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Weirton, WV --The Independent Steelworkers Union Executive Committee has endorsed the Fair Trade Law Enforcement Act of 1999 recently introduced in the United States Senate.In announcing the Union's endorsement, I.S.U. President Mark Glyptis said the war against illegal foreign steel imports is continuing on all fronts. "It's sad to note we have been fighting the dumping of illegal steel imports into this country for more than a year now, but we will not give up the fights," Glyptis declared. The Fair Trade Law Enforcement Act of 1999 was co-sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois; Senators Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia; Senator Ernest Hollings of South Carolina; Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The bill calls for improvements to the existing trade safeguard laws; amends the anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws and creates a steel import monitoring program designed to act as an early notification system when imports begin flooding the domestic markets. "This is not the cure-all piece of legislation to end all illegal dumping. But it is a major step in putting together legislation that should send a strong message to the Clinton Administration that the United States Senate will not stand by idly while the President allows our domestic steel industry to be drowned in a sea of illegally imported steel," Glyptis said. The Fair Trade Law Enforcement Act of 1999 was introduced earlier this month and is considered to be the Senate Companion Bill to legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Phil English of Pennsylvania. "The I.S.U. has stood behind every single piece of legislation aimed at curbing illegal steel imports. We have marched in Weirton, West Virginia, we have rallied in Steubenville, Ohio and joined our brothers and sisters in the United Steelworkers Union in Washington, Pennsylvania, in order to shout our message loud and clear," Glyptis noted. "And earlier this year we took nearly 6,000 Ohio Valley residents to Washington, D.C., to the gates of the White House but the Clinton Administration continues to ignore our cries for help," he continued. "So we will continue supporting legislation like the Fair Trade Enforcement Act of 1999 and will continue to lobby for fair trade not free trade," Glyptis added. The Union President urged supporters of the beleaguered domestic steel industry to contact their Senator or congressional representative and urge them to vote for the Fair Trade Enforcement Act of 1999. "We have made a difference in the past but we must still win the war. We cannot give up," Glyptis said. Glyptis also pointed out the I.S.U. and Weirton Steel Corporation are now looking at possible future litigation because of Japanese tin plate product being dumped into the United States |
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