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USW Backs Biden’s Worker-Centered Trade Policy as President Visits Union Headquarters For Immediate Release: April 17, 2024 Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, (412) 562-2444, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) today proudly welcomed President Joe Biden to the union’s International Headquarters as he announced a series of aggressive steps his administration is taking to further ensure U.S. trade policy supports workers and their communities. This included Biden’s announcement that his administration is initiating an investigation of Chinese commercial shipbuilding in response to the Section 301 petition the USW and four other labor organizations filed last month. “A robust commercial shipbuilding industry is necessary for meeting our national defense and economic security needs, but unfortunately, our domestic capacity has withered as a result of China’s non-market policies,” said USW International President David McCall. “We’re grateful that the president is taking this threat seriously and pursuing a full investigation.” Biden further announced that he is calling on the U.S. trade representative (USTR) to triple tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum to help curb global overcapacity, as well as pushing Mexico to address the surge of Chinese and other foreign-made steel and aluminum that is entering the United States over its Southern border. He also reiterated his position that U.S. Steel should remain domestically owned and operated, rather than allowing it to be sold to Japanese-owned Nippon Steel. “Tens of thousands of good, union jobs hang in the balance as a result of illegal trade practices and corporate greed,” McCall said. “We’re grateful that President Biden is continuing to take bold action to ensure a level playing field for American workers.” Ultimately, McCall said, a truly worker-centered trade policy goes beyond short-term fixes to include ongoing strategic investments to build out the nation’s supply chains and manufacturing base. “By combining a firm stance on unfair trade with the work the administration has done on infrastructure, clean technology, microchips and more, President Biden is ensuring U.S. global competitiveness and widespread prosperity well into the future,” McCall said. The USW represents 850,000 workers in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. ### — Apr 17
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USW Applauds MSHA Update on Workplace Silica Standards For Immediate Release: April 16, 2024 Contact: Cheyenne Schoen, (412) 562-2446, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall released the following statement today in response to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) publication of a final rule updating standards to reduce worker exposure to silica dust: “The USW welcomes the new rule on silica dust exposure. After the previous administration failed to act on this recognized hazard, our union is grateful that President Joe Biden and his administration once again are prioritizing workers’ health and safety. “This rule will improve the working conditions and the quality of life for all workers covered under MSHA in the United States. By setting a low permissible exposure limit for silica dust, the new rule will help current miners and future generations of mine workers stay healthy on the job. “The new ancillary requirements will help miners and other workers under MSHA’s jurisdiction, like those at cement plants, to identify high-hazard areas and the controls needed to reduce miners’ exposure to harmful silica dust. These provisions will allow workers to identify health issues earlier and lead to healthier and safer lives for all American mine workers. “With this new rule, MSHA has taken a major step forward in making life better for American mine workers, on and off the job.” The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. # # # — Apr 16
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USW Applauds Final OSHA Rule on Workplace Safety and Health Investigations For Immediate Release: March 29, 2024 Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall released the following statement today in response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publication of a final rule on the Walkaround Representative Designation Process, commonly known as the walkaround rule: “Simply put, the OSHA walkaround rule will make American workers and workplaces safer. This is good news for all working people, both union and non-union. “It only makes sense to allow workers to designate their own representatives in OSHA investigations. This is the same right we afford to employers, and there is no reason workers should receive different treatment. This rule is critical to the success of OSHA safety investigations, and to our efforts to make all workplaces safer. “The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), under the same Labor Department umbrella as OSHA, already extends to miners the right to decide who will represent them during investigations. Now, thanks to this rule, millions of other workers will be able to exercise this same power. “The walkaround rule provides American workers with a stronger voice on the job and gives them greater confidence that workplace safety investigations will be thorough, precise and reliable. This rule will improve OSHA’s ability to effectively conduct inspections and gather evidence of workplace hazards, and we thank Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su for her continuing support. “This is a victory for every American worker.” The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. # # # — Mar 29
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USW Applauds DOE Investments in Critical Industries For Immediate Release: March 25, 2024Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, 412-562-2450, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) –United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall released the following statement today in response to funding announcements by the U.S. Department of Energy to support carbon-reducing projects in a host of critical industries, including steel, aluminum, glass and cement: “The USW is excited that the Biden administration is making these forward-thinking, transformative investments in our nation’s manufacturing future, and doing so in a way that puts workers, families and communities first. “These investments will allow companies to make needed upgrades and reduce pollution while also helping our manufacturing base compete globally. “As the largest union in many of the industries these investments will support, the USW is proud to partner with companies to ensure that this funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will work to grow our nation’s manufacturing capacity in critical industries while also reducing our carbon footprint. “We’re pleased to see projects funded at our existing facilities, as well as paving the way for future workers to enjoy the benefits of unionization. We look forward to working with all our partners to move this effort forward and ensure the jobs these investments create are good, safe and community-supporting union jobs.” The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, mining, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, the service, public and health care sectors and higher education. For more information: www.usw.org. ### — Mar 25
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USW Endorses Joe Biden for Reelection as President Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, (412) 562-2444, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – The United Steelworkers (USW) union today proudly endorsed Joe Biden for a second term as president of the United States. “President Biden proved time and again during his first term that he stands with working families,” said USW International President David McCall. “His vision and leadership allowed our nation to strengthen workers’ access to collective bargaining, grow the middle class, and embark on a path to widespread prosperity.” The union’s endorsement was the culmination of a months-long process that included surveying USW members regarding their top priorities. The union also sent prospective presidential candidates in both parties a detailed questionnaire to determine where each of them stands on key issues affecting working people. “Our members told us that they value retirement security, affordable health care and labor laws that support our ability to form unions and negotiate strong contracts,” said McCall. “President Biden’s record on all these issues speaks for itself. He also laid out a strong plan for building on this momentum well into the future.” In 2021, USW members led a union-wide effort backing large-scale infrastructure investment with strong Buy American provisions. “President Biden, through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act and other pro-worker legislation, is making good on his promise to create good, union jobs and healthier communities across the country,” McCall said. “Our nation has long needed this sort of sweeping investment. President Biden made it happen.” McCall noted that by strategically combining these historic investments with a worker-centered trade policy that is rebuilding supply chains and supporting critical industries, President Biden is promoting domestic manufacturing and widespread prosperity, not just in the short term but well into the future. This is in addition to the many other ways in which Biden and his administration helped advance workers’ interests, McCall said. “President Biden’s leadership revitalized the Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board so that they are once again fulfilling their mission to empower working people. “And he consistently held firm on protecting Americans’ retirement security, fending off attacks on Social Security and Medicare. “Among the many accomplishments of Biden’s American Rescue Plan was shoring up the troubled multi-employer pension plans that put more than a million workers’ retirements in jeopardy through no fault of their own – including 120,000 USW members and retirees. These workers can now look to the future with optimism rather than fear.” McCall said that workers and their families need their elected officials to share their priorities. “Workers and their families are more secure than they were four years ago, thanks to President Biden’s leadership. From infrastructure to retirement security, international trade to safer workplaces, President Biden got the job done,” McCall said. “We’re honored to back him as he runs for reelection.” The USW represents 850,000 workers in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. — Mar 20
United Steelworkers Press Releases Feed
- USW Backs Biden’s Worker-Centered Trade Policy as President Visits Union Headquarters
- USW Applauds MSHA Update on Workplace Silica Standards
- USW Applauds Final OSHA Rule on Workplace Safety and Health Investigations
- USW Applauds DOE Investments in Critical Industries
- USW Endorses Joe Biden for Reelection as President