Posted on 08/03/2003 4:59:30 PM PDT by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
NEW BRITAIN — More than 1,200 factory workers, manufacturing executives and supporters packed a rally Friday, demanding fair trade.
Sen. Chris Dodd, D.-Conn., and U.S. Reps. Rosa DeLauro, D-New Haven, and Nancy Johnson, R-New Britain, all promised to join the fight alongside small and medium-sized manufacturers, who gathered under the umbrella name MAD in USA, which stands for Manufacturing Awareness Day.
"If we don´t have a manufacturing sector, we don´t have an economy. If we don´t have manufacturing jobs, we don´t have a middle class," Johnson told the cheering crowd gathered in Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University.
Many in the enthusiastic crowd waved signs with slogans such as "Want my vote? Save my job!"
Another sign said "Fair Trade, not Free Trade." Another read "Save the Middle Class."
Manufacturers stress that a decimated manufacturing sector will compromise national security, undermine the nation´s economy and destroy a good part of the middle class.
The national security issue hit home with legislators.
"We should not give up the ability to produce what we need to defend the United States of America," Dodd said. "History will indict us if we do this."
Johnson urged Connecticut manufacturers to join forces with coalitions in other states to give their cause momentum. Friday marked the state´s first Manufacturing Awareness Day.
The rise of China in high-tech manufacturing and the rise of European competition to the U.S. aerospace industry has deeply alarmed legislators.
"We are watching jobs and technology leave the state," DeLauro said. "Is this about protectionism? No. This is about preserving and promoting the manufacturing base in this state."
"You´ve got my vote, baby," a factory worker yelled at DeLauro as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal vowed to investigate and prosecute large companies that violate contracts to wring greater profits out of their smaller suppliers. Some companies, for instance, place large orders to receive a volume discount, then cancel the order partway through delivery.
The U.S. manufacturing industry has lost more than 2.5 million jobs since 2000.
Manufacturers say they have been hit by a triple whammy: unfair trade practices by China, lack of support by the U.S. government, and unfair trade practices and contract violations by large U.S. corporations.
"Home Depot and Wal-Mart are our enemies. They mandate their suppliers — our customers — to buy their products from the Far East," said Roger J. Karabin, senior executive vice president of Acme-Monaco Corp. in New Britain.
The company rented a school bus to bring 45 workers to the rally.
MAD in USA members hope the rally will spark a nationwide movement to protect U.S. manufacturing.
"Hopefully, this will get the ball rolling. If not, we´re all in trouble," said Karol Struck, a factory worker from Middletown.
Maria Garriga can be reached at mgarriga@nhregister.com or 789-5685.
About time people caught on.
This could be a very large election issue.
Outsourcing and Illegal immigrants are part and parcel of the same issue
OPEN ASSIGNMENT
MISSION TO SAVE AMERICAN JOBS
President Bush:
Mr. President your mission, if you will accept it, is to locate good jobs for Americans. On your watch, 3+ million jobs have disappeared. You are to find where they went, recover them, and prevent this from happening again.
You have until November 2004 to complete this mission.
If you choose not to accept this mission, or are incapable of performing, don't run in the GOP Primary so another Republican can accept this important mission for America.
American Citizen Voter
PS Ronald Reagan was the last Republican to 'reach out' to us. Ross Perot sent a warning to your Dad but since all we hear is the mantra, 'you gave us Clinton'.
Next up: Tech!
That is not small potato's.
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Funny you should mention that inconvenient truth. Now let's see the rush here to somehow blame it all on Clinton and the Democraps.
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