CONTACT: Holly Hart, (202) 778-4384
(Pittsburgh) – This statement was released today by United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address.
“Much like his time on the campaign trail and his first year in office, the President spent this address talking about how much he has done and will do for workers. Unfortunately, this rhetoric runs headlong into reality.
“The President and congressional Republicans tried to take health care away from millions of families. They showered the wealthy and powerful with huge tax breaks and corporations with long-wanted roll backs in regulations. They’ve done nothing to curtail the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs or to ensure the safety of workers and their communities.
“On trade, the President outlined an action plan that, if fully implemented, could begin to reform the failed policies of the past. That is promising, but in many areas we are still waiting for results.
“Investigations were launched on steel and aluminum, but workers are still waiting to see what the President will do. NAFTA is being renegotiated, but we wait to see whether an updated agreement will rebalance the benefits so that working Americans gain greater job security and better wages.
“The trade deficit with China and the world, fueled by protectionist and predatory practices, continues to rise, and action is long overdue. While some positive steps have been taken, they have been too few and too insignificant.
“And now, congressional Republicans are talking about reversing the few good things that have been announced, including rolling back legitimate trade protections.
“On infrastructure, the single most important job-creating proposal, workers are still waiting for action. Initial signals are that the Administration wants to pursue a plan that will line the pockets of Wall Street financiers and allow foreign producers to provide the products that will be used to rebuild our country. That is not what workers expect, not what they heard during the election, and it is not the right way to move forward.
“On jobs, raising wages and many other issues, workers are still waiting for the campaign rhetoric to be matched by concrete action. They are becoming increasingly frustrated by a White House and Republican congressional majority more interested in looking out for their own self-interests than serving American families.”
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: www.usw.org