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POLITICAL REPEAL RIGHT-TO-WORK SUPPORT UNION NATIONAL PAPER BARGAINING

                                                 

 
 
LOOK FOR UPDATES AND PICTURES FROM THIS MONTHS RAPID RESPONSE CONFERENCE! 


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.

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!

  

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!

 


Please click on the following link
and stand up for Steelworker jobs by selecting #4:
“Implement a new high or higher tariff and extend it permanently.”

http://www.tirebusiness.com/tbpoll/poll.html?pollid=1283189846
 

For more information on the outcome of the tire case, click HERE.  
 

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.


 

--- You are currently subscribed to rapidresponse as: thewelles@clearwire.net. To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-176101-1021637.89adb9142a0aeb4275295183d68c6385@listserv.steelworkers.org Unsubscribe Me

 

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

 

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!   

 

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. 

 

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!

 

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. 
 

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!   

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!

 

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

 

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

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.

 

 

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.

 

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. 

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!

 

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!    

 
 

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.

Click to watch the video and make a call!
 

  

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!

 

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.

CLICK HERE: For Idaho and Washington Congressmen' Phone and addresses.

 


  

“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.

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.


  

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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.
 

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

 

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.

 
 

 

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  
 

  

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  
 

  

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. 

 

“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)

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. 

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 InstructionsMake Our Future Work Logo

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 

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.  

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!  

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.

 

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.

 

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.

Wrong
Has not cosponsored the bill.

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

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

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 

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.  

 

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.
 

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.

 

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, 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.

USW Rapid Response ? (412) 562-2291 ? http://www.uswrr.org

 

 

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
 

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.
 

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.

 

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.
 

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.  

 

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.
 

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.

 

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