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August 24, 2005 03:00 PM US Eastern Timezone

Steelworkers Holding Demo at PA US Rep. Melissa Hart's Allison Park Office on CAFTA Vote

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 24, 2005--USW NEWS ADVISORY: Western Pennsylvania local union leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) have announced plans to publicly demonstrate tomorrow morning their anger with U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart for her vote to approve the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) as a betrayal of working families.

WHAT: USW workers' public demonstration against Congresswoman
Hart's CAFTA vote.

WHERE: 4655 Route 8 in the Coventry Square Shopping Center,
Allison Park, PA.

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005 -- 8:00 AM (ET)



U.S. Rep. Hart was among the Republican members of Congress who narrowly approved the free trade agreement with six countries in Central America. The Jul. 28 vote was 217-215. President Leo Gerard issued a statement following the vote that said: "CAFTA lacked protections for workers' rights, it threatens good paying middle class jobs, it expands the openings for companies to move out of the U.S. and it allows foreign employers to contest our environmental laws."

Since 2002, the U.S. Department of Labor certified 37,700 Pennsylvania workers who lost their jobs due to NAFTA.

Contacts


USW
Jim DeBord, 717-418-0381(Cell)
Kim Miller, 412-600-6241 (Cell)