Local steelworkers union against bill (TPP)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article20584719.html

By Will BussNews-Democrat
Local steelworkers who are about to be laid off are lobbying Congress to reconsider a bill that would give trade authority to the executive branch.

The United Steelworkers union believes trade promotion authority, also known as “fast track,” should be intertwined with trade negotiations and include oversight from Congress. However, the union claims the Obama Administration has authored the bill behind closed doors and it essentially hurts trade and domestic industries such as steel.

This debate comes as U.S. Steel plans to temporarily idle its plant in Granite City sometime around May 28 and will lay off 2,080 steelworkers. The Pittsburgh-based company claims it is forced to make this move as historically high levels of cheaper imported steel have flooded the U.S. market.

Since last year, the steelworkers union has protested the U.S. government’s enforcement of trade laws as foreign steel that has been imported into the United States has been sold below market value, making it difficult for domestic steel mills to compete in the global market.

FULL story at link.