PITTSBURGH, March 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The United
Steelworkers (USW) today applauded the bipartisan effort to pass a
coronavirus stimulus package through the U.S. Senate and called on
members of both congressional chambers to continue this effort to
ensure that no workers are left behind in the face of the growing
pandemic and its economic fallout.
The USW praised the bill for protecting jobs in vulnerable
industries and providing expanded unemployment assistance, aid to
small businesses, rebates to taxpayers, and funding for the U.S.
health care system to treat and test patients and research
vaccines, among other relief measures.
"The stimulus measure that the Senate passed yesterday is a
significant improvement over the original Republican proposal,
which would have provided a blank check for handouts to
corporations with too little oversight, while not doing enough to
help struggling workers and families," said USW International
President Thomas M. Conway. "In
particular, the expansion of unemployment payments is essential in
this time of uncertainty, as jobless claims surge to historic
levels. American workers must not be left behind."
The USW said Congress must now demand new workplace safety
standards and additional funding for the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, as well as increased production of personal
protective equipment to make sure workers who are still on the job,
especially health care workers and other first responders, can stay
healthy.
In addition, the union urged lawmakers to guarantee that all
Americans receive health care regardless of their employment status
and to shore up pension funds to ensure retirement security.
"This must be one of many measures to protect workers. Too many
Americans are still worried - about their health, the health of
their families, about losing their jobs, or about how they are
going to pay their bills in the coming weeks and months. These are
the people Congress must always put first, not corporate executives
and Wall Street millionaires," Conway said.
The USW also said Congress must do more to ensure that paid sick
and family leave is available to all workers who need it, and must
remain vigilant so that companies don't use the crisis as an excuse
to exploit workers.
"Congress must continue to use its oversight to make sure
companies don't use this bailout as a means to enhance their bottom
lines or line CEOs' pockets. This money should be used to preserve
and enhance the future for workers," Conway said. "In addition, no
American should wonder how they are going to care for themselves or
their families during this pandemic. Barriers for patients must be
removed, and costs must be kept to a minimum."
The USW called on the House to quickly pass the bill and the
president to sign it. The union also said Congress may need to
provide additional stimulus payments in the future.
"This is going to be an ongoing crisis, and its economic effects
will be long and far-reaching," Conway said. "Congress will need to
continue to make certain that the long-term effects of this
pandemic don't leave American workers and families to continue to
struggle."
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals,
mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and
the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of
workers in public sector and service occupations.
Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, rhufnagel@usw.org,
412-562-2450
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SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)