The USW joined 17 other steel-producing unions from 10 countries around the world in supporting a declaration calling for government action against “industrial destruction” caused largely by China’s illegal and unfair trade practices.
The effects of the unchecked, government-subsidized expansion of China’s steel industry are eroding good jobs, working conditions, bargaining rights and environmental conditions around the world, according to a unanimous declaration that the IndustriALL Base Metals Steering Committee passed on Nov. 4.
The declaration specifically targets China’s “unfair and illegal trading practices,” which have had “devastating effects on steelmaking communities and the environment.”
Governments around the world must work together toward improving enforcement of trade laws, as well as enacting stronger controls, in order to protect workers and the environment and save the global steel industry from collapse, said International Vice President Tom Conway, who serves as co-chair of the IndustriALL committee.
“China’s overcapacity is affecting steelworkers across the globe,” Conway said. “We can’t continue to ignore the problems that China is causing. They have the potential to doom the global steel industry.”
Those problems include China unfairly subsidizing its steel industry, dumping its products at below-market prices in the U.S. and elsewhere, and manipulating its currency to artificially reduce the cost of its exports.
“Ignoring the impact of these decisions on workers and their industries while claiming to be a responsible global partner is unacceptable behaviour from any nation,” the declaration states.
The declaration called for governments of all steelmaking countries to support aggressive enforcement of World Trade Organization anti-dumping rules, to pass stronger laws against unfair competition, and to recognize the right of workers and communities to seek relief through those laws.
“We must be prepared to get involved politically,” said Fernando Lopes, assistant general secretary of IndustriALL.
The USW is a founding member of IndustriALL, a worldwide labor federation established in 2012 that represents more than 50 million workers in 600 unions from 140 countries around the world. Union members from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom participated in the Pittsburgh meeting.
Rob Johnston of the Community Trade Union of the United Kingdom said the only way to fight back against China’s abuses is to strengthen global solidarity among steelworkers.
“It is at a time of crisis that we really need to start building our power,” Johnston said. “We are facing a real crossroads for our industry.”
For a copy of the full declaration, visit: usw.to/44.