Newly-Elected Senator Joins Fight Against Unfair Trade

When we believe USW jobs have been harmed by the unfair trade practices of nations around the globe, the union files trade petitions with the International Trade Commission (ITC) to seek remedies for U.S. industries and workers impacted by unfairly traded goods. As part of this process, we seek out support for these trade cases from members of Congress. 

In May, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, one of the newest members of the Senate, testified in front of the ITC to show his support for a petition our union has filed which demonstrates how USW members’ jobs were harmed by a nearly 20 percent increase of imported passenger vehicle and light truck (PVLT) tires from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam from 2017 to 2019. 

Sen. Warnock spoke passionately about a USW-represented facility in his home state, Kumho Tires in Macon, Ga., urging the ITC to support the union’s petition.


Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

“Workers in Macon, Ga. and across the state need and want a level playing field,” Warnock said in his testimony. “This requires fair competition with our global competitors, and I trust that this Commission will thoughtfully consider the United Steelworkers’ petition and rule in a manner that benefits U.S. workers and their communities, and helps protects the dignity of work in Georgia and throughout our country.”

When Sen. Warnock gave his testimony on May 28, he was joined by a growing number of lawmakers in states where tire manufacturing jobs have been vital to an economy that supports working families. In addition to their testimonies, these lawmakers have also signed on to letters urging the ITC to act to protect American tire jobs. These letters were spearheaded by Ohio Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman and House Rep. Brian Higgins (NY-26). 

The 300+ workers at Kumho Tire in Macon, Ga., only officially became USW members in January when the NLRB certified the results of their 2019 election.  

In March, just two months after the NLRB’s certification, Kumho announced it would increase production at the Macon, Ga., location by an additional 500,000 units per year. This decision affirms our long-held belief that manufacturing jobs are vital to growing the middle class, and that unionization does not deter employers from investing in job growth. 

Our union has filed similar petitions as recently as 2015, when we sought action against a flood of tires from China which were undercutting domestic tire production. We got a favorable ruling, and Chinese imports have since shrunk dramatically, allowing for U.S. producers to invest in new capacity. This has created stability for the industry and USW members’ jobs. 

In addition to Warnock’s quick action to show support for our union’s PVLT petitions, he campaigned on a pledge to fight for working families and has already signed on to pro-worker policies like the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Warnock’s steadfast commitment to protecting working families and supporting efforts to expand unions is what helped him earn our union’s endorsement and propelled him to victory over an anti-union incumbent, Sen. Kelly Loeffler, in 2020.

 

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