The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) staged a half-dozen rallies and also launched television and radio ads this month urging President Bush to keep his commitment to workers and the steel industry by maintaining tariffs that have benefited the industry since last year.Seafarers participated in the USWA’s rally Sept. 23 in Washington, D.C. Three days earlier, the Steelworkers conducted demonstrations in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota and Alabama.
The tariffs are supposed to run through 2005, but the International Trade Commission’s mid-session review (due late this month) may recommend an earlier end to the program. USWA President Leo Gerard said the program has led to billions of dollars in new investments, productivity gains and innovative labor- management partnerships that have brought new health to the industry.
In recent years, steel has battled unfair foreign competition that has cost more than 50,000 jobs, forced dozens of steel firms into bankruptcy and cost 200,000 retirees their health care coverage.
“Our message to the Bush administration is clear,” said Gerard. “Our union and the integrated steel companies have kept our pledge to streamline the industry. We’ve negotiated breakthrough agreements to make that consolidation possible. Now the president needs to stand his ground against the unfounded claims of our foreign competitors and hold to his original commitment by keeping the steel tariffs in place until 2005.”
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