Steelworkers for Bush? Yeah right!

UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA NEWS RELEASE

********************** USWA says Bush misleads voters by citing endorsement from individuals of independent West Virginia union

Kerry enjoys overwhelming support of steelworkers nationwide

(Pittsburgh, PA) - The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) solidly supports John Kerry for President says USWA International president Leo W. Gerard, responding to a Bush campaign rally where the President was accompanied by a few steelworkers proclaiming support for the Bush Administration.

The USWA represents more than 1.2 active and retired members.

Gerard said that the handful of workers supporting Bush are members of the Independent Steelworkers Union (ISU), an organization of 4,000 workers employed by Weirton Steel in Weirton, West Virginia.

The ISU, however, following the lead of the USWA supports the candidacy of John Kerry.

Members and retirees of both unions have suffered major hardships during the current Bush Administration:

* more than 1,500 ISU members have lost their jobs since Bush took office

* more than 9,000 ISU and 250,000 USWA retirees have lost health care benefits, and had pensions cut since Bush took office

* more than 350 ISU members are now on layoff

"While we respect the right of any individual to express a viewpoint anytime, the opinions of a handful in this case do not reflect the views of hundreds of thousands of active and retired steelworkers who have been severely hurt during the Bush Administration," said Gerard.

"Unfortunately, this campaign event by the Bush team has prompted an angry reaction by many our members," added Gerard.

"It's just another reminder how this President plays foot-loose and fancy-free with the truth."

In addition to bowing to pressure from the European Union unions to end the tariffs, the Bush Administration also resisted the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee program, which only proved successful due to the tireless efforts of Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W. Va.).

The actions by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation have also preemptively taken over pensions of facilities in the Ohio Valley, significantly reducing benefits and undercutting steel industry consolidation efforts.

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