More information, contact: David Wasiura – (716) 565-1720; dwasiura@usw.org;
Tony Montana – (412) 562-2592; tmontana@usw.org
PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union strongly supports New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposed “Buy American” policy for all new state procurements over $100,000 that would create the strongest mandate for the purchase of American-made goods by state entities in the country.
USW District 4 Director John Shinn said Gov. Cuomo’s proposed initiative would strengthen the nation’s struggling manufacturing sector while saving and creating thousands of family-supporting, community-sustaining jobs in New York and across the country.
“The USW is grateful for Gov. Cuomo’s leadership on the urgent need to support manufacturing workers, who live with the constant threat of layoffs due to unfairly traded foreign goods,” Shinn said. “American workers are the most productive and efficient in the world, and the governor’s proposed reforms are certainly a step toward leveling the playing field.”
Gov. Cuomo outlined the proposal today in his “State of the State” budget address, and the legislative reforms would include expanding the state’s current “Buy American” standard to include all goods, products and procurements beyond construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance or improvement of public works and clarifying that preference be given to goods and products that are substantially produced or made in whole in the United States, its territories or possessions.
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in manufacturing, 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.
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