the United States. |
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We must
have a strong manufacturing base to have a strong country. Investing in green
jobs gives us the chance to secure and rebuild domestic industries that provide
the quality, good-paying jobs we need.
Has your local taken action yet?
Thank you
to everyone who has already participated or who is in the process of completing
the action. We’ve generated tens of thousands of notes, but thousands more are
needed.
It only takes a minute to make a difference!
Please take
action today. This action is about all of us. We need to make sure Washington
knows where we stand.
View the
Current Action Call HERE
& Take Action Today!
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April 21, 2010
It’s Time to Take Action for Jobs
Our country desperately needs to secure and create good-paying
jobs. The emerging clean energy economy has provided us with tremendous
opportunity to do just that. If we don’t push and take advantage of this
opportunity that provides particular promise for manufacturing, the opportunity
will pass us by as other nations create these jobs.
This is our chance to secure and rebuild domestic industries
through new clean energy jobs!
To view last week’s InfoAlert describing the many USW members
who are already working in green jobs, visit:
http://images.usw.org/download/rapid/InfoAlert_Green_Jobs1.pdf
To view information on how China is investing in the creation of
green jobs, visit:
http://images.usw.org/download/rapid/InfoAlert_Green_Jobs2.pdf
Action Instructions:
1 – Write three handwritten, personalized notes – one to each of
your Senators and one to your Representative. Please see the sample note on the
following page.
2 – Make sure to include your home address to show that you are
a constituent.
3 – Local Rapid Response Coordinators should collect all
completed notes and mail them to the nearest Sub-District office. We will
be doing deliveries and mailing them periodically to increase the impact.
If you have questions or need an address, contact your District
Rapid Response Coordinator. You can also call us toll-free at 866-851-9631 to be
connected with your Coordinator.
USW Rapid Response
(412) 562-2291
http://www.uswrr.org
Sample Note
|
Dear Senator or Representative _________:
Please support efforts to secure current jobs and create
new green jobs in the United States as part of a clean energy economy.
[Add in any additional points or tell how this could
benefit you (see below).]
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
|
Additional Points (Note: The more personalized your note, the
more powerful it is.)
• We must have a strong
manufacturing base to have a strong country. Investing in green jobs gives us
the chance to secure and rebuild domestic industries that provide quality,
good-paying jobs.
• When the
manufacturing, mining and other work for the emerging clean energy economy is
done domestically, and our industries are given the support they need to become
more efficient, we secure our jobs. We also strengthen the tax base, ensuring
funding for the public sector jobs that build strong communities.
• If we fail to make the investment in
green jobs, other countries will. Our economic strength depends on taking
advantage of this opportunity. We can’t lose out on these jobs.
• We have to ensure that we’re
building our domestic industries in the clean energy economy. Absolutely
no taxpayer dollars should be used to fund job creation in other countries.
• Our country is desperately in need
of quality jobs. We need over 11 million just to get back to prerecession
levels. We have to focus on creating jobs here. And, we can do that by investing
in green jobs.
Are you already working in a green job?
You might be if the job you do or the products you make or mine:
• Encourage use of renewable energy
(ex: iron ore is mined for the steel that goes into a wind turbine, a
biomass by-product from paper production is used as fuel, etc.),
• Focus on increasing efficiency
(ex: energy-efficient windows, water-saving faucets, filters that remove
harmful substances, etc.), or
• Contribute to using our resources
wisely (ex: reusing manufacturing waste, incorporating lesstoxic substances
in production, using recycled component in products, etc.).
Make sure to tell your Senators and Representative your story
and why supporting jobs in a clean energy economy is important to you!
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March 22, 2010
Health Care Reform Passes
President Obama to Sign Into Law This Week
Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a
comprehensive health care reform bill by a vote of 219-212. The bill, which had
already passed in the U.S. Senate, is an historic first step towards ending the
stranglehold that the for-profit insurance companies have on hard-working
American families.
“It not only makes sense economically, but it’s morally the
right thing to do. Our union has fought for a long time for health care for all.
We consider it a basic human right. These reforms are desperately needed and
move us a huge step towards that goal. The bill isn’t perfect, but it makes
progress.”
Leo Gerard, International President
HOW THEY VOTED
All Republicans voted WRONG (against the bill).
All Democrats voted RIGHT (for the bill) Except For: Adler
NJ-3, Altmire
PA-4, Arcuri NY-24, Barrow GA-12, Berry AR-1, Boren OK-2,
Boucher VA-9,
Bright AL-2, Chandler KY-6, Childers MS-1, Davis AL-7, Davis
TN-4, Edwards
TX-17, Herseth Sandlin SD-1, Holden PA-1, Kissell NC-8, Kratovil
MD-1,
Lipinski IL-3, Lynch MA-9, Marshall GA-8, Matheson UT-2,
McIntyre NC-7,
McMahon NY-13, Melancon LA-3, Minnick ID-1, Nye VA-2, Peterson
MN-7,
Ross AR-4, Shuler NC-11, Skelton MO-4, Space OH-18, Tanner TN-8,
Taylor
MS-4, Teague NM-2
A special thanks goes to all Steelworker activists who took
action to help make this victory possible!
USW Rapid Response
(412) 562-2291
http://www.uswrr.org
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January 11, 2010
Wednesday is National Healthcare Call-In Day
Tell Congress: Don’t Tax Our Benefits!
Status Update: The Senate
recently passed their version of healthcare reform. While containing some
positive reforms, it also gives us cause for concern,
particularly over a new tax on healthcare benefits to
finance the proposal. Now that the bills from the House and
Senate will be merged into one, we need to make
sure our Members of Congress know that the “excise tax” is a big
problem, and that we don’t want it in the final
bill.
What is the “Excise Tax?”:
This would be a tax on higher-cost benefit plans.
Many USW members
have health insurance plans that qualify for the tax ($23,000
for family and $8,500 for individual coverage).
That’s because plans covering older workers, workers employed by
small businesses, workers with worse than
average health histories, workers from higher-risk workplaces,
etc. all have higher healthcare costs. Many of
us have bargained – giving other things up along the way – to
maintain high-quality benefits.
WE ARE STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THIS TAX ON BENEFITS.
USW Rapid Response
(412) 562-2291
http://www.uswrr.org
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Action Instructions:
Many of you have already called your legislators. We are
asking for you to call ONCE AGAIN this Wednesday,
January 13, to register your opinion on healthcare
reform.
1 - Dial Toll-Free, 866-203-4960.
2 - Ask for each Senator and your Representative.
Note: Make three calls total, one to each Senator and
one to your Representative. You can call all three on the
same day, or spread the calls out over a couple of days.
The important thing is that each person gets the
message!
3 - Tell him or her that you are a voter and that we
need healthcare
reform that:
• DOES NOT TAX
BENEFITS,
• Ensures
employers provide care or pay into a system to ensure everyone can
get care, and
•
Has a strong public option. |
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Reminder: Last
Day!
Take the Rapid Response Jobs Survey
On Monday, Rapid
Response sent out an important survey to get your input on how to create jobs in
our country. If you haven’t yet done the survey, take five minutes to do so
TODAY! The President is considering various approaches for needed job
creation, including the strategies the USW is fighting for. He is now asking us
to weigh in to tell him what we believe should be the most important priorities
and tactics to make this happen.
Responses will be
compiled on Friday, so we need everyone who has not taken the survey to do so
right now!
Click HERE to take the Rapid Response Jobs Survey.
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The White House
Wants to Hear from Us
Rapid Response to Weigh in on Creating Jobs in America!
Click HERE to take the Rapid Response survey.
As you know, the USW is
taking the lead in pushing for a new approach to creating good, family
supportive jobs in America.
We have worked hard to
push the White House and Congress to focus on concrete approaches like creating
a new manufacturing policy, providing tax credits for employers that create
AMERICAN jobs, giving stimulus funds to small and medium sized businesses that
create jobs – instead of big banks, and other approaches.
President Obama is
considering various approaches to needed job creation, including the strategies
the USW is fighting for. He is now asking us to weigh in to tell him what we
believe should be the most important priorities and tactics to make this happen.
Please take
five minutes to let the President and his staff know your ideas
for how best to create jobs in the United States right now.
Rapid Response will be compiling the responses over the next few
days and delivering them to the White House.
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It is important that
we make our voices heard loud and clear in Washington, D.C. Too many of our
sisters and brothers are out of work or in jeopardy of losing their jobs for us
to sit on our hands and do nothing. Click on the link below to add your
thoughts.
Click HERE to take the Rapid Response survey.
All surveys must
be completed by December 10th in order to be considered in the discussion. Make
sure your opinion is heard!

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Outsourcing
Cancer Spreads
Are we giving up
on the creation of “green” and
high-tech manufacturing jobs in the U.S.?
Just over a week ago,
Rapid Response sent out news of a planned wind farm in Texas that expects to
receive more than $425 million in U.S. taxpayer-provided stimulus funds.
The developers anticipate creating over 2,000 jobs in China since they
will be buying the wind turbines there.
We have recently learned
that AES, a massive U.S.-based power-generating company, is selling part of its
stock – including a third of its wind-generating business – to the Chinese
government through their China Investment Corp. AES plans to move forward on
U.S. wind projects with the revenues. Not only will this transaction result in
a foreign country owning part of our infrastructure, it will also very likely
result in the manufactured items for the wind projects to AGAIN
come from overseas.
These green jobs are
supposed to be part of the plan for U.S. economic security going forward. But,
the outsourcing continues. . .
Why does this matter?
The U.S. has lost more
than two million manufacturing jobs since December 2007. Many of those jobs
were lost at facilities that will not be reopening their doors. The jobs that
people get after they’ve lost a manufacturing job generally pay less and provide
fewer benefits. The need for quality jobs is dire.
Meanwhile, we have a
growing consensus in the United States that something must be done about our
future energy demands and the volume of pollution we are producing. Moving to a
“green” economy can mean creating millions of new jobs, particularly in
manufacturing, driven by the need for everything from steel for wind turbines to
glass for solar panels.
But, none of this will
matter if we don’t have policies that ensure the jobs are created here –
especially those created and supported by American tax dollars!
What does the future
hold?
China has invested
tremendous resources into supporting their domestic manufacturers, even when
that has meant not playing by the rules. As a result, we’re losing out in a big
way. It’s time to stop the hemorrhaging of jobs and get our country – and our
economy – back on track.

Rapid Response will soon
take action on this issue. Get ready to act and to tell our elected officials
that it’s time for them to start creating and protecting Good, Green & American
jobs!
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November 10, 2009
First Hurdle Cleared: House Passes Healthcare Reform!
Fight now moves to the Senate; Keep the Calls Going
Late Saturday evening the U.S. House of Representatives passed
an historic healthcare reform bill by
a vote of 220-215. The legislation contains the key provisions
our union sought: a strong public
option to increase competition and lower costs, requirements for
employers to either provide
coverage or pay into a system to ensure employees can get
coverage, and NO TAX on benefits.
HOW THEY VOTED
All Republicans voted WRONG (against the bill) except for: Joseph
Cao (LA-2).
All Democrats voted RIGHT (for the bill) except for: Adler
(NJ-3), Altmire (PA-4), Baird (WA-3), Barrow
(GA-12), Boccieri (OH-16), Boren (OK-2), Boucher (VA-9), Boyd
(FL-2), Bright (AL-2), Chandler (KY-
6), Childers (MS-1), Davis (TN-4), Davis (AL-7), Edwards
(TX-17), Gordon (TN-6), Griffith (AL-5),
Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL), Holden (PA-17), Kissell (NC-8), Kosmas
(FL-24), Kratovil (MD-1), Kucinich
(OH-10), Markey (CO-4), Marshall (GA-8), Massa (NY-29), Matheson
(UT-2), McIntyre (NC-7),
McMahon (NY-13), Melancon (LA-3), Minnick (ID-1), Murphy
(NY-20), Nye (VA-2), Peterson (MN-7),
Ross (AR-4), Shuler (NC-11), Skelton (MO-4), Tanner (TN-8),
Taylor (MS-4) and Teague (NM-2).
USW Rapid Response ?
(412) 562-2291 ?
http://www.uswrr.org
Please Call Your Senators
The Senate will begin debate shortly on their version of a
reform bill. Their bill is not as strong as
the House bill. A key concern is that it contains a tax on
benefits that we want to see removed.
1 - Dial Toll-Free, 866-203-4960.
2 - Ask for your Senators. Note:
Make two calls, one to each Senator.
3 - Tell him or her that you are a voter in their state and they
need to:
Support healthcare reform that:
• Has a strong public
option,
• Ensures employers
provide care or pay into a system to ensure everyone
can get care, and
• Does not tax benefits.
Please make sure that all results are reported to your District Rapid
Response Coordinator.
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Make
the Call for REAL REFORM Today!
Healthcare reform
legislation is finally moving forward in Congress. Key decisions about the
shape of the final bill are being made right now, and our legislators need to
understand that reform must be meaningful and not add any burdens to the middle
class in order to be successful.
Please weigh in with our
legislators on three key issues for healthcare reform. First, we need a
strong public health insurance option. A public option inserts much-needed
competition into the healthcare market to drive down costs and provide consumers
with an alternative to the private-run plans currently available. Second,
employers need to provide healthcare or pay into a system that will help ensure
everyone is covered. And, third, we do not want our benefits to be taxed
as part of any reform plan. We’re already paying too much for
healthcare!
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Action
Instructions:
1 - Dial Toll-Free, 866-203-4960.
2 - Ask for your Senators and Representative.
Note: Make three calls total, one to
each Senator and one to your Representative. You can call
all three on the same day, or spread the calls out over a couple
of days. The important thing is that each person gets the
message!
3 - Tell him or her that you are a voter and they
need to:
Support healthcare reform that:
- Has a strong public option,
- Ensures employers provide care or
pay into a system to ensure everyone can get care, and
- Does not tax benefits.
Please make sure that all results are
reported to your District Rapid Response Coordinator.
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CLICK HERE: For Idaho and
Washington Congressmen' Phone and addresses.
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“I
Have Great Insurance . . .
Why Would I Want Healthcare Reform?”
It’s true that many USW members
enjoy some of the best healthcare insurance around. For years, many of us
have made it a top priority at the bargaining table. Now that the national
debate is focused on reforming healthcare, many members are wondering: Why
would I want reform?
Here’s Why:
- Healthcare is
often the most difficult issue in our negotiations. Premium
costs have risen 138 percent in the last decade. Employers try
to pass off those costs to us. Throughout our union, we’re seeing
plan changes with higher deductibles, co-pays, etc. We’re also
seeing fewer wage and benefit increases as trade-offs for maintaining
coverage. Many employers are even trying to dump health insurance
altogether both for us and especially retirees. And, it’s only going
to get worse. . .
- Rising costs
will continue to make negotiations harder. Within 10 years,
the average family plan will cost more than $30,000 per year. We can
expect more strikes, disputes and bargaining trade-offs if nothing changes
as we struggle to keep our coverage in place.
- Rising
healthcare costs continue to be a driving force in companies shifting
production overseas. Easing the healthcare burden gives
employers one less incentive to abandon U.S. workers.
- We’re paying
twice for the uninsured. As taxpayers, we know we pay for
things like Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits. But, did you know that
through our insurance premiums, we also pay for the 46.3 million who are
uninsured? When the uninsured get medical care they can’t pay for,
those of us with insurance foot the bill. Right now the premium cost
for family coverage includes about $1,100 due to this cost-shifting.
With a reformed system, the burden won’t be so heavy on a few.
- We might not
always have the jobs we have right now. Many Steelworkers are
employed in industries that are under constant attack from foreign
competition and the economic crisis. While our union continues to
fight on nearly every front to protect jobs, what happens if your job ends?
What happens if you get sick and can’t work? What happens when you
retire? Without healthcare reform, our ability to get healthcare and
remain financially secure are always uncertain.
- It’s our
friends, family members and neighbors who are the uninsured.
One of them dies every 12 minutes because they lack insurance. It’s
just wrong.
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Healthcare Reform: Senate Update
The battle for healthcare reform is heating up now that the
Senate Finance Committee,
under the lead of Chairman Max Baucus, is poised to vote soon
on a proposal. While
healthcare reform remains a moving target, the Finance
Committee proposal raises
serious concerns for the debate, while falling far short of
the legislation introduced in the
House of Representatives.
Once the Senate Finance Committee votes as anticipated, it
will be up to Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid to develop a final bill for the full Senate’s
consideration. This bill could
incorporate aspects of a better version that was previously
passed out of the Senate’s
health committee.
Rapid Response will provide more information as it develops.
Be ready to take action again to help shape the debate!
USW Rapid Response ?
(412) 562-2291 ?
http://www.uswrr.org
Key problems with the Senate Finance proposal include:
• It taxes healthcare
benefits, potentially impacting thousands of USW members
with higher-cost plans. These
plans could be expensive because they cover older
workers, workers with worse than average health histories or
even because of a
geographic area. While the tax is levied on insurers, or
self-insured employers, the
cost will undoubtedly be passed on to workers in the form of
higher premiums.
• It doesn’t
include a public option. A public option
– like in the House bill – would
provide real competition for private insurance companies.
• Employers are not
required to contribute in some way towards employees’
healthcare , allowing
irresponsible employers to continue dumping their healthcare
costs on others with no penalty.
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The
Truth About Healthcare. . .
Did You Know?
- Every 12 minutes an American dies because they lack health insurance
(45,000 annually). This is more than the number of deaths due to drunk
driving or homicide.
- The average health insurance plan for family coverage currently costs
$13,375. Over the past decade, premiums have increased by 138 percent.
If the current trend continues, by 2019 the average family plan will cost
$30,083.
- 46.3 million Americans are uninsured. When they can’t pay, the
costs for their care shift to the insured. On average, insured Americans are
forced to spend an additional $1,100 in premiums (family coverage) due to
this cost-shifting.
- Between 2000 and 2008, the percentage of employers offering health
insurance coverage to their employees declined from 69 to 63; for firms
employing less than 10 workers, the decline was even greater – from 57 to
49 percent.
- From 2000 to 2008, the percentage of employees with an annual deductible
greater than $1000 increased from 1 percent to 18 percent. Among small
businesses, more than one in three workers must spend at least $1000 out of
pocket before their health benefits kick in.
- A recent study found that 62 percent of all 2007 bankruptcies were linked
to medical expenses. Of those filing for bankruptcy, nearly 80 percent had
health insurance.
- The cost of healthcare now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30
seconds.
Sources: Harvard Medical School study results
announced on September 17, 2009; The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Employee Health Benefits: 2009 Annual Survey, September 2009; Center for
American Progress, The Cost Shift from the Uninsured, March 2009; Kaiser Family
Foundation, Employer Health Benefit Survey, 2009; Medical Bankruptcy in the
United States, 2007: Results of a National Study, American Journal of Medicine,
May 2009; CNN Money, President Obama quote, March 5, 2009.

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WE
DID IT!
President Obama
announced on Friday that he would stand up for U.S. workers and impose tariffs
on Chinese tire imports. This decision was a response to the trade case
that our union brought over surges in tire imports that have resulted in
thousands of lost jobs in our country.
This move by our President signals
a sharp turn from his predecessor, who refused to provide relief in four other
similar trade cases with China. The industries in these cases are being
decimated. President Obama's decision in the current case will give our
tire workers a fighting chance.
This is a huge victory for U.S.
workers, trade law enforcement, and our union.
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The credit for this win is shared by every one of
you who wrote a letter to the President supporting this case.
More than 80,000 letters from USW activists went into the White
House in just over four weeks! These letters came from all
industry sectors and all parts of the country and is a show of
the strength we have when we act collectively.
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Thank
you to everyone who took action,
and congratulations on the victory.
For more information, visit the USW’s
website dedicated to the tire 421 trade case.

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Dear
Sisters and
Brothers,
I was
there along with many other USW members when President Obama spoke yesterday at
the AFL-CIO
convention in Pittsburgh about health insurance reform. It was inspiring for
many reasons: the president reminded us that ensuring all Americans have access
to quality, affordable health care is not only the morally right thing to do,
but it makes sense economically.
Visit
the USW
health care tool kit
now and get involved in this fight.
Health
insurance reform will lower costs for all us, whether we have insurance or not.
That means more power
at the bargaining table to fight for wages, pensions and other issues. It
means healthier, more competitive businesses and more American jobs. It means
improved Medicare and prescription drug coverage for our retirees.
Our
online
toolkit gives you the resources you need to get educated about reform. There
are fact sheets that explain that if you already have insurance through work,
the Veterans Health Administration, Medicaid or Medicare, the president’s
plan won’t force you to change your coverage. It will only make insurers
more accountable and provide stability and security for you and your family.
Visit
the USW
health care tool kit
now and get involved in this fight.
You
will find information about how to get involved like by signing on to support
President Obama’s plan, writing
or calling your member of Congress, downloading flyers you can pass out at
work or union meetings, and info about meetings and rallies.
Contact
your district health
care coordinator for more information about how we’re mobilizing for
health care. And stay in touch with your Rapid
Response teams for the latest action calls.
Health
care for all is the civil rights issue of our time, and it’s necessary to help
us grow our bargaining power. We’ve
shown what we can do when we get involved and put pressure on our elected
officials to do the right thing. Let’s keep it up and win health care for all.
Visit
the USW
health care tool kit
now and get involved in this fight.
Thanks
for all you do.
In
Solidarity,
Leo
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August 13, 2009
The Latest on Health Care Reform
Tired of battling over health care at every contract
negotiation? Sick of worrying about what happens to your
health care if you lose your job? Think our system costs too
much, covers too little and excludes too many? If
you do, you’re not alone. The
good news is that we are finally close to reforming this failed system.
Health Care Reform is Underway –
Before Congress adjourned for their August recess, the House of
Representatives finished drafting a bill – H.R. 3200 –
that would go a long way towards what we need to see
for reform. Those who have employer-provided care can keep
their same coverage; those who don’t will have
access to affordable care.
Getting a Real Solution to the Health Care Crisis Won’t be
Easy – The Senate has not yet finished
their
work on a bill, and it could be weaker than the House bill.
Meanwhile, corporate-backed anti-health care
reform and anti-government groups have begun an aggressive –
and at times violent – smear campaign to
stop this needed reform. Their goal is to create the
impression that a movement against health reform exists,
but in reality they are a small, misled fringe that’s
frightened because we’re so close to real reform.
Make sure to educate yourself on the facts as this debate
continues!
USW Rapid Response ?
(412) 562-2291 ?
http://www.uswrr.org
Key aspects of H.R. 3200 include:
• A public health insurance
option that would compete with private insurer
plans to drive down costs,
• An employer “pay or play”
requirement that makes sure free-rider
companies – those that don’t pay for employee’s health
care coverage who
ultimately dump their health care costs on the rest of us –
either provide
insurance or pay their fair share to help fund coverage,
• Curbs to insurance company
abuses so that pre-existing conditions will be
covered and discriminatory practices are no longer tolerated,
• A temporary reinsurance
program which would help employers and
voluntary employees' beneficiary associations (VEBAs) cover
health care for
retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare by providing
assistance with
catastrophic expenses, thereby encouraging employers and VEBAs
to
continue providing retiree health care coverage,
• And, H.R.
3200 will not tax health care benefits that we
receive through
our jobs.
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Act
Now to Support U.S. Jobs!
Write a Note to Ask for Relief in
the Tire Trade Case TODAY!
Earlier this week, Rapid
Response alerted USW members
to a pressing – and defining – trade case that is currently in the hands of
the President. The outcome of this case has far-reaching implications for
industries beyond just tire. A win means that we can start on a course of
trade law enforcement; a loss will send a strong message to China that they can
continue these practices without fear of recourse, leading to even more job
loss.
- We
all have something at stake. This
case is about all workers who have lost jobs or are threatened with job loss
from import surges from China. It’s also about the other industries
that could be impacted if this case is lost, and the families and
communities that will be left to deal with the consequences. When we
were fighting to save the steel industry, the local that wrote the most
letters of any local in the country was a tire local in Union City,
Tennessee. Today, that same local is slated to close because of this
issue. Let’s stand in solidarity with them – and with all who have
been at the losing end in trade fights – to push for a new direction.
- Our
timeline is very short! We
need our Rapid Response teams to quickly mobilize on this issue. The
President has until September 17 to make a decision whether or not relief
will be granted. Letters need to flood the White House well in advance
of that deadline so that we can both make our voices heard and counter the
job-exporters who are mobilizing to defeat this case.
Action
Instructions
1 – Write a note to
President Obama. Make sure to ask him to:
Please support a strong
remedy in the Section 421 case on passenger and light truck tires.
Other points you might
want to make:
- You have said that the
future of America is tied to the future of manufacturing in America.
Through a strong remedy, you have the opportunity to turn those words into
action.
- The world is watching
your actions on this case to see if your Administration will stand up for
American manufacturing and American workers.
- As a voting American
and a supporter of a strong American manufacturing sector and good
manufacturing jobs in the United States, I urge you to act by applying
adequate relief to stop the market disruption, such as recommended by the
International Trade Commission.
- For too long, China’s
violations have not been curbed by any strong and meaningful enforcement.
That has resulted in an exodus of manufacturing jobs. It has also
encouraged China to continue these violations with impunity.
- Much must be done to
stabilize manufacturing and rebuild our capacity to make things in America.
Enforcement of trade rules is a critical part of that rebuilding process.
Make sure to include
your address at the bottom of your note.
2 – Mail your letter to the White House.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
3 – Contact your Rapid
Response Coordinator to report your local’s results.
An accurate count is key
in this action! It’s essential that we know what kind of impact we’re
making.
4 – Please Act
Immediately.
Because of the hard
deadline in this case, this action requires a quick response. We need to
generate as many letters as soon as possible to make a swift impact, especially
within those locals with well-operating teams. The sooner we get the
letters in, the greater the chance of a win.
5 – Questions?
Call
the Rapid Response Hotline Toll-Free at:
866-851-9631
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Will
There be Justice from Unfair Trade?
U.S.
tire workers in consumer tire-producing operations are at the losing end
of a surge in tire imports from China. This surge has a direct
link to the 25 percent decline in U.S. production and the resulting
7,000 workers who are being impacted by factory shutdowns and slated
shutdowns. These are family and community supportive jobs that are
disappearing because China isn’t playing by the rules, and our union
is taking action through a trade case to help right this wrong.
It’s time to
make a break from the failed trade policy of the past.
This case has
far-reaching implications for many USW industries beyond just tire.
If we lose, we can expect more industries to be harmed. If we win,
we start on a course of trade law enforcement where U.S. workers get a
fair shot.
China’s
Unfair Trading Practices are Not New
The artificial
level of imports has a direct connection to China’s distorted,
non-market economy and manipulation of its currency. There are
numerous cases in the U.S. where China was found to disregard our trade
rules and dump or subsidize exports to our market. The impact has
been loss of jobs and wages for workers in many industries – just like
what is happening in the tire industry now.
The USW Takes
Action
Section 421 of the
Trade Act of 1974 gives us recourse when a flood of imports from China
disrupts our markets and causes harm to U.S. workers and industries.
China agreed to these rules when they became a member of the World Trade
Organization.
Recently, the
International Trade Commission affirmed our case, ruling that China
violated its WTO commitments on surges related to the U.S. tire market.
Now the case moves on to the President for a final determination on
whether or not relief will be granted.
The President
Now Holds the Key
In four
previous 421 cases where the ITC found injury, the President at the time
– George W. Bush – refused to provide relief. Currently,
President Obama is feeling heavy pressure from the job-exporting crowd
to keep the status quo. The President has until September 17 to
make his decision. It is very important that he hears from us on
this case and understands how important this issue is. This
is not just about the tire industry; it’s about the future of American
manufacturing!
Please
Watch for an Action Call Later this Week

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USW
Members Respond with Compassion
Locals Across the Country
Send Much-Needed Help to Our Hurricane-Impacted
Sisters and Brothers in the Gulf Region
When hurricanes Ike and
Gustav ravaged the Gulf Coast last fall, our union had a problem. The
Steelworkers Charitable Fund that has been there for so many of our members
facing large-scale tragedy in the past was nearly depleted and unable to assist
our sisters and brothers in the way we would hope. Considering that many
of our members were living in tents pitched on the front lawns of their former
homes, the need was great. Rapid Response issued the news at the end of
last year through our network and locals responded.
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“My
whole family lost everything. It meant the world to us to
get the money from our Union. From the bottom of my heart,
thank you.”
- Jimmy Chlamon
Local 13-423, Beaumont, TX
Thank
you to all locals and individuals making contributions!
To
date, locals have raised nearly $200,000.
A special thanks goes to the following three districts
that led the way in the fundraising efforts:
District
12 ($35,000)
District 13 ($32,000)
District 1 ($29,000)
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If any local still
wishes to contribute, please note to the following:
Checks can be written
to: Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization
Please mail checks to: United Steelworkers, c/o Tim Waters, Rapid
Response, Five Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
The United
Steelworkers Charitable and Education Organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization and contributions are tax deductible.
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Act
Now for U.S. Jobs!
Now that the President has
signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, we have to ensure
that we’re maximizing the benefits. To do this, we need to make sure
that taxpayer dollars are used to every extent possible to create and maintain
jobs in the United States. That’s why our union is leading the way in
getting a Buy American Resolution passed at the state and local level.
This will help ensure accountability in the law and make sure we are maximizing
the number of jobs that are saved and created in these tough economic times.
Action
Instructions
1) Print off the Buy
American Resolution, available in legal size (click HERE)
or letter size (click HERE).
2) Identify local
elected officials that should be targeted. Possibilities include city
councils, county commissioners or council members, school boards, mayors and
others. To view a list of communities and states where the Resolution has
been introduced or passed, click HERE.
Please note: while we are asking for your assistance with local lawmakers,
there are also Steelworker efforts ongoing at the state level. It is
likely that you will be called on to assist as these efforts progress.
3) Call each elected
official and set up a face-to-face meeting where you can present the Resolution.
We are asking that the Resolution be passed at an upcoming council, school
board, etc. meeting.
4) On the Resolution
Progress Report, available HERE,
indicate whether or not each official supported or did not support the
resolution. If they did not make a decision, indicate that you will follow
up in the next week. We expect them to make a decision one way or the
other.
5) Return a copy (or
original, if possible) of any signed Resolutions or Resolution Progress Reports
to:
Email: uswrr@usw.org
Mail: USW Rapid Response, 5 Gateway Center – 7th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Fax: 412-562-2266
6) For
questions, contact your District Rapid Response Coordinator or call Rapid
Response toll-free at 866-311-1889.
What are the
goals of the Resolution?
The Resolution asks that
elected officials:
- Work to maximize the
creation of American jobs and restore economic growth and opportunity by
spending economic recovery plan funds on products and services that both
create jobs and help keep Americans employed;
- Commit to purchase only
products and services that are made or performed in the United States of
America whenever and wherever possible with any economic recovery monies
provided; and
- Commit to publish any
requests to waive these procurement priorities so as to give American
workers and producers the opportunity to identify and provide the American
products and services that will maximize the success of our nation’s
economic recovery program.
If the federal
government has already enacted a Buy American law in the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, why do we need to act at the state and local level?
The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act contains Buy American rules that will help our economy and our
workers. But, the states and local governments who will be carrying out
the infrastructure projects in the Act still have the ability to circumvent
those rules by getting waivers under certain conditions to purchase foreign
products with our taxpayer dollars. Obviously during these tough economic
times that are resulting in the layoffs of thousands of Steelworker members who
are employed in the manufacturing of iron, steel and other goods, we need to
ensure that Buy American rules are implemented as fully as possible – with the
fewest waivers possible! And, when a waiver is sought, we need to know
about it quickly. For this to happen, the process needs to be transparent
and public.
Will some
state and local governments try to claim that the Buy American rules don’t
apply to them because of international trade agreements?
It hasn’t come up to
date, but given that major off-shoring companies are working overtime to
undermine these rules, we might hear this going forward. It’s important
to note that Buy American rules have been around since 1933 when FDR used them
to help pull our country out of the Great Depression, and they’ve been applied
consistently with our obligations under international trade agreements ever
since. The Buy American part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
even specifies that it will be carried out consistently with our obligations
under international trade agreements, and our Resolution reads that the
governing body will “commit to purchase only products and services that are
made or performed in the United States of America whenever and wherever
possible.”
Our bottom line is
that we don’t want elected officials to hide behind “trade agreement
obligations” as a reason to get around ALL the domestic purchasing they CAN do
with taxpayer dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
This is also why we are asking the state and local governments to commit to
publish any requests they make for a waiver of the Buy American rules. We
want to know how our taxpayer dollars are being spent!
What are some
talking points I can use when talking about the need for the Buy American
Resolution?
- To get our nation back
on track, we must get our economy working again and working for the middle
class. In order to do that, we need to insist that our tax dollars are
spent at home, on American-made products.
- The United States is,
by far, the world’s largest importer. We brought in $819 billion in
goods in 2007. This is why Buy American is so important. It is
about using taxpayer dollars, when allowed by our obligations under
international trade agreements, to purchase U.S.-produced goods.
- Four million U.S.
manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2000, amounting to losses of nearly
one-fourth of all U.S. manufacturing jobs. Factory orders now stand at
record lows while the U.S. racked up a $700 billion trade deficit in 2007.
- Buy American ensures
that taxpayer dollars are used to buy goods produced in our country and
create jobs at home.
- According to an
Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) study by the University of
Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute, significant
investment in infrastructure could create more than 250,000 manufacturing
jobs if U.S.-made goods are used.
How do
Americans Feel About Buy American?
Two recent surveys show
that Americans overwhelmingly approve. A Harris Interactive poll found 84
percent favor “Buy American” requirements (66 percent strongly, 18 percent
somewhat). The support was consistent regardless of gender, age, income
level, education or region. A Pew survey also confirmed strong support
with 70 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of
Independents saying the federal economic recovery plan should require that
spending should be limited to U.S.-made goods and services.
Where can I read
more about Buy American?
The Alliance for American
Manufacturing (AAM) has done a great job of outlining why infrastructure
spending creates jobs, and how the job-creation is maximized by spending
taxpayer dollars on U.S. goods. Click HERE
for their infrastructure report. The AAM has also debunked many of the Buy
America myths in another report entitled, Buy America: Key to America’s
Economic Recovery, available HERE.
For
additional resources and assistance, contact Rapid Response toll-free
at 866-311-1889 or visit the following websites:
www.uswrr.org
www.makeourfuturework.org
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An
Investment in America:
A Summary of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
President Obama just
signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law. In addition to
the Buy America provisions we alerted you to last week, there are many other
highlights for Steelworkers and our laid-off sisters and brothers.
This Act:
- Modernizes
Roads, Bridges, Transit and Waterways – Billions for modernizing
public infrastructure will help us create good jobs while investing in the
needs for the future.
- Creates Green
Jobs – Green jobs are quality jobs that help improve our
environment. The bill includes money to update the electricity grid,
make government buildings more efficient, retrofit housing, conduct research
for renewable energy, clean up waterways and hazardous environmental sites,
and train workers for these types of jobs.
- Extends and
Increases Unemployment Compensation (UC) and Temporarily Suspends Federal
Taxes on UC – The Act extends Emergency Unemployment
Compensation, which is 33 weeks of extended coverage beyond state benefits,
through the end of 2009. It also increases unemployment weekly
benefits by an additional $25 through 2009 and temporarily suspends federal
income tax on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits per recipient on a
temporary basis.
- Provides
Assistance with COBRA – When faced with a layoff and the end of
employer-provided healthcare, employees have the option to continue their
healthcare if they pay the full cost, which is cost-prohibitive for most
unemployed people. The Act provides a 65 percent subsidy for COBRA for
up to 9 months for employees laid off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31,
2009. It is estimated that this will help 7 million people maintain
their healthcare.
- Expands Trade
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Programs – TAA will now extend to
service sector workers and workers affected by offshoring or outsourcing to
all countries. It increases training funds, creates a TAA program for
affected communities, gives automatic TAA eligibility for workers suffering
from import surges and unfair trade, and allows for easier access and more
flexibility with TAA healthcare, training and reemployment benefits.
- Helps Pay for
Education – Rising education costs coupled with stagnating wages,
the credit crisis and job losses mean fewer of us can afford higher
education for ourselves or our children. The Act provides money for
Pell Grants and college work-study programs. It also contains money to
improve head start programs, programs for disadvantaged kids, special
education programs, and child-care for low-income families with working
parents.
- Provides
Tax Cuts for 95% of Working Families – For 2009 and 2010, the Act
gives a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals and $800
for working families.
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Rapid
Response Has a HUGE Day on Capitol Hill!
Our Fight Secures a Strong “Buy America” Provision, Stops Outsourcers’
Efforts that Would
Undermine U.S. Jobs, Helps Move Obama’s Economic Renewal Plan Forward AND
Puts Pressure on Congress to Pass the Employee Free Choice Act!
•On February 4th, nearly 800 Rapid Response activists
converged upon Capitol Hill to tell their Senators: Pass a strong economic
renewal plan, and ensure that those dollars support U.S. workers through a
common-sense Buy America provision. Also, as these activists were making
our demands in person, more than 3,800 USW members in key states were calling a
handful of targeted senators to give them the same message by phone.
• While this was happening, the nation’s chief
outsourcers – those same people who push for unfair trade at every turn –
have been denouncing Buy America in favor of spending the money on foreign goods
for our building projects and infrastructer.
• The outsourcers have a key ally on their side; John
McCain tried to rally fellow Senators behind an amendment he introduced to strip
the strong Buy America provision from the bill. The good news is that the
McCain amendment failed by a vote of 65 to 31. All Democrats voted against
the McCain bill. All Republicans except Snowe (ME), Vitter (LA), Collins
(ME), Hutchison (TX), Burr (NC), Graham (SC), Specter (PA), Brownback (KS), and
Grassley (IA) voted for the McCain amendment. Independent Sen. Lieberman
voted with McCain.
• Also, we extended the Buy America provisions to
include ALL manufactured products and not just iron and steel as the House
version calls for.
• The Senate is expected to vote on the overall bill
that includes the Buy America provision very soon. Because the House has
already passed another version of the bill, details will need to be worked out.
Rapid Response will continue to track progress.
• We also started the delivery of a million and a half
cards in support of the Employee Free Choice Act and told our Senators and
Representatives that we need this bill to make our economy work for everyone
again. Dozens more are now cosponsors!
We
congratulate all our activists who did such a great job
convincing our Senators to do the right thing and everyone who has been
driving our Employee Free Choice Act efforts across the country.
Yesterday’s actions are proof that we are making a difference!
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2008
Rapid Response Appreciation
Drawing Winner!
As a thank
you to all USW members who have taken action to help pass the Employee Free
Choice Act (EFCA) and other critical USW issues, there was a drawing for a new
2009 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle or the cash equivalent. The entry
into the drawing was a card to be sent to the next President and Congress urging
quick passage of the EFCA. The winner was also required to be registered
to vote.
And
the winner is:
Robert Embert
Local 8567
District 10
WAY TO GO
ROBERT!
Congratulations
to Robert. His ticket was drawn from more than 120,000 that were sent in.
Thank you again to all USW members for your work to pass the Employee Free
Choice Act. The fight is not over yet. We will keep you informed on
our next steps and, as always, USW Rapid Response will lead the way as we fight
to secure the rights of workers to form a union in their workplace.
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Rapid
Response Conference Set for
February 3-6, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
Get your
registrations in soon!
We’re on the verge of having a new President and Congress. The first
months of next
year will be a critical time in Washington. We’ve got a unique
opportunity to advance our issues as business gets started – and we’re doing
that through a National Rapid Response Conference.
Join us from February 3-6 in Washington, DC to:
- Raise our issues on Capitol Hill and in lawmakers’
offices;
- Hear from top elected officials;
- Learn critical information on our issues to take back to
our locals;
- Understand how to build and grow a Rapid Response program;
and
- Join with environmental activists and others to learn more
about our union’s innovative work to create the “green jobs” of the
future.
View
the Rapid Response Conference Call Letter that includes additional
conference details.
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Presidential
Candidate Comparison
Trade
| |
Obama
|
McCain
|
|
Anti-Sweatshop
Bill
The Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition
Act, S. 367
This Steelworker-driven legislation works to ensure fair compeition
and global worker rights by stopping products that are made in
sweatshops from being sold on our shelves.
|
Right
Cosponsored the bill.
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Wrong
Has not cosponsored the bill.
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Colombia
Free Trade Agreement
Colombia has the most murders of union members
of any country around the globe. This pending free trade agreement does
nothing to protect workers.
|
Right
Opposes the agreement:
“. . .the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery
of the very labor protections that we have insisted be included in these
kinds of agreements.”
Speech in Philadelphia on 4/2/08
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Wrong
Supports the agreement:
“I strongly support this vital trade pact and urge my colleagues
to support its swift passage.”
McCain Press Release, 4/7/08
|
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Central America
Free Trade Agreement
This NAFTA-style agreement expanded anti-worker,
anti-environment trade policy to six additional countries.
|
Right
Voted to oppose the agreement.
HR 3405, Roll Call Vote 209, 7/28/05
|
Wrong
Voted to support the agreement.
HR 3405, Roll Call Vote 209, 7/28/05
|
| Approach to
Trade |
“When
I am President, I will not sign another trade agreement unless it has
protections for our environment and protections for American workers. .
.we will end the tax breaks for companies who ship our jobs overseas,
and we will give those breaks to companies who create good jobs with
decent wages right here in America.”
Speech in Janesville, WI, 2/13/08 |
“I'm
the biggest free marketer and free trader that you will ever see.”
Comment during the Republican Presidential Debate in
Johnston, Iowa, 12/12/07
|
Right = Supports the USW Position
Wrong = Opposes the USW Position
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OCTOBER 14,
2008
CANDIDATE COMPARISON
Presidential
Candidate Comparison
Health
Care
| |
Obama
Plan
|
McCain
Plan
|
| Do employers have to
offer coverage? |
No. Employers must
offer "meaningful" coverage or contribute a percentage of
payroll towards the costs of public plan for uninsured. |
No. |
| Is private insurance
eliminated? |
No. |
No. |
| Who
must be covered? |
Mandates health
care for all American children. |
Does not mandate
any coverage. |
| How would the plan
work? |
Establishes
a national plan similar to what Members of Congress receive for those
without employer coverage and small businesses. Income-related
subsidies and assistance would be available to buy into the new national
plan. |
A
new tax would be imposed on all workers receiving employer-provided
coverage; tax benefits for employers offering coverage would be
eliminated. Individuals will be given a $2,500 tax credit and
families a $5,000 credit for insurance costs. Credits would be
sent directly to insurance companies. |
| Would there be any
new regulations on health insurance companies? |
Yes.
Would outlaw current insurer abuses such as denying coverage to people
with pre-existing conditions. Would set standards for private
insurance plans requiring them to provide benefits at least as generous
as the new pubic plan. Would require that children be able to stay
on a parent’s plan until age 25. |
No.
Plan deregulates health care by allowing companies to sell across state
lines, which means insurance companies can choose the rules they
want to follow (because they would be able to avoid state
consumer-protection laws). |
| What does the plan
mean for Steelworkers? |
Cost
containment strategies will help stem the outrageous annual increases in
premiums that employers keep trying to pass off on us. With more
of the uninsured covered, providers will no longer have to recoup the
lost revenue by charging more to the insured. Also, those retiring
without employer-provided care that are not yet eligible for Medicare
would be eligible for the new plans (which will be paid for in part by
federal income-related subsidies). Children of Steelworkers will
now have coverage until the age of 25 through their parents insurance. |
Most
active and retired Steelworkers have employer-provided coverage, so we
will pay the new income tax. Younger, healthy workers may forgo
employer-provided coverage for a plan on the open market since they get
the best rates on insurance. If employers are left with mostly
older workers and those with pre-existing conditions to cover, costs
will rise substantially resulting in higher premiums and employer
attempts to eliminate health care entirely. If employers drop
coverage, USW members will be tossed into the open market, paying
substantially more than they are right now (family coverage is expected
to average $14,000 in 2009). Those with pre-existing conditions,
older workers and many others may face an even more difficult time. |
*Does not apply to small businesses;
small businesses will have access to tax credits for offering plans.
Employees of small businesses that don't offer coverage will have access to the
national plan.
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OCTOBER 9,
2008
INFO ALERT
Important 2008 Rapid Response
Appreciation Drawing Announcement:
Deadline
Extended
We have recently received many requests from locals to extend
the deadline for the Employee Free Choice Act cards for the 2008 Rapid Response
Appreciation Drawing. Because of the number of these requests and to
ensure that all locals are given equal opportunity, the deadline is being
extended for an additional two weeks.
Please have all cards sent in by October
24. Cards sent in after that date will not be entered into the drawing.
Locals should take this extra time to ensure that all members in
all areas and units are given an opportunity to participate. 
As a reminder, completed cards should be sent to Rapid Response
as soon as possible at:
USW Rapid Response
5 Gateway Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Questions?
Call us on the toll-free Action Hotline:
866-311-1889
Where prohibited by applicable law, neither the
offering nor awarding of the prize shall be valid or enforceable.
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October 7, 2008

Presidential
Candidate Comparison
The
Employee Free Choice Act
|
|
Rapid Response has
consistently urged lawmakers to support the Employee Free Choice Act,
legislation that would restore the freedom to form a union and ultimately help
rebuild America’s middle class. The bill provides tougher penalties for
employers that threaten, intimidate and fire workers who want to join a union;
requires employers to recognize a union when a majority of employees sign cards
authorizing the union to represent them; and ensures a first contract after
organizing. This bill will eliminate much of the illegal activity by
employers and allow workers to truly have a right to form a union in their
workplace if they so desire.

|
|
Right = Supports
the USW position. Wrong = Opposes the USW position.
|
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September 3, 2008
Rapid Response Says THANKS!
Rapid Response has asked much of our activists in the past few
years. The work that has been done
on the Employee Free Choice Act in particular has been
outstanding. Thanks to your efforts, the
Steelworkers are leading the way in the labor movement on this
critical issue. Now is our time to
say thank you!
Each local president should have recently received free entry
cards and instructions for the 2008
Rapid Response Appreciation Drawing in the mail. The person
whose card is drawn will receive his
or her choice of a USW-made 2009 Harley Davidson Fat Boy
motorcycle or $16,000 cash.
Appropriately, the entry card for this drawing will be used as
part of our union’s efforts to pass the
Employee Free Choice Act. These cards will reinforce our message
to the next president and
Congress that we need this bill.
Please Note: To win, the person whose name is drawn must be an
active, retired or associate member AND be
registered to vote. Persons who are already registered are not
required to re-register to participate. All members
should be given an opportunity to be part of the drawing! Cards
should be mailed to Rapid Response by October
10, 2008 at USW Rapid Response, 5 Gateway Center, 7 th
Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
1. Get Registered to Vote
2. Fill Out a Card & Mail to
Rapid Response
3. Help Our Union Pass the
Employee Free Choice Act
4. Win a USW-Made Harley
Davidson Motorcycle!
Questions? Call us on the toll-free Action Hotline at:
866-311-1889
Where prohibited by applicable law, neither the offering nor
awarding of the prize shall be valid or enforceable.
USW Rapid Response ? (412)
562-2291 ? http://www.uswrr.org
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August 20, 2008
Voter Registration Action About to Begin
The election is fast approaching. Voting is critical to our
efforts to hold elected officials
accountable. When union members and their families turn out to
vote in large numbers,
legislators pay more attention to our issues. In order to be
ready to vote, we need to ensure
that all our members’ registrations are current.
Rapid Response is in the process of mailing packets
of voter registration information to each Local Union
President. Questions on the Action can be directed to
Rapid Response on the toll-free, 24-hour hotline at
1-866-311-1889.
What are some reasons a person might need to register or
re-register?
• Never having voted before
• Removed from the rolls
because of not voting in a recent election
• Moved
• Changed names
• To receive an updated
voter id card (helpful since so many polling locations have
changed in recent years)
• Change political party
affiliation (in some states)
• Completed punishment for
a felony
Also, watch for materials on the free 2008 Rapid
Response Appreciation Drawing enclosed in the
packets!
Are you from one of the following states?
See the following page for additional instructions for your
voter registration action.
CA, GA, IL, LA, MN, MO, NV, OH, OR, SD, VA, CO, DE, FL, MD, NM
or TX
USW Rapid Response ?
(412) 562-2291 ?
http://www.uswrr.org
State-Specific Voter Registration Drive Rules
CA, GA, IL, LA, MN, MO, NV, OH, OR, SD & VA :
If you are conducting a drive in the following states, please
note that per state
law there are timeframes for mailing in voter registration forms
once you collect
them from an applicant. Please quickly return forms in order to
comply with the
following deadlines:
California – 3 days
Georgia – 10 days
Illinois – 7 days
Louisiana – 30 days
Minnesota – 10 days
Missouri – 7 days
Nevada – 10 days
Ohio – 10 days
Oregon – 5 days
South Dakota – 10 days
Virginia – 15 days
CO, DE, FL, MD, NM & TX:
If you are from any of the following states, please call your
Rapid Response
Coordinator before starting any voter registration activity in
your workplace.
These states have extensive rules for voter registration and we
will be modifying
our actions in these areas to comply.
Colorado Coordinator: Gaylan Prescott – 360-560-6131
Delaware Coordinator: Frank Palombaro – 716-565-1720
Florida Coordinator: Greg England – 205-602-1679
Maryland Coordinator: Ronnie Watson – 540-354-6173
New Mexico Coordinator: Gaylan Prescott – 360-560-6131
Texas Coordinator: Ben Lilienfeld – 832-373-9754
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Taking Back Our Economy – Part 17 August
6, 2008
Economic Snapshot
While the Rapid Response Taking Back Our Economy series has
taken a break for a few months during
ongoing actions, the downturn in the U.S. economy keeps getting
worse. This InfoAlert gives a quick snapshot
of job trends shaping our economy right now.
USW Rapid Response ?
(412) 562-2291 ?
http://www.uswrr.org
Jobs by the Numbers
463,000 Jobs lost so far
this year
7 Number of months we’ve
seen a consistent
decline in job numbers
5.7% July 2008
unemployment rate
4.7% July 2007
unemployment rate
33.6 Average weekly hours
worked in July 2008
2003 The last year the
average weekly hours were this low
2.8% Amount weekly
earnings were up in July 2008
4-5% Current rate of
inflation (resulting in eroding wages!)
5.7 million Part-time
workers who would prefer to work
full-time in July 2008*
4.3 million Part-time
workers who would prefer to work
full-time in July 2007
*This is the highest number since this Bureau of Labor
Statistics started compiling the data this way in 1994.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics data as analyzed by the Economic Policy
Institute, August 1, 2008.
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A
Fight We Must Win
When we get involved in the current Rapid Response Action Call opposing the
Colombia Free Trade Agreement, we are fighting the kind of trade agreement that
sends good-paying USW jobs offshore. We are fighting for stable
communities and families. We are also making a statement that it’s
completely unacceptable for the United States to be considering a trade
agreement with a country that has the top rate of union member murders in the
world.
|
|
How are USW members getting their
Senators and Representatives to sign on to our statement
opposing the Colombia Free Trade Agreement?
- In Ohio, various USW locals are calling their Members of
Congress and asking them to sign the statement opposing the
Colombia Free Trade Agreement. They are planning press
events so that Members of Congress can sign the statement
publicly.
- USW members belonging to Local 8751 in Boston,
Massachusetts, held an event this week with a Colombian
labor leader to highlight the failures of the trade
agreement and grow support for opposing the agreement.
- In Tennessee, many USW members are meeting with four
different Representatives this week to encourage them to
sign on to the statement.
- Locals 7150 and 1189 in Oregon recently visited with their
Congressman and secured a signature. Also in Oregon at
a meeting of USW local unions, participants passed around
cell phones and made phone calls to their Senators and
Representatives.
- Michigan Local 5965 had their members sign a petition that
asked their Members of Congress to sign the statement
opposing the trade agreement.
Not
yet taking action?
Please join the fight!
Download the
ActionCall and Statement by clicking here and get involved today!
Note: To request a fax version of the ActionCall and Statement, call Rapid
Response at the number below.
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IT'S TIME TO GET INVOLVED.
If we the people can get
congress to rapidly pass a bill to make foreign clothing manufacturers stop
using dog and cat hair in our children's clothing....then why can't we get
congress to pass a bill that prohibits the use of foreign 'sweat shops' as
makers of clothing for our retail stores?...or prevent job exporting
(outsourcing) to worsen the plight of the American labor force and then
importing "Toxic" Products that are sickening and killing the Adults
and Children of this great country?
|
|
Write your congressperson
or senator.
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The
United Steelworkers (USW) on January 16 called for congressional hearings
on President George W. Bush’s proposed “Merida Initiative” to provide $1.4
billion to Mexican security forces after federal and state police attacked
striking workers at Grupo
Mexico
’s Cananea copper mine in
Sonora
, where ten union members were injured. A
thousand federal police are now occupying the mine and the surrounding area.
In
a letter to Rep. Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
and Rep. David Obey, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, USW
International president Leo W. Gerard urged both committees to convene hearings
on labor rights violations in Mexico as part of their examination of the
administration’s funding request; that they develop specific labor rights
benchmarks that Mexico must meet in order to receive funding; and that the
entire funding package be directed toward strengthening human rights and the
rule of law.
“The
attack on the Cananea miners is just the most recent in a series of repressive
actions by the Mexican government,” Gerard wrote. “The Calderón
administration’s flagrant violations of workers’ fundamental rights to
organize and bargain and its continuing use of security forces to assault
unarmed workers, raise serious questions about the desirability of providing
Mexico
with additional security funding.”
Gerard
pointed out that the USW is second to none in defending our nation’s security,
but added that our security is best preserved by defending human rights before
lambasting the Mexican government for its unnecessary brutality in trying to
repress the striking workers.
“
Mexico
cannot be allowed to violate workers’ human
rights with impunity under the pretense of securing borders and combating narco-trafficking,”
he said.
The
USW represents 850,000 workers in the
United States
and
Canada
employed in the metals, rubber, chemicals,
paper, oil refining and other industries as well as the service and public
sectors.
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August 05, 2008
Rapid
Response Says THANKS!
Rapid Response has asked
much of our activists in the past few years. The work that has been done
on the Employee Free Choice Act in particular has been outstanding. Thanks
to your efforts, the Steelworkers are leading the way in the labor movement on
this critical issue. Now is our time to say thank you!
Each local president
should have recently received free entry cards and instructions for the 2008
Rapid Response Appreciation Drawing in the mail. The person whose card is
drawn will receive his or her choice of a USW-made 2009 Harley Davidson Fat Boy
motorcycle or $16,000 cash. Appropriately, the entry card for this drawing
will be used as part of our union’s efforts to pass the Employee Free Choice
Act. These cards will reinforce our message to the next president and
Congress that we need this bill.
Please Note:
To win, the person whose name is drawn must be an active, retired or associate
member AND be registered to vote. Persons who are already registered are
not required to re-register to participate. All members should be given an
opportunity to be part of the drawing! Cards should be mailed to Rapid
Response by October 10, 2008 at USW Rapid Response, 5 Gateway Center, 7th Floor,
Pittsburgh, PA 15222.
1. Get Registered
to Vote
2. Fill Out a Card
& Mail to Rapid Response
3. Help Our Union
Pass the Employee Free Choice Act
4. Win a USW-Made
Harley Davidson Motorcycle!
Questions?
Call us on the toll-free Action Hotline at:
866-311-1889
Where
prohibited by applicable law, neither the offering nor awarding of the prize
shall be valid or enforceable.
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To
USW LOCAL 608 MEMBERS,
For those of you who may not have seen USW President, Leo W. Gerard on
the Lou Dobbs show the other night, attached is a portion of the
programming from that night.
Click
on this to see USW President, Leo W. Gerard.
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It’s
Time to Bust the Union Busters
Most
of us never had to build our union.
Others who came before us organized it.
Today, workers trying to organize are often subjected to
illegal activities by the boss to stop them from forming a union.
Most
companies today whose workers want to exercise their right to form a
union hire “union busters.” These
high priced lawyers are specialists at intimidation of workers.
They
routinely advise their clients to break the law by
terminating union leaders, knowing they may never even be punished.
Then, even if workers overcome all of the scare tactics and
illegal firings, chances are the boss will never negotiate a contract
with the workers.
The
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will give workers the ability to form
a union in the workplace freely.
This bill that was nearly passed in the House last session
will: 1) Guarantee that
if a majority of workers in a workplace sign a union card they have
their union; 2) Provide
stiff penalties for employers who break the law during organizing
campaigns by their workers, and 3)
Mandate that any first contracts not approved in a reasonable
amount of time go to an arbitrator for final decision.
Take action today to pass the EFCA.
Make
a Toll Free Call Today
1-866-340-9279
1.
Check the attached list to
see if your Representative is already a co-sponsor.
2.
If not, call your
Representative and tell them to co-sponsor the EFCA by calling
Rep. George Miller’s office and adding their name.
3.
If / When your
Representative has co-sponsored, call your
U.S.
Senators and tell them to do the same by calling Sen. Kennedy’s
office.
4.
Report to your Rapid Response District Coordinator on new co-sponsors.
It’s
Time to Bust the Union Busters
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