USW Condemns GOP U.S. Senate Leaders for Auto Loan Rejection

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/USW-Condemns-GOP-US-Senate/story.aspx?guid={7B845386-E810-4BEE-848B-9BD286843C45}

Last update: 5:36 p.m. EST Dec. 12, 2008

WASHINGTON, Dec 12, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- 'Thousands of steel, rubber, glass, auto parts and mine workers impacted too'

Leo W. Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers (USW), condemned Thursday night's U.S. Senate vote that rejected the proposed auto industry bridge loan being supported by the UAW, the White House and the Democratic leadership.

"We have hope that the Bush Administration and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will respond to the Republican Senate leadership failure to save America's auto industry and the millions of manufacturing workers who will be affected," the USW President declared.

He said the USW represents more than 200,000 workers employed in the steel, mining, rubber, glass and auto parts industries who will likewise be thrown out of work. "I'm really annoyed that the Republican Party is ready to throw the auto industry overboard for the sake of their veiled attempt to force the big auto companies into bankruptcy so they can bust the labor agreements and push workers to accept the standard of living established by foreign auto companies.

"The cost of such a decision to America and the middle class would be enormous and would accelerate the financial free fall and growing recession from which we might never recover," Gerard declared.

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