Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, (412) 562-2450, rhufnagel@usw.org
(PITTSBURGH) — The United Steelworkers (USW) released the following statement today from USW International President Leo W. Gerard in response to President Barack Obama’s signing of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order, which requires federal contractors to disclose labor law violations and gives agencies greater guidance on dealing with labor violations when awarding federal contracts.
“Today, President Obama took a stand for American workers by signing an executive order that will promote fairer and safer workplaces for employees of government contractors.
“While many federal contractors already play by the rules and try to treat their workers fairly, thousands of hard-working Americans end up being denied the pay they deserve, or being exposed to health and safety risks, because some contractors insist on cutting corners in the name of profits.
“With this order, President Obama has sent the message that in the United States, we put people ahead of profits, as he has throughout his time in the Oval Office.
“Sadly, we have a Republican Congress that takes the opposite approach. Because they are more interested in giving handouts to their wealthy donors than in helping working Americans, the President is forced to take action on his own.
“We welcome this action by President Obama and call on everyone in Washington to follow his example and start working together to make life better for all American workers and their families.”
The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, representing workers in a range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments and agencies.
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