Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees Vice President Blue Wilson joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed the Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0. Wilson also spoke about his experiences regarding offshoring and how the bill will protect production jobs.
If passed and enacted, the Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act would update the U.S. trade remedy system to eliminate foreign companies from undercutting domestic industries and prevent further growth of their market share. Wilson believes the Act will help the U.S. keep and retain production jobs while preventing future offshoring. This is a bill that Wilson believes could prevent a repeat of the major production offshoring workers experienced in the 1980s.
The bill will give Congress an opportunity to make the changes needed to minimize the numer of companies who undercut the U.S. production industry. By providing them with the means to fight these underhanded organizations, Wilson believes there is a possibility that the bipartisan bill could create a resurgence in production work. First however, they must deal with the multiple companies who attempt to bring their products into the country through the World Trade Organization. While the WTO does a lot of good, Wilson warns that it could harm the goal of the bill, he said.
In the 1970s, the U.S. started to feel the effects of overproduction, especially in the steel industry. Wilson then explained how it felt to work in the steel industry at this time, as mills closed and more steel products were imported from other countries. He thinks the major offshoring of industries stunted the progression of American manufacturing. It is his hope that the Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act will not only bring back production jobs to the U.S., but keep them here.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.