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Show ‘The Sait Lake I'ribune, Sunday, January 31, 1999 GEORGE BECKER LEO W. PRESIDENT GERARD RICHARD H. SECRETARY-TREASURER DAVIS LEON LYNCH VICE-PRESIDENT (ADMINISTRATION) VICE PRESIDENT (HUMAN AFFAIRS) United Steelworkers of America District No. 12 Sus-District No. 5 5300 SOUTH 360 WEST, SUITE 350 MURRAY, UTAH 84123 TER L. BOND ereeey pee (801) 262-3325 FAX (801) 268-6810 07 January 20, 1999 The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton President of the United States 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: For 15 months now the Steelworkers Union has been speaking out aboutthe crisis which has now engulfed America’s steel industry. Immediately following the first of the currencycollapsesin Asia, we pointed to the series of events that,if left unchecked, would follow: these countries would face economic collapse, decline in their domestic demand and with the application of the IMF’s “medicine”, a flood of imports into America of key manufactured products-particularly steel. Wepointed out that none of this was inevitable, that prompt and decisive Government action could easily avert this crisis. In fact, as we madeclear, the longer action was delayed, the more damage would be done, muchof it damage that could never be repaired, and the moredifficult the problem would be to solve. Eventually our voice was joined by America’s steel companies and in October of last year by the United States Congress in the form of unprecedented bipartisan support for strong action. Now,afterall this time, we have received the Administration’s response in the form of a report entitled “A Comprehensive Plan For Responding to the Increase in Steel Imports.” Unfortunately, this Plan is neither comprehensive norterribly responsive. Reducedto its essence, the report after acknowledging the correctness of almost every aspect of our analyses, that there is a crisis, where it came from and whothe current worst offenders are, refuses to propose anything approachingthestrongaffirmative steps now neededto addressit. While wenotethe stated willingness of Japan to reducetheir level of imports and the apparentwillingness of the Administration to hold them to that commitment, we are deeply concerned with the lack of an overall program to deal with this crisis. All key steel producing countries must immediately commit to fully reduceall of their steel imports to pre-crisis level (July of 1997) and the Administration must hold all of them to this commitment. Without such a comprehensive approach, steel will be shifted among products and countries, thus nullifying the value of anyrelief. Wewould be prepared to work with the Administration if they would adopt such an approach, however, we now have no choice but to workwith out supporters in Congress,of which there are many,to passinto law the absolutelyvital relief which the Administration is apparently unwilling to provide-legally binding quantitative restraints which reduce steel imports to their pre-crisis levels. These quotas would not banall steel imports, nor do they need to last forever-just long enough to let the various trade cases work their way through the legal process. But when you are bleeding to death, the first thing you must do is stop the bleeding then you deal with the wound. Make no mistake about it-the Steel Industry is bleeding to death and the Steelworkers Union will do whatever it takes to stop it. How will $300 million in tax breaks, spread overfive years, stop the flood of imports? Whatwill $300 million in tax breaks do for Steelworkers’ families whose dreams of a decentlife are being crushed under the weight of foreign steel, or for those communities which will be devastated as these mills go down? We do not need tax breaks for the steel industry, nor do we need a pat on the head and a special pass to move us to the front of the unemploymentline. What weneedis for this Administration to stand up and say, without hesitation or doubt, that America will not sit idly by while foreign nations and corporations destroy one of our basic industries, an Administration that will stand up and say enough is enough-Stee!lworkers have suffered enough, they have worked hard and played by the rules, and they have earned a right to a decentliving and a decentlife. We need this Administration to STAND UP FOR STEEL, TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA. Sincerley Yours, Geofge Becker International President | | | | | : Thoma2 aa iG TomPerfili, President Lo€al 392, USWA me Md Reilly ah. WS. Greg . Président Local 485, USWA Kenngcott Utah Copper (Mine) LilAhC= Utdh nit Ss Karl Sweat, President Local 876, USWA Reilly Ladustries (Wendover) ff-,, bx A or Baw, President Kennecott Utah Copper (Concentrator) _ Industries (Provo) Spehcer, Refractories ‘ Locad 2932,U: SWA Richard Gonzales, President@.ocal 4347, USWA Kgapecost Ut ne Presiddét Local 3318, USWA eee = igh, President Ldeal 4261, USWA mad —— Pregident Local 6162, USWA orporattos ; 4 President Local 1654, Pacific Sfftes Cast Iron Pipe Company —Jetway SystemsDivision kh an L iRick Leonard, = 7315, USWA President Local Apdlinor, An Brian Anderson,President Local 4265, USWA Bob Park, President Local 4329, USWAeee Gary Woogé E hn McGilvaty, President Local 4413,SWA Kennecott Utah Copper (Refing Ziegler Chemical & Minerals SeeAoi Fran Pandanrota TEWA Prey) per (Smelter) A Erie Nielson, ‘ lelson, President Local 7889,39,USWA USWA Envirptech Pump Brown Kennecott Utah Copper (Clerical) ’ Dennis Kujala, Presidentd.ocal 2701, USWA io Geneva Steel Company a agnesium marry Corporation of USWA America PLEASE SUPPORT OUR EFFORT TO STOP THE ILLEGAL DUMPING OF FOREIGN STEEL BY CALLING OR WRITTING YOUR SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN, Senator Robert Bennet 431 Dirksen Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3121 Senator Orin Hatch 131 Senate Russell Building Washington, D.C, 20510 (202) 224-3121 Congressman James Hansen 2466 Rayburn Building Washington, D.C, 20515 (202) 225-3121 Congressman Merrill Cook 1431 Longworth Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-3121 This Advertisement paid for by the United Steelworkers of America Local 2701 Congressman Chris Cannon 118 Cannon Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-3121 |