Manufacturing and National Security

A strong U.S. manufacturing base is essential for maintaining our middle class and providing for our national defense. The combination of the current global economic crisis and a decade-long series of bad policies and the lack of a national industrial strategy has created a steady drop in manufacturing jobs. The nation must reverse this crisis by adopting a comprehensive national manufacturing strategy backed by long-term investments to address our infrastructure, energy and environmental needs. These must be accompanied by financial, trade and tax reform, industry and workforce development, health care and labor law reform.

• Read the testimony by Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Manufacturing Our Way to a Stronger Economy.
• Read and view the Information, Technology and Innovation and Foundation report, The Case for a National Manufacturing Strategy.
  
• Read the executive summary of the report,  Manufacturing Insecurity: America's Manufacturing Crisis and the Erosion of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.
• Read the full report, Manufacturing Insecurity: America's Manufacturing Crisis and the Erosion of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.
• View Dr. Yudken's slides, Manufacturing Insecurity: America's Manufacturing Crisis and the Erosion of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.
• View Dr. Abbott's response to  Manufacturing Insecurity: America's Manufacturing Crisis and the Erosion of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.
• Read the testimony by Thea Mei Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFL-CIO, Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade on China's Indigenous Innovation Trade and Investment Policies: How Great a Threat?
• Read the testimony by Robert Baugh, Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council, Before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs on Made in the USA: Manufacturing Policy, the Defense Industrial Base, and the U.S. National Security.
• Read the testimony before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Industrial Policy and National Security.
• Read the testimony before the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Made in the USA: Manufacturing Policy, the Defense Industrial Base, and U.S. National Security.

Manufacturing, Trade and Currency

• Growing Threats to the U.S. Auto-Parts Industry from Heavily Subsidized Chinese Tires and Parts, EPI
• Putting the Pedal to the Metal: Subsidies to China's Auto-Parts Industry from 2001-2011, EPI
• Rising Government Support for Chinese Auto and Auto Parts Producers, Stewart and Stewart
  
• Read the statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.
• Read the Economic Policy Institute report, Unfair China Trade Costs Local Jobs.
• Read the Economic Policy Institute Issue Brief: Rising China Trade Deficit Will Cost One-Half Million U.S. Jobs in 2010.
• Find out which companies are sending jobs overseas with Working America’s Job Tracker.

• Read the paper, Outsourced - Sending Jobs Overseas: The Cost to America's Economy and Working Families.
• Find current information on currency manipulation at the Fair Currency Coalition.
  

Manufacturing Investment and Made in America

• Read the Blue Green Alliance report, Full Speed Ahead: Creating Green Jobs Through Freight Rail Expansion.
• Read the testimony of Robert C. Baugh, Executive Director of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Council, Before the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines & Hazardous Materials.
• Read the memo from Robert Baugh to Chairwoman Corrine Brown: High Speed Rail Hearing and Industrial Policy Questions.

 

Fact Sheets and Policy Statements

• Read the AFL-CIO Legislative Issue Brief: Revitalizing U.S. Manufacturing.
• Read the AFL-CIO Legislative Brief on Green Jobs.
• AFL-CIO Executive Council/Convention Resolutions
• Creating and Retaining Sustainable Good Green Jobs.
• Greening the Economy
• Read the AFL-CIO Executive Council statement: Rebuilding America: Investing in Our Infrastructure for American Jobs.
• Read the AFL-CIO report, The Public Availability of WARN Notices: Lack of Accessibility and Disclosure Calls for Reform.
• Read Layoffs at Whirlpool: Costs to the Evansville Metro Area and Indiana Taxpayers.

 

Climate Change, Energy and Environment

• Read the report, COP 17: The AFL-CIO, ITUC and the 2010 Climate Change Negotiations.
• Read reports from the Climate Change Conference COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico.
• Read the final report from the AFL-CIO and International Trade Union Confederation on the Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change.
• Read reports from the climate change talks in Bonn, Germany.
• Read Apollo Alliance: Clean Energy and Good Jobs
• Read the International Union Rights publication: Climate Change and Labour Standards.
• Read the article by Robert Baugh, Standing at the Crossroads: Green Jobs for a Blue Economy.
• Read the final report from the AFL-CIO and International Trade Union Confederation on the Copenhagen Accord on Climate Change.
• Read the Blue Green Alliance report, Networking the Green Economy.
• Read the Blue Green Alliance report, Building the Clean Energy Assembly Line: How Renewable Energy Can Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing and the American Middle Class.

Industrial Union Council

Formed in 2002, the Industrial Union Council (IUC) brings together manufacturing unions to develop strategies and promote policies to revitalize the U.S. manufacturing industries. The IUC takes a leadership role in issues related to the global economy, Chinese currency manipulation, clean energy and development of green jobs.

• Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM)
• Boilermakers (IBB)
• Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• Glass, Molders,Pottery, Plastics, and Allied Workers International Union (GMP)
  
• IUE-CWA
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
• Machinists (IAM)
• Mine Workers (UMWA)
• Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA)
• UAW
• USW

Related Topics

• Agenda for a strong manufacturing base.
• More information on the fight for global fairness.

Allied Organizations

• Apollo Alliance
• Alliance for American Manufacturing
• Blue Green Alliance
• Fair Currency Coalition
• Coalition for a Prosperous America
• Citizens Trade Campaign
• Green Jobs Center