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Motion Expressing the Sense of Allegheny County Council by calling upon the President of the United States to maintain his steel program as lawfully enacted, for the full three year period.
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WHEREAS, from 1997 to 2002, the domestic steel industry was under attack by a flood of cheap imports from foreign producers, aided and abetted by foreign governments through subsidies and other market manipulations; and
WHEREAS, the consequences of this assault have been disastrous for steelworkers, the American steel industry and its communities; and
WHEREAS, thirty seven companies have been forced into bankruptcy and 56,000 steelworkers and iron ore miners have lost their jobs, with additional job losses expected; and
WHEREAS, the human face of this tragedy is personified by the over 200,000 steelworker retirees, widows and dependents who have lost their health care benefits at the most vulnerable time in their lives, and by the additional 240,000 steelworker retirees who's pensions have been reduced because they were under funded and terminated by the PBGC: and
WHEREAS, in March of 2002 the President announced a three-year program of import relief for domestic producers to consolidate and restructure; and
WHEREAS, domestic steel producers have engaged in unprecedented efforts to consolidate and restructure by investing billions in consolidating facilities; and
WHEREAS, the United Steelworkers of American has negotiated groundbreaking and innovative labor agreements between its members and major steel producers; and
WHEREAS, cutting short this relief would cripple these restructuring efforts and likely lead the industry back into crisis and nullify the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of steelworkers, their families and communities; and
WHEREAS, market conditions remain depressed, import demand for steel in China is collapsing, world excess capacity still exists, and investments and the industry depend on stable market condition...
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