Contact: Wayne Ranick – (412) 562-2444, wranick@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) — United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard issued this statement today following President Obama’s address on the current state of the economy:
“President Obama gave an impassioned speech today on the need for Washington to focus on efforts to promote economic growth and jobs. His vision provides a clear roadmap for ensuring that the middle class can reclaim the American Dream of a good job with decent benefits, home ownership, a dignified retirement following a lifetime of work, and health care for one’s family.
“These basic staples of American life that have suffered from the mess left behind by President George W. Bush must be addressed and not further compounded by a do-nothing Republican Congress.
“The American people currently have very low expectations for government and, unfortunately, their expectations are too often being met. The President clearly noted that there has been progress, but much more needs to be done. He indicated that he intends to use his powers to improve the economy, but many of these initiatives will require action by Congress. Republicans may view lack of confidence in the economy as essential to their exercise of political power, but the American people strongly reject this approach.
“President Obama has called for investments in job creation, skills enhancement, infrastructure and innovation. These ingredients are essential for reviving growth. It’s not a question of whether these steps will work; it’s whether the Republicans want to do anything to restore prosperity for average, hard-working American families.
“USW members work throughout America’s manufacturing sector. They have borne too much of the pain of the economic crisis created by an ongoing decline of manufacturing jobs. Tens of thousands of factories have shuttered their doors. When these jobs are lost, the ripple effect is felt in every community across the country and at millions of kitchen tables. The time to act is now.”
The USW represents about 850,000 workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glassmaking to mining, steel, oil, paper, tire and rubber to the public sector, service and health care industries. For more information: www.usw.org.
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