Steelworkers Hold Rally to Urge Help
Steelworkers Rally to Urge Help for Troubled Industry
biz.yahoo.com
Thursday October 4, 10:49 pm Eastern Time
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- More than 2,000 steelworkers, managers, and their families rallied to urge support for the troubled industry on the eve of a federal hearing in steel's northwest Indiana heartland.
United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard said the fate of the national economy was bound to that of the steel industry. ``We can't build roads, we can't build bridges, we can't build cars, you can't even build a damn computer without steel to put in it,'' he told the crowd. ``You can't have a national economy without the steel industry. That's what this is all about.''
Friday's International Trade Commission hearing is part of a White House-ordered investigation into charges that cheap, foreign-made steel was dumped onto the American market. It is the only hearing scheduled for outside Washington. Police blocked traffic on U.S. 30 for about 20 minutes, allowing the crowd to gather in a parking lot next to the Radisson Hotel, where the commission will meet Friday.
Hundreds of workers, many clad in union sweat shirts or red, white and blue attire, chanted ``What do you want? Free trade! When do you want it? Right now!'' ``We're not looking for a bailout,'' said George Babcoke, general manager of US Steel's Gary Works, referring to federal aid to airlines following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. ``All we're looking for is a fair playing field.''
After the industry hit hard times late last year, pushing many companies into bankruptcy, President Bush filed a petition that mandated the commission to investigate steel-dumping at the urging of companies, unions and congressional leaders. If the panel determines that U.S. industry was being seriously harmed by imported steel it could propose remedies, such as quotes and tariffs, but the administration has final say on what, if any, protection to implement.
U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Ind., said that stopping steel dumping on the U.S. market alone won't save the industry. Financing and loan guarantees also are needed, he said. But he said the industry would recover. ``We are all going to come back from this,'' he said. |
