USW Calls on Administration to Complete Steel Investigation

PITTSBURGH — The United Steelworkers (USW) union issued the following release as dozens of steelworkers from around the country come to Washington D.C., to ask their legislators to press the Trump Administration to move forward on their Section 232 Investigation on the impact of steel imports on U.S. national security interests. In April, the administration initiated an investigation under Section 232 of the Trade Act of 1962. Despite reports that the investigation has been completed, the public release of the document has not occurred, and no relief has been provided.

Steelworkers from across the country are in Washington this week asking their elected representatives to press the Trump Administration to take action to protect national security. Since April, when the President called for the initiation of an investigation on the impact of imports of steel on our national security interests, imports have surged almost 21 percent. The delay in acting is further undermining our national security and critical infrastructure interests.

“The time to act is now, and workers are telling politicians their first-hand stories of the devastation in the industry and the critical importance of providing relief,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

“The delay in acting is devastating,” said USW International Vice President Tom Conway. “Plants are closing, jobs are lost and communities are injured while politicians delay. Now there are rumors that action is being delayed so Congress can focus on tax reform. That’s an insult to the hardworking men and women whose jobs depend on the industry. Steelworker jobs and our national security should not be held hostage to tax cuts for the rich and powerful as America’s future is at risk.”

Steelworkers from multiple U.S.-based steel-making operations in eight states, including plants in  Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Alabama, Minnesota, Kentucky and  Michigan, are arranging visits with a bipartisan array of House and Senate offices this week to discuss the need to act quickly. In recent weeks, an increasing number of congressional members have contacted the administration requesting action. Just last week, Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman jointly made such a request.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

Wayne Ranick
(412) 562-2444
wranick@usw.org