United Steelworkers and U.S. Steel are joining forces to protest the dumping of foreign steel on the American market. Among many events around the country, a major “Save Our Steel Jobs” rally on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range will be held Monday, June 23 at 10 a.m. at the Miner’s Memorial Building in Virginia, Minnesota.
Among the speakers will be Gov. Mark Dayton and officials from trade groups, U.S. Steel, and the United Steelworkers union which represents most miners on the Iron Range.
At issue is South Korean steel coming into the country below market value, circumventing U.S. trade laws designed to prevent that practice. The Save our Steel Jobs rally, the last of several held in steel states like Ohio, Illinois, Texas and Alabama, aims to influence public opinion as the U.S. Department of Commerce considers a ruling on the matter.
We haven’t seen a rally like this here on the Range in a few years, and it’s usually a troubling omen. An external factor is threatening the stability we’ve seen in the steel market (or, more accurately, the stability we’ve seen in the raw materials market, as steel has remained somewhat volatile). That’s about the only thing that gets U.S. Steel and the union on the same side of a public relations campaign.
Here’s how the Alliance for American Manufacturing, U.S. Steel and the Steelworkers are describing the predicament:
Surging imports of dumped pipe and tube products are threatening the Minnesota iron mining industry, which has employed generations of Iron Range residents for 130 years. More than 500,000 steel-related jobs across the country – including 10,400 in Minnesota – are at risk if the U.S. does not effectively enforce its established trade laws.
South Korea and eight other countries are dumping steel products into the U.S. market in violation of federal trade laws. These products are flooding into the U.S. at prices below market value and in ways designed to circumvent U.S. trade laws. A trade case is currently pending with the U.S. Department of Commerce, and a decision is expected in mid-July.
Organizers are providing a live stream of Monday morning’s Save our Steel Jobs rally at the Miners Memorial Building in Virginia, MN.
You expect Obama to enforce existing trade laws when:
1)Obama has used the IRS to target conservative, Christian and pro-Israel organizations, donors, and citizens.
2)Obama refused to enforce long-established U.S. immigration laws.
3)Obama issued 21 separate executive orders that attack and undermine our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
4) Obama assaulted Christians and religious freedom by forcing pro-life employers and taxpayers to, by law, pay for abortions.
5) Obama knowingly and blatantly lied to America and to Congress about how much Obamacare would really cost.
6) Obama’s Holder is being held in contempt for defying congressional subpoenas and refusing to turn over thousands of Justice Department documents on Fast & Furious.
7)Obama sued to prevent Arizona from using reasonable measures to discourage illegal immigration within its borders.
8)Obama made “recess appointments” to the National Labor Relations Board and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when Congress was NOT in recess.
9) In the bailout of General Motors and Chrysler, Obama illegally shortchanged bond holders in favor of Labor Unions, despite U.S. bankruptcy laws that specify that bond holders be first in line to be paid back.
10)Obama used the killing of Osama bin Laden for political gain by exposing the identity and method of operation of the Navy SEALs team that conducted the operation in Pakistan, thus exposing its members to a lifetime of risk because they have been targeted for assassination by Islamists.
11) Obama established an extra-constitutional top secret “kill list” of people (including Americans) who can be summarily killed on sight – presumably by drones — without due process.
12)Obama twisted the arms of defense contractors to not issue layoff notices in October of 2012 so as to avoid causing bad news for Obama right before the election, even though federal law (the “WARN Act”) requires such notices.
13)Obama intervened militarily in Libya in 2011 without the Congressional approval required by the War Powers Act.
14)Obama knowingly lied to Congress and the American people about the killing of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi, Libya.
etc, etc…
What are you thinking??
Oh wow, Ranger, you’re really addicted to conspiracy theories. No doubt, you believe Hilary had Vince Foster killed too.
kissa:
The subject is – “more than 500,000 steel-related jobs across the country – including 10,400 in Minnesota – are at risk if the U.S. (Obama) does not effectively enforce its established trade laws”.
Please respect the topic of Aaron’s postings…and discuss Hillary’s track record only when he elects to do so.
B.O.’s track record is in play, worth looking at. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President (that’d be B.O.) is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. (Taken directly from his own White House website). Based on his track record, why should we raise our hopes he’ll see the light and decide to enforce this specific trade law?
Maybe if I read very slowly, word by word, I will find the topic of dumping foreign steel on American markets in those 14 argle-bargle sentences.
My gosh kissa, you’re spot on. Doing so would be like a doctor saying the operation was a success but the patient died. We’re grateful you stopped your education early on…
thanks for bringing this to our attention Aaron
Is it true that Ed Schulz is coming to the rally?