USW Helping to Promote Made in America Legislation in New Jersey

United Steelworkers (USW), New Jersey State AFL-CIO and Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) worked together on May 19 to promote “Made in America” Legislation in Trenton, New Jersey. Attending the event were workers from MRP Steel Fabricators of South Plainfield, NJ and Harris Steel who are members of USW Local 8228, and Siemens workers from USW Local 3355. Also attending were Marco Salazar, Business Agent for USW Local 8228 and Steve Green and Luke Gordon District 4 Staff Representatives.

The legislation, a package of five bills (S1811, S2045, S2048, S2061, and S2062) have been introduced by Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) and Senator Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex).

Prior to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee hearing, the group gave a press conference. Speakers included moderator Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senator Kevin O’Toole, David Floyd (President at MRP LLC), Gregorio Leon (Shop Steward at USW Local 8228) Luke Gordon and Brian Lombardozzi  from Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM.)

Testifying before the committee were New Jersey State AFL-CIO Legislative Affairs Coordinator Eric Richard, David Floyd, Brian Lombardozzi and Luke Gordon. 

There were the usual attempts by some Republican members to make excess government regulation part of the higher cost argument, but by the end of the hearing none of them did anything other than to abstain and the bills passed strongly. The Assembly companion to Bill S1811 will be introduced on June 12.

The members from MRP Steel, Harris Steel, and Siemens expressed thanks at being invited and being given the opportunity to see first-hand how government works, as well as seeing what the USW, AFL-CIO and AAM does on the legislative front.