PAC Vs. Rapid Response - Knowing the difference
What is PAC? USW PAC (Political Action Committee) is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from members of the United Steelworkers Union, executive and administrative staff or our families. Contributions are used to keep members informed and support member-based programs to combat attacks on worker rights. A portion of these monies are also used to support political candidates who have pledged to represent USW values and protect our right to negotiate for fair pay and safer working conditions on the job. If you are interested in donating to PAC, please contact the Local 1219 union hall at 412-271-4555.
What is Rapid Response? The Rapid Response committee is the Steelworkers' nonpartisan grassroots education, communication, and action program that provides the necessary structure to inform every USW member about pending legislation concerning labor and work-related issues. Rapid Response provides opportunity for all USW members to have a strong voice and an active part in the government decisions and legislative actions that affect them, their families, their contracts, and their communities.
Why is Rapid Response is one of the most important and effective tools that the United Steelworkers have?
The union is only as strong as its engaged people. Because of how many people our union represents and how many millions of people that are affected, our voting power and the voices of our members is where our strength comes from. This is why our union is not only made up of the shrinking steelworker population but also now includes members from many other industries. This is what gets us a seat at the table. This is why the heads of our country listen to us. The elected officials understand the power of millions of voices and they also understand that we teach our people how to use their voices to effect change in our country.
As American citizens, it is our right to petition our government for change and to fight for what is important to us.
Rapid response is just that. In a nonpartisan way, we bring the causes that affect labor and worker's rights directly to our members so that they are not only informed but are also engaging their elected officials to promote change that is in the worker's best interests.
Being a union member is not just a state of being, it is an action. All of what we had to fight to get we still have to fight to keep, and the fight is still on going.
OUR LATEST VICTORY!!!
In 2019, we fought for H.R. 397 Rehabilitation for Multi-employer Pensions Act. This legislation passed in the House of Representatives but did not pass in the Senate because it lacked having bipartisan support.
In 2021, this legislation was not only passed in the House and the Senate, but was signed into law by President Biden as an inclusion to the American Rescue Plan. This legislation will rescue and secure various underwater multi-employer pension plans for the next 30 years and longer.
Thanks to all of you who called your elected officials and used your voices to get this done! Your voice does indeed make a difference.
Its a great thing when your taxpayer money goes to help actual hard working tax payers!
PLEASE MAKE THE CALL
S. 420 – Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021(PRO Act)
The PRO Act has passed in the House and President Biden (in his address here in Pittsburgh) has promised to sign this bill once it passes in the Senate. Please call or email Senator Toomey (412) 803-3501 and ask him to support Senate bill S.420. Senator Casey has already supports this bill.