USW hosts public free trade forum

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.salemnews.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=6599

USW hosts public free trade forum

By MARY ANN GREIER, Salem News staff writer

LISBON — No more sweatshops, no more currency manipulation, no more blocking American products, no more rising health insurance costs and no more unfair trade.

Those were just a few of the suggestions made to level the playing field for American manufacturers during an unfair trade public forum hosted Saturday night at the United Steelworkers Local 1538 CIO Hall in Salem. With many jobs already gone and the announcement this winter about American Standard’s plans to discontinue its bath and kitchen business, the USW decided to respond with an educational forum to talk about the issues, with numerous government officials on hand to hear the discussions and participate.

“The trade agreements were a major factor in the loss of a lot of jobs to the area,” USW Local 1538 President Rick Hand said.

In the last several years, the city of Salem watched many of its longterm manufacturers — the staples of the city’s industrial base — shut down. Bliss closed, but luckily a neighboring business, Butech took over their spot and appears to be thriving. Eljer closed after 100 years of sweat from multiple generations of families, with jobs leaving to China.

“It’s time to make sure our longterm needs are met,” USW District 1 (Ohio) Director Dave McCall said.

According to McCall, trade’s pretty simple.

FULL story and photo at link.