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August 22, 2005 03:01 PM US Eastern Timezone

News from the United Steelworkers: Growing Backlash on CAFTA Vote Hits Virginia Democrat; Congressman Jim Moran Gets Cold Shoulder at State AFL-CIO Convention

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2005--News from the United Steelworkers: Several unions, led by a United Steelworkers (USW) delegation, demonstrated their deep displeasure with Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives who voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), by walking out of the Virginia AFL-CIO convention over the weekend when Rep. Jim Moran (D, VA.) was introduced.

Rep. Moran, one of 15 Democrats who voted for CAFTA last month, was an invited speaker at the convention. He and his 14 democratic colleagues have been subjected to protest actions by organized labor, fair trade, environmental activists, faith-based, and other progressive groups for joining an overwhelming majority of Republicans in supporting the highly controversial trade agreement.

The USW delegates were joined in their silent protest at the Virginia AFL-CIO convention by delegates from the Communications Workers and United Autoworkers unions.

"The Steelworkers and the labor movement have been fighting for issues and trade policies that benefit America's working families," said Billy Thompson, Director of USW District 8. "We said when the vote on CAFTA went down that we would hold the 15 Democrats that supported it accountable for betraying us. This demonstration is an example of how we plan to hold them accountable far into the future."

"Rep. Moran and the other Democrats that supported CAFTA have shown us all how out of touch they really are," said Ed Lowery, Sub-District District Director of USW District 8. "We don't have to sit and listen to what they have to say because actions speak louder than words; and Moran's actions on CAFTA were anti working families."

Labor's view is that the implementation of CAFTA, like NAFTA before it, will expand the privileges of global corporations at the expense of working families and the environment. CAFTA gives global corporations the power to challenge environmental and public interest laws in the U.S. and the other CAFTA nations.

Additionally, CAFTA does not include adequate protections for workers' freedom to form unions or ensure safe working conditions. It would not alleviate poverty in Central America, and would cost thousands of U.S. workers their jobs. It has been estimated that some 900,000 jobs in the U.S. have been lost due to NAFTA. Estimates are that CAFTA would create another 100,000 U.S. jobs losses - with 78% of those jobs coming from the manufacturing sector.

"I think it would be a real mistake for Rep. Moran to believe that we are not going to hold him accountable here in Virginia," said Alton Glass, President of USW Local 8888, whose membership of nearly 8,000 workers is the largest in the commonwealth. "He has a responsibility to his district and all Virginians. Instead he let us all down by voting for a lousy trade deal that will cost us even more jobs."

The USW represents 850,000 workers in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest industrial union in North America. For more information visit www.fightback05.org