Apr 21 2010
United Steelworkers (USW)’s International President Leo W. Gerard has appreciated the steps taken by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and other senators in ensuring that manufacturing be considered an integral part of any climate and energy bill.
The other senators are Robert Byrd (D-WV), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Mark Warner (D-VA), Robert Casey (D-PA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Carl Levin (D-MI).
The 10 senators sent a letter to those creating the climate and energy bill – Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John Kerry (D-MA) – that provides a detailed program for ensuring that the manufacturing sector is not affected by the shift toward a low-carbon economy.
Gerard stated that the letter stresses the requirement for an in-depth anti-leakage plan that comprises output-based allocations to trade-exposed, energy-intensive manufacturers supported by a border adjustment being applied to services and products arising from nations that do not have stringent carbon emissions norms as the U.S.
These allocations will assist manufacturers make an easy shift to low-carbon processes. Moreover, this detailed program created by the senators will help achieve the goal of realizing a clean energy economy built and developed in the U.S. by the workers of the U.S.
The USW is an industrial union that is represented by 850,000 workers in auto supply, glass, rubber, chemicals, metals, mining and the energy-generating industries. Ever since 1990, the union has been in the forefront when it comes to issues concerning climate change.
Source: http://www.usw.org