STEELWORKERS VOTE ELECTION 2010

Transcription

1 UNITED STEELWORKERS UNITY AND STRENGTH FOR WORKERS NEWS BULLETIN OCTOBER 04 STEELWORKERS VOTE ELECTION 2010 IN THIS EDITION: A Message from President Gerard / Young Steelworkers Speak Out on the Deficit / USW 2010 Campaign News Cover: Endorsed candidate Betty Sutton met in September with Steelworkers and other union members at USW Local 2L in Akron, OH. Story inside.

2 Brothers and Sisters, A MESSAGE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT As we all work to regain our footing in the aftermath of the Great Recession, the United Steelworkers has taken the lead on efforts to create and protect American jobs. Weʼve already fought successful trade cases that are protecting workers in rubber and pipe production, and weʼre actively pursuing cases that would boost paper and other sectors. Weʼre working to promote manufacturing and prevent offshoring by taking China to task for their unfair, illegal, and job-killing trade practices. And weʼre constantly fighting to protect our workers by pushing for improved health and safety laws. But our success often depends on support from elected officials. That is one reason why it is absolutely vital that we elect pro-worker allies when we vote in Novemberʼs midterm elections. It is not my job to tell our Unionʼs members how to vote. But it is my job to fight for policies that will protect our members and their livelihoods. To ensure our continued success, it is crucial that elected officials are on our side and willing to hear our concerns. Otherwise, weʼll be shouting into deaf ears and our efforts will go nowhere. In the coming weeks, youʼll be hearing from the Union and your fellow Steelworkers with information on our candidates and the choices we face in I hope you will seriously consider this information and ultimately decide to join me and thousands of others as we support candidates who will stand with the Steelworkers and fight for our working families. Thereʼs simply too much at stake for us to stay home. In solidarity, Leo W. Gerard International President BY THE NUMBERS: 1,200 worksite coordinators 675,000 leaflets distributed more than 100,000 member-to-member phone calls

3 NEXT UP: YOUNG STEELWORKERS Fellow Steelworkers, It seems to be their new mantra: Cut this, filibuster that, or vote against everything because we canʼt burden future generations with spending and deficits. We think thatʼs the wrong approach. Unemployment among younger workers has risen to 19%. An additional 17% are underemployed: Millions of our peers have had their hours and benefits slashed, or have been forced into part-time jobs that canʼt make ends meet. We simply canʼt afford to make cuts at the expense of younger workers, and thatʼs why weʼre asking you to hear our case. To reduce deficits over the long term, we need to make smart investments that will create jobs, enhance productivity, and foster innovation in industries that will grow for years to come. We should support infrastructure projects that will allow future workers to be more productive: not just roads and bridges, but also 21st century technology infrastructure that will make it easier for us to communicate and share information as we produce new goods and services. We should invest in clean energy that will create new jobs in manufacturing, construction, and distribution. And it is crucial that we support community colleges, vocational schools, and worker training programs that will allow us to compete and win in a global economy. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership disagrees. They voted against funding for worker training programs at community colleges. Theyʼre preparing to block improvements to 150,000 miles of roads and 4,000 miles of railways. And legislation for green energy jobs will go nowhere under a Republican Congress. Reducing our debt is important. But we know that deficits shrink when we invest wisely, create jobs, and grow our economy not when we undermine the new generation of workers. We canʼt support people who are using us as an excuse for policies that will sabotage our future. And on behalf of other young Steelworkers, we hope you wonʼt, either. Please stand with us in November when we vote for a better future. Sincerely, USW Next Up Delegates Young workers from 26 Unions gathered in DC this spring to discuss the future of the labor movement. Our USW delegates met again in Pittsburgh on September 20 & 21 to plan follow up action and share ideas with the USW International Executive Board.

4 STEELWORKERS SUPPORT SUTTON Betty Sutton the Representative for Ohioʼs 13th District and one of the USWʼs toughest and most loyal allies took time to meet with union members at the United Steelworkers Local 2L in Akron. USW President Gerard and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown joined Sutton for the event, where they talked about the importance of her work on behalf of Ohio manufacturing. Sheʼs become their protector in the House, Roll Call has said of Suttonʼs tireless work for union members and working families. President Gerard has joined with volunteers across the country, where they are explaining the stark contrast between candidates who will stand up for working families and those who are still siding with Wall Street. Iʼm going to come back before November, Gerard told the crowd, urging everyone to get involved in the campaign. For more information on how you can be part of the USWʼs effort to support pro-worker candidates like Betty Sutton, you can speak to your worksite coordinator, call , or visit and select your state on the USW Nation Map. WOMEN OF STEEL LAUNCH NEW CAMPAIGN FOR WORKING WOMEN Women from Local 3657 are participating in a new campaign to ensure that working women have their voices heard in November. From now until Election Day, theyʼll be writing postcards reminding other working women to vote on November 2nd. Theyʼve put out a call to action and are asking other USW women to join their initiative. Interested women can contact Local Union Womenʼs Committees for information on the campaign and how to volunteer. Chinaʼs deliberately undervalued currency acts as an unfair subsidy for Chinese exports to the U.S., artificially making their products as much as 40% cheaper due to exchange rates. FIGHTING FOR FAIR TRADE This currency manipulation also means that U.S. products are as much as 40% more expensive when exported and sold in China. Itʼs an unfair advantage that weʼre working to fix. USW allies in the House recently joined with others to pass legislation that would push China to end this manipulation - or face sanctions on imports. The fight now moves to the Senate, where Senator Schumer is pushing a similar bill. To encourage your Senator to support fairer trade with China, please call and ask to be connected with your Senatorʼs office.

5 PENNSYLVANIA LOCALS HOST RAFFLE TO SUPPORT STEELWORKERS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE In Northwest Pennsylvania, nearly a dozen USW Locals came together to host a gun raffle. The annual event, now in its 9th year, was overflowing with Steelworkers, families, and friends: Some enjoyed the food and barbecue pits, while hundreds of sportsmen and collectors tried their luck at the raffles, which included hunting and fishing gear in addition to over 40 guns. With proceeds going to the Steelworkers Political Action Committee, events like this help to fund one of the key ways that the USW works to make sure that our members have a voice in political processes that are often flooded with cash from corporations, free trade groups, and their lobbyists. WISCONSIN STEELWORKERS RALLY AGAINST ANTI-WORKER CANDIDATE FOR SENATE Last month, Steelworkers and their families in Wisconsin led a rally against Ron Johnson, the candidate for Senate against Russ Feingold. Johnson, a millionaire businessman, has a long history of backing corporate interests over Wisconsinʼs workers: He strongly supports trade deals that cost thousands of local jobs and refused to allow workers at his business to form a union. Pacur is a non-union plant and is dedicate to stay[ing] that way, says his companyʼs manual United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union - 5 Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15222