VIDEO: New ad highlights unemployed's power: voting

May 14, 2010

Check out this new add for the UCubed project that highlights the unemployment problem and encourages voting:

New Yorker opens store that exclusively sells American-made products

April 01, 2010

WIVB in New York recently aired a story about an Elma man who has opened a business that exclusively sells products made in America.

Mark Andol said part of why he opened his store was to try to supply jobs for Americans, including those who have been laid off because their jobs were moved overseas. Click here for more of the story.

More than just numbers: Impact of Great Recession goes far and deep

March 12, 2010

The Economic Policy Institute recently released a new fact sheet that has some stunning data. It shows that the Great Recession and the toll of joblessness is great. For example, some 2.2 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since the beginning of the recession, or nearly 16 percent of all jobs in that sector. Click here for the entire fact sheet.

USW Health Insurance Tool Kit Updated with Latest Obama Plan

February 22, 2010

President Obama has released a proposal he says is a starting point for discussions during Thursday's scheduled bipartisan meeting on health insurance reform. Click here to review the proposal and other news in our health insurance reform tool kit.

More and more agree that manufacturing is the answer

February 17, 2010

Support for manufacturing continues to grow in the United States, as the results of a new poll show and as more and more economists - even conservative ones - say that returning to a manufacturing-based economy is what our nation needs to create good jobs. Check out this blog by Mike Elk posted today on the Huffington Post:

Protecting manufacturing jobs has long been considered an issue that only people in the Midwest or in unions cared about. However, a recent USA Today/ Gallup Poll showed that Americans believe the number one way to solve the jobs crisis is to keep manufacturing jobs in the U.S. 

The manufacturing jobs crisis has been accelerating rapidly; 5.5 million high-paying manufacturing jobs have been lost since 2000, with an incredible 2.1 million lost in the last two years alone. Such rapid loss has startled even typically free-trade-loving political pundits into agreeing that something needs to be done to protect manufacturing. Establishment columnist Robert Samuelson wrote in The Washington Post this weekend:

Greater conflicts and a collision of national egos seem inevitable. No longer should we sit passively while China's trade and currency policies jeopardize jobs here and elsewhere. Political differences between the countries are increasingly hard to ignore. 

It's not just low-skill jobs that are disappearing anymore; it's high technology jobs that were suppose to be the new core of the U.S. economy that are leaving as well. Recently, 19 U.S. trade associations, which have traditionally backed free-trade measures, asked the Obama administration to take action against China's efforts to force them to turn over advanced technologies developed with American taxpayer money. 

On the trade front, President Obama has taken some preliminary steps to stem this threat to the American economy, such as enforcing an anti-dumping ruling against Chinese tire makers last year. Also, Obama released a "Framework for Revitalizing American Manufacturing," which Steelworkers President Leo Gerard labeled a "good start." 

However, China is taking advantage of U.S. Senate inaction on stimulus investment to jockey to the top of the race to lead the global economy. China invested 70 percent of its yearly budget into stimulus spending to keep its economy going through the economic downturn. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats fumble with a severely inadequate $15-billion-dollar jobs package. Former AT&T Broadband Chairman Leo Hindrey argues in a must-read piece today that an inadequate stimulus response is actually creating an opportunity for the Chinese to pull ahead of the US: 

China's economy is visibly re-booming while much of the world, especially America, continues to face severe economic problems. The Great Recession has in fact quickly turned into China's "great opportunity," with American companies cutting both their payrolls and their capital spending, thereby driving business to China at the same time that Chinese manufacturers are boosting their global competitiveness, directly on their own and indirectly through subsidies from their partner central government. 

Companies aren't moving to China simply to take advantage of cheaper labor costs in low-skill production work; today it's to build computer chips and wind turbines, taking advantage of the infrastructure subsidies, tax breaks and, of course, illegal currency manipulation that is responsible for 90 percent of the savings associated with manufacturing in China. (Currency manipulation alone  accounts for 25% of the savings, according to  Economist Peter Moriri). 

As Norbert Sporns, a Seattle-based CEO who recently moved some production to China, said, "The major reason why we're [now] sited [in China] is not because of cheaper labor, but because of government support, because of the infrastructure that is laid out properly." 

As Congress looks for ways to solve the unemployment crisis it should invest in increased infrastructure spending with Strong Buy America provisions. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that $2.2 trillion is needed over five years to bring it back to proper conditions. Investing in infrastructure does more than put people to work right away building roads, bridges, etc; it helps create the type of environment business to succeed--something China is kicking our butt in. It also helps American manufacturing grow as jobs gains from infrastructure investment can increase by up to 33 percent when strong Buy America provisions are included. 

In order to have a real jobs bill, we must invest heavily in infrastructure with a strong Buy America provisions. It would also help Creating would help states a $357 billion budget shortfall and local governments are facing an additional $80 billion budget shortfall. This could help create million of jobs, revitalize American manufacturing, and keeps states from being forced to choose between cutting education or stopping bridges from falling down. 

Senate Democrats should go back to the drawing board and do a real job bills that makes America competitive with China by investing in infrastructure with Buy America provisions. A recent Gallup poll shows there is broad bipartisan support for this among the American public. More importantly to some Senate Democrats, there is broad support from the establishment pundits that they often seem more concerned about pleasing. Our economy, with China on the rise, can simply not afford inaction by the United States Senate.

USW Updates Resource Guide for Laid-Off Members

January 13, 2010

It's a sad reality: too many of our USW sisters and brothers have been laid off. When you lose a job, it's devastating in so many ways. We've put together a resource guide that we hope will help you through some of the confusing times. Click here to download the guide.

Recenty laid-off may be eligible for help with health insurance

January 05, 2010

The economic recovery bill signed by President Obama offers help with health insurance for recently laid off people. Here's more info, which has been updated Jan. 5, 2010:

• The USW has explained the benefit and addresses frequently asked questions in this memo. Click here to download.
• The Kaiser Family Foundation released some helpful information on the COBRA subsidy. You can ready about it by clicking here. 
• Families USA, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans, gives a summary of COBRA subsidy provisions in the new law. The subsidy takes effect with month of coverage immediately following enactment (so March coverage), although there may be some bureaucratic delays. Click here for info from Families USA.   
• If you're a recently laid-off USW member, click here for the resource guide we put together to try to help you get through this difficult time.
• The Associated Press today wrote about the important COBRA subsidy. You can read an excerpt of their article below or click here to read it in its entirety.
  

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cassandra J. Kelsey has tried to cut back on all her expenses since losing her job in January. But suffering from degenerative arthritis, she can't do without health care. That's why the 55-year-old District of Columbia resident was excited when President Barack Obama's economic stimulus bill included a provision to slash costs for laid-off workers' health insurance.

And that's why she was distressed to learn that, because the Obama administration has yet to tell employers exactly how to make the benefit work, it'll be weeks or months before she can claim it.

"I don't know how I'm going to make it," Kelsey said.

At issue is a program known as COBRA that allows workers to keep their company's health insurance plan for 18 months after they leave their job, if they pay the premiums.

The policies are so expensive that only a minority of eligible workers sign up, and they are often those with medical conditions that demand attention. Costs for a family of four can top $1,000 per month.

A $25 billion provision in the stimulus bill aims to cut COBRA's price tag, reducing its cost by 65 percent for workers laid off as far back as Sept. 1.

The bill gives eligible workers 60 days to apply. Then they get the reduced-cost premium for nine months.

USW members among those in 'chicken soup' demonstration for health care reform

December 22, 2009

USW members were among those who participated in a demonstration outside of U.S. Rep. Tim Holden's Pottsville office yesterday. The demonstrators were pushing Holden to support real health care reform that will truly help, not hurt most Americans. Click here to visit the USW's health insurance reform tool kit.

The event featured a chicken and the passing out of canned chicken soup to represent the need for a real cure. The Republican Herald of Pottsville covered the demonstration and filed the following dispatch:

Flanked by a woman in a chicken costume and armed with cans of soup, a dozen local workers and labor leaders gathered in Pottsville Monday to urge U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-17, to rethink his vote against the House health care reform bill.

"They always say chicken soup is the homeopathic cure for illness," Liz Bettinger, a legislative representative for United Steelworkers, said at the demonstration. "We just wanted to make sure Congressman Holden knew that chicken soup is not the answer for health care reform."

The event was held in conjunction with the national AFL-CIO, Bettinger said, and demonstrators passed cans of chicken soup out to passers-by outside Holden's city office at 101 N. Centre St. Demonstrators also held signs with phrases such as "guaranteed quality health care" and "health insurance reform '09: we want it!"

Although Holden supports health care reform, he was unhappy with the bill that passed through the House in early November and voted against it, a decision Bettinger said disappointed labor leaders.

Bettinger said she hoped the protest would encourage Holden to vote for the health care reform bill once it comes out of the Senate, should the unions throw their support behind it.

"He has another bite at the apple," she said.

In a telephone interview Monday, Holden said local residents he's spoken with are divided on health care and the demonstrators are not representative of everyone in his district.

"The Medicare cuts in the House bill would be devastating to providers," Holden said. "Furthermore, the public option will never make it through the U.S. Senate. I proved to be right about that."

Holden had predicted in November that the bill the Senate passed would be "very, very different" from the House bill. He had also said the bill was "not economical," and criticized plans to offset costs with Medicare and Medicaid cuts.

In a telephone interview Monday, John E. Simodejka, president/chief executive officer of Schuylkill Health, agreed with Holden's previous statements that Medicare cuts would be particularly tough on rural hospitals.

Rural areas get paid out different Medicare rates than urban areas, Simodejka said, and areas like Schuylkill County don't get paid close to what it costs them to provide care.

"Say you were a contractor, and someone said 'I want you to build this for me, I'll give you the material, but I'm going to pay you $2 an hour,' " Simodejka said. "Why would you do it for $2 an hour if it costs you $6, $8, or $20 an hour to pay your laborer?"

Simodejka said health care reform is needed, but the House bill that Holden voted against did not fix these Medicare issues and even exacerbates them by expanding the Medicaid threshold and increasing the number of patients the hospital would have to treat and face loses on.

Bill Mackey, West Penn Township, said an elderly friend caught in the Medicare coverage gap commonly known as the "donut hole" was an example of why health care reform is needed.

"It's not American when someone's 76 years old and needs to be in a bakery on night shift so they can pay for their drugs. That isn't the way the richest country in the world should treat their people," Mackey said.

Mackey, who has made three unsuccessful runs for the state House, also took aim at a comment Holden made in a Nov. 24 interview with The Republican-Herald, when he said "I'm not big on protesters. You are not going to intimidate me into doing something."

"I really took offense when he said he doesn't like demonstrators," Mackey said. "Thank God he wasn't around in 1776, or we'd still be bowing and scraping to a queen when he doesn't like demonstrators. That's our right. It's a Constitutional right."

Holden said Monday reasonable people can respectfully disagree, and called Mackey's remarks "disingenuous."

"I met him with and his group several times ... in my Pottsville office, in my Washington office," Holden said. "(He had access) as did the chamber of commerce, the medical professionals, the nursing homes, the hospitals."

Passers-by had mixed reactions to the demonstrators. Some were indifferent, although some voiced support on both sides of the issue.

"Stop watching MSNBC!" one man shouted as he walked by, to which a demonstrator replied, "I bet you he's got health care coverage."

Another man yelled, "The same plan as Congress has!" from his vehicle as he drove by.

USW supports Obama's plan to revitalize manufacturing

December 18, 2009

Senate bill makes progress, still has some problems

November 21, 2009

On Nov. 21, 2009, the Senate voted 60-39 along party lines to overcome a Republican filibuster and proceed with debate on historic health insurance reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act.

This is just one step in the process. The bill will be debated and voted on the Senate floor and it's imperative that we make our voices heard. We need to work hard so that we end up with legislation that helps, not hurts working families. Click here to download our bottom-line principles for health insurance reform.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act's strong cost cutting measures go further than any previous legislation.  But the bill must be improved in important areas, including:

• The employer responsibility provision should be expanded to cover all employers. 
• And any plan to tax working families’ benefits should be eliminated -- taxes on the middle class are the wrong way to pay for health care.

Visit the USW Health Insurance Reform tool kit for more information.

Details on House health care bill as passed here

November 09, 2009

The U.S. House of Representatives made history this weekend when it voted to to take an important step forward in the fight for health care for all. This is just one step, and there is still a lot of work to do as the Senate prepares to vote on health insurance reform legislation. Stay tuned to our USW Health Care Tool Kit to find out how you can get involved.

Please take a moment to thank your members of Congress who voted the right way. A phone call or letter would go a long way. There are also many thank-you events planned. Click here for the latest.

The U.S. Congress on Saturday released this statement, which details the Affordable Health Care for America act as it passed:

For the first time in America’s history, all Americans will have access to quality, affordable health care under updated health insurance reform legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. The legislation will cover 96 percent of Americans by 2015, while reducing the deficit by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade. The House approved the measure by a vote of 220 to 215.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), blends and revises the three versions of reform legislation passed by the House committees of jurisdiction in July. It embodies President Obama’s key goals for health reform. It will slow the growth in out-of-control health costs, and introduce competition into the health care marketplace to keep coverage affordable and insurers honest. Additionally, it will protect people’s choices of doctors and health plans, and assure all have Americans access to quality, stable, affordable health care.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the net cost of expanding coverage at $891 billion, consistent with the $900 billion coverage mark laid out by President Obama in September. The legislation will be fully paid for. CBO estimates the bill reduces the deficit by at least $30 billion over 10 years, not counting the additional deficit reduction generated by the CLASS Act.

“Tonight, for the first time in our nation’s history, the House voted to guarantee every American access to quality, affordable health insurance,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “Our bill embodies President Obama’s goals and reflects what we have heard from the American people. Because of this legislation, never again will Americans have to worry about losing their health care if they lose their job or get sick. For all of the great leaders before us who tried to get this done, and for all of the workers and families who will finally have greater health benefits and financial security because of this bill, tonight we made history.”

“God has been good to our country and this Congress and that means we have a responsibility to extend our power to make certain that every American has access to quality, affordable health care,” said U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “We are so proud of this bill because it will cover 96 percent of our nation and ensure that no one will be denied health care because they have a pre-existing condition, or lose their coverage because they lose their job.  This is truly an historic effort to improve the health and well-being of our nation, create jobs and grow our economy.”

“Today is a historic moment for the House of Representatives.” said U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “It is a significant victory that the House has passed comprehensive health reform legislation for all Americans.  This bill will at long last reform the health care system by expanding choices, reducing costs, and providing people with peace of mind about their health insurance.” 

“With this historic vote, tens of millions of Americans are closer to getting health insurance.  With this historic vote, we stand to reduce our deficit by billions of dollars over the next decade,” said U.S. Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman Emeritus of the Energy and Commerce Committee and lead sponsor of H.R. 3962. “With this historic vote we are closer to bringing relief to American families who are forced to decide whether they will pay the mortgage or their health insurance premium.  And with this historic vote, we will help American business compete in the global marketplace.  Many legendary members who served in this body before have fought for national health insurance reform, only to never see it happen.  It is a great honor to serve with a new generation of members who today took bold action, delivering on our promise of change.  Our actions will earn the respect and appreciation of Americans for generations to come.”

“With this historic vote we are one step closer to fulfilling the promise of making the world's best health care system more affordable and accessible to all. This plan significantly limits the costs that have been spiraling out of control for decades, which have threatened the health, well-being and economic stability of our nation,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), the Chairman of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee. “Making health care more affordable not only reduces the burden on families and businesses, but also frees up the resources needed to create and sustain countless jobs without adding to our nation's deficit. While there is still much work to do, I value the discussions and debates that I have shared with my constituents and colleagues over these past few months. I am proud and humbled to be part of such historic change that will improve the quality of life for millions of Americans and help put our country back on the course of long prosperity.”

“The Affordability Health Care for America Act will mark history with reforms that will put nearly every American within reach of quality health care at affordable costs,” said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) the Chairman of Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. “More important than the history books is what it will mean for all Americans. It will stop the insurance industry from denying or cutting off care and it will help prevent illness before it strikes. And it will reduce the amount spent on medical care in the country without adding one dime to the deficit. It will make the best of the health care system and help allow America live up to its promise and its ideals.”

"Today's vote is the most important in my career," said U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.  “I am proud to have helped author this legislation, which will finally guarantee affordable, quality health care to every American.  I urge the Senate to act so we can achieve health care reform this year.”

The legislation will ensure affordability for workers and middle-class families, security for seniors with a stronger, more solvent Medicare program, and a healthy fiscal future.

The key components of the Affordable Health Care for America Act include:

• Increasing choice and competition. The bill will protect and improve consumers’ choices.
• If people like their current plans, they will be able to keep them.
• Individuals who aren’t currently covered by their employers and small businesses will be able to purchase coverage through a new Health Insurance Exchange where consumers can comparison shop from a menu of affordable, quality health care options that will include private plans, health co-ops, and a new public health insurance option. The public health insurance option will operate on a level playing field with private insurers, spurring additional competition.

This Exchange will create competition based on quality and price that leads to better coverage and care. Patients and doctors will have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.

Giving Americans peace of mind. The legislation will ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care coverage – so that they won’t lose care if their employer drops their plan or they lose their job.

• Every American who receives coverage through the Exchange will have a plan that includes comprehensive and quality health care benefits.  
• It will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender, and will strictly limit age rating.
• The proposal will also eliminate co-pays for preventive care, and cap out-of-pocket expenses to protect every American from bankruptcy.

Improving quality of care for every American. The legislation will ensure that Americans of all ages, from young children to retirees, have access to greater quality of care by focusing on prevention, wellness, and strengthening programs that work.

• Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental, hearing, and vision benefits.
• Provides better preventive and wellness care. Every health care plan offered through the
  Exchange and by employers, after a grace period, will cover preventive care at no cost to the patient.
• Increases the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.
• Strengthens Medicare and Medicaid and closes the Medicare Part D “donut hole” so that seniors and low-income Americans receive better quality of care and see lower prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses.

Ensuring shared responsibility. The bill will ensure that individuals, employers, and the federal government share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.

• Employers can continue offering coverage to workers, and those with payrolls over $500,000 who choose not to offer coverage will contribute a fee of up to eight percent of payroll.
• All individuals will generally be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty of 2.5 percent of income.  Individuals facing difficulties can apply for hardship waivers from the penalty.
• The federal government will provide affordability credits, available on a sliding scale for low- and middle-income individuals and families, to make premiums affordable and reduce cost-sharing.

Protecting consumers and reducing waste, fraud, and abuse. The legislation will put the interests of consumers first, protect them from insurer discrimination and mistreatment, and reduce waste, fraud and abuse.

• Provides transparency in plans in the Health Exchange so that consumers have clear, complete information, in plain English, to select the plan that best meets their needs.
• Establishes consumer advocacy offices as part of the Exchange to protect consumers, answer questions, and assist with any problems related to their plans.
• Simplifies paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers, and employers will all benefit from a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer-friendly system.
• Increases funding of efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse; and creates enhanced oversight of Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Reducing the deficit and ensuring the solvency of Medicare and Medicaid. The legislation will be entirely paid for – it will not add a dime to the deficit and will actually reduce the deficit over at least the next two decades. It will also put Medicare and Medicaid on the path to a more fiscally sound future, so seniors and low-income Americans can continue to receive quality health care benefits for years to come.

• Pays for the entire cost of the legislation though a combination of savings achieved by making Medicare and Medicaid more efficient – without cutting seniors’ benefits in any way – and through revenue generated from placing a surcharge on the top 0.3 percent of all households in the U.S.(married couples with adjusted gross income of over $1,000,000) and other revenue measures.
• CBO estimates the bill will reduce the deficit by at over $30 billion over ten years, not counting the additional deficit reduction generated by the CLASS Act.
• Extends the life of the Medicare trust fund by 5 years.
• Estimates also show the bill will slow the rate of growth of the Medicare program from 6.6 percent annually to 5.3 percent annually.

To view a copy of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, H.R. 3962, click here.

To view the immediate benefits for Americans that kick in under this legislation, click here.

To view a bill summary, detailed fact sheets and more information on what the health insurance reform will mean for Americans, click here.

Call Congress as Health Care Reform is Shaped

November 06, 2009

Health care 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 legislators on three key issues for health care 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 health care!

Here's what you can do:

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.

It's important that all members of Congress hear from us, but here are House members who especially need to hear from us ahead of the vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act bill. Click here to find contact information, or use the number above.

Baird
Marion Berry
Costa
Cardoza
Edwards
Ellsworth
Giffords
Hill
Lynch
Maffei
Michaud 
Perriello
Adler
Altmire
Bean
Bocieri
Boucher
Carney
Copper
Lipinski
Donnelly
McMahon
Oberstar
Schrader
Driehaus
Sandler
Holden
Scott Murphy

List of Congress members, including Blue Dogs

October 15, 2009

It's important that all members of Congress hear from you. Please call and write and ask them to support  health insurance reform that follows the USW principles. Here's a list that may help you:

Click here to find your Senator.

Click here to find your Representative.

Blue Dogs: http://www.house.gov/melancon/BlueDogs/Member%20Page.html

Blue Dog Leadership  Team

Rep.  Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
Rep.  Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
Rep.  Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
Rep.  Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip           
 

Blue Dog Members

Altmire, Jason (PA-04)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)
Baca, Joe (CA-43)
Barrow, John (GA-12)
Berry, Marion (AR-01)
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
Boren, Dan (OK-02)
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03)
Boyd, Allen (FL-02)
Bright, Bobby (AL-02)
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18)
Carney, Christopher (PA-10)
Chandler, Ben (KY-06)
Childers, Travis (MS-01)
Cooper, Jim (TN-05)
Costa, Jim (CA-20)
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28)
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03)
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04)
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02)
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08)
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08)
Gordon, Bart (TN-06)
Griffith, Parker (AL-05)
Harman, Jane (CA-36)
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (SD)
Hill, Baron (IN-09)
Holden, Tim (PA-17)
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01)
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07)
Marshall, Jim (GA-08)
Matheson, Jim (UT-02)
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03)
Michaud, Mike (ME-02)
Minnick, Walt (ID-01)
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05)
Moore, Dennis (KS-03)
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08)
Nye, Glenn (VA-02)
Peterson, Collin (MN-07)
Pomeroy, Earl (ND)
Ross, Mike (AR-04)
Salazar, John (CO-03)
Sanchez, Loretta (CA-47)
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)
Scott, David (GA-13)
Shuler, Heath (NC-11)
Space, Zack (OH-18)
Tanner, John (TN-08)
Taylor, Gene (MS-04)
Thompson, Mike (CA-01)
Wilson, Charles (OH-06)

USW president in NY Times: Standing up to China is standing up to bully

September 23, 2009

USW International President Leo W. Gerard gives it to them straight in today’s New York Times in an article about the USW’s fight against China’s predatory trade policies:  “They cheat in every area,” Mr. Gerard said, pointing to repeated findings of illegal subsidies, as well as one American tire maker’s saying that Beijing had illegally required one of its factories in China to export all its output. “If the bully keeps beating you up, is it so bad to stand up to him?”

The story describes Gerard as "the president of the United Steelworkers, often viewed as the No. 1 scourge of free traders." The article goes on to say, "And the leaders of the G-20 should take note: Mr. Gerard and his fellow labor leaders are just getting started."

Jim Wansley, former president of USW Local 746L at the shutdown Goodyear tire plant in Tyler, Texas, makes it clear: “Although it’s too late to save our factory, the people here are extremely glad that something is being done to help save the jobs at other plants,” he said.

Click here for the entire article. And click here for info on the USW's tire case.

New Video: Ad promotes need for public option in health insurance reform

September 16, 2009

A new ad released by Health Care Now! explains the need for a strong public option in health insurance reform. Check it our below and check out our USW health care tool kit for resources and tips for getting involved.

Call Your Members of Congress to Support Health Insurance Reform

September 10, 2009

President Obama layed out his vision for health insurance reform last night, explaining to the American people that if you already have health benefits like most union members do, you won't have to change a thing under his plan. But if you're one of the nearly 50 million uninsured Americans or the millions more who can't afford coverage or have been denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition, the president's plan will help you get affordable coverage. Medicare won't be hurt but strenghtened. Those with insurance will be protected, businesses more competitive, and finally, we will be able to focus on wages, pensions and other issues at the bargaining table.

Click here for the USW health care tool kit for flyers, fact sheets, talking points and other useful info. You can watch his speech below. And click here to contact your member of Congress to urge them to support President Obama's plan.

USW leader at health reform rally: civil rights issue of our time

September 02, 2009

USW International Vice President Fred Redmond spoke at today's Organizing for America's health insurance reform bus tour stop rally in Pittsburgh. He had an important message: health care for all is the civil rights issue of our time. Click here for more from today. And click here to visit the USW's health care tool kit.

Gerard, Hindery, Riegle in L.A. Times: Why Not 'Buy American?'

September 01, 2009

USW International President Leo W. Gerard,  Donald Riegle and Leo Hindery co-authored a piece that appeared in today's Los Angeles Times that talks about why "Buy American" makes sense. Riegle is the former Michigan senator and is a member of the Smart Globalization Initiative and chairman of government relations at a global advisory company. Hindery is chairman of the Smart Globalization Initiative at the New America Foundation and an investor in media companies.

You can read the entire article by clicking here. Here's an exerpt:

Federal government purchases make up about 20% of the U.S. economy, yet the United States is almost alone among the major developed nations and China in not having a significant “buy domestic” government procurement program.

No single economic stimulus initiative would do more in the short and long term to resuscitate U.S. employment, especially manufacturing employment, and materially reduce our economy-zapping massive trade deficit than a fair “buy American” program.

However, when even a fairly limited program was put forward in February as part of the economic stimulus plan, you would have thought that protectionist cowboys from the U.S. had attacked global motherhood and apple pie.

NEW VIDEO: How do we revitalize America's economy?

July 29, 2009

The New America Foundation, whose purpose is "to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of our nation's public discourse," posted a video about the new book "Manufacturing a Better Future for America."

The book, which is available on Amazon and other booksellers, was produced by the Alliance for American Manufacturing. It reveals that in the aftermath of the bubble economy, America needs to shift resources from the debt-inflated finance and housing sectors to the productive economy.

The video features the editor and several contributors to the book. Check it out:

More than 500 'Buy America' resolutions passed nationwide

June 18, 2009

This week, the USW reached another milestone in its push to get "Buy American" resolutions passed around the nation. So far, more than 500 such measures have been approved. Click here for more.