AAM’s Indiana Field Coordinator Mike Mitchell checked in to give us a report of recent news:

“SOAR President Alan Penkowski allowed me the opportunity to give an update on AAM’s activities at his SOAR meeting.  I talked about the ‘Keep it Made in America’ bus tour and saving 7.2 million jobs tied to the U.S. auto parts supply chain.  The possibility of losing 7.2 millions jobs would put a strain  on an already crippled economy. It would add to the 52 million already uninsured and has the potential to increased the number of pensions taken over by PBGC (the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation).

“The SOAR members were glad to hear about the (ITC) International Trade Commission ruling in favor of a USW petition for the domestic tire industry but didn’t find any humor in JC Penney’s advertising an “American Made” T-shirt that was actually made in Mexico.

“SOAR President Alan Penkowski was outraged by the idea of the auto industry offshoring more production while being supported with taxpayers dollars.  He encouraged his members to get involved and call their elected officials.  He said ,”We elected them, they should be working for us, and they need to know that.”

##

Now, this doesn’t strictly have to do with manufacturng and trade policy, but we wanted to share with our readers some fun news.  AAM Media Director Steven Capozzola has adopted a dog named Maddie.  Steven reports the following:

My girlfriend and I moved to New York City recently, and we knew we wanted a dog.  This past Saturday we went to a shelter on 110th Street in New York City.  It’s very heavy going to one of these shelters– no budget, not the cleanest conditions, a shortage of volunteers, a lot of sad dogs in cages who weakly wag their tails as you walk by.

We looked all through the shelter– which happens to be a “Kill shelter” because dogs are put to sleep when the facility becomes too crowded.  We walked a number of dogs, but didn’t connect with any of them.

The next day, we drove an hour into Brookyln to visit another public dog shelter–also a kill facility.  There were two rooms of dogs.  As I walked most of the way down the first aisle of the larger room, saying hello to each dog and letting them sniff my hand through their cage bars, I came upon a skinny little female mutt who jumped up and put her paws on the cage bars.  She started wagging her tail wildly and looking at me intensely.  Her tail was wagging and I said a big hello.  She started licking my hand against the cage bars.

Her name was “Royce” and she was shelter number A817065.  Apparently, she’d been found in some park in Brooklyn.  She was listed as a “brown stray, pit mix, 1 year,” and had been brought into the shelter on June 25th, which meant she’d been in that cage for most of the past three days.

I loved her right away and asked if we could take her for a walk.  My girlfriend had found some other dogs, though, that she wanted to try, including “Oreo,” whose posting we had seen online.  So, we walked Oreo and Sally and another dog before taking Royce for a little walk in the parking lot.

As soon as Royce got out of the cage, she started licking my face.  Just a happy, friendly, sweet dog.  We spent a lot of time with her, and I wanted to adopt her. 

To make a long story short, she was transferred to the 110th Street shelter the next day.  We went to see her again, put in an application, and picked her up the following day.

She is now our dog, renamed MADDIE.  For the pictures above– the first one is at the Brooklyn shelter, the second is at the Manhattan shelter, the third one is her at home with her new family.

A sad note, though: as I was handing in my application for Maddie on Monday night, one of the staff workers mentioned to a co-worker that she was busy “typing up the euthanasia list.”  So, some of the dogs in that shelter didn’t find a home.

Also, apparently stray dogs have been on the rise of late, in part because more people are unemployed and can’t feed their dogs.  They simply leave them in parks or let them run away.  Maybe that’s how we got Maddie, but we’re going to give her a good home.

##

Steelworkers descend on Steel Pier.

“The District 10 United Steelworkers conference took place last week in Atlantic City, New Jersey, once the home to

Steel Pier and it’s famous diving horse.  Speakers included the Alliance for American Manufacturing’s Executive Director Scott Paul and the USW liaison to AAM, Ike Gittlen.  The two gave presentations that included discussion of China trade, the climate debate, and manufacturing jobs and infrastructure investment.  Other notable speakers included; Richard Trumpka (AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer), Fred Redmond (USW International Vice President), Charlie Kerrigan (National Labor Committee Director), and Congressman Joe Sestak.”

##

AAM Ohio Field Coordinator Ken Poweski checked in to let us know that there will be a ’Made in America’ Parade in Findlay, Ohio on Saturday, July 25th at 10:00 am.  Ken promises to send photos.  For more information, contact Ken: kpoweski [at] aamfg.com

##

AAM Field Coordinator Mike Mitchell reports that yesterday, Munster, Indiana unanimously passed a Buy America Resolution:

Munster, like many other cities understands the importance’s of investing our tax dollars in America. By doing so we maximize the creation of American jobs, restore economic growth and opportunity. Munster Town Council President Michael Mellon, along with Munster residents Cheryl DeCero and Judy Terek, were in attendance at the Town Council meeting and spoke in favor of the Buy America Resolution. Cheryl who is currently laid-off  talked about using domestic materials and services to get our economy working again.  Judy was concerned about the creation of jobs now and in the future for her and her daughter.

Spending economic recovery plan funds on products and services that both create jobs and help keep Americans employed is also the right thing to do.

##

On Monday night, the Reading, Pennsylvania City Council passed a Buy America resolution.  Local coordinator Carl Ramich was a driving force in pushing the council to consider the resolution. 

To date, more than 500 state and local governments have passed Buy America resolutions, including the Pennsylvania House (and 72 other Pennsylvania city governments).

The reason for pushing these resolutions is that earlier this year Congress passed a stimulus bill that included Buy American provisions.  A number of groups have lobbied to oppose these provisions.  In order to make sure that state and local governments follow through on implementing Buy America policy, AAM field coordinators have conducted an ongoing campaign to make certain that state and local governments spend both stimulus funds and taxpayer money on American-made products and services when possible.

Read more about Buy America by clicking here.

##

AAM Indiana Field Coordinator Rachel Bennett Steury checked in with some interesting news from the field:

“I went to a meeting in Fort Wayne last week that I’d like to tell you about.   Folks in the Northeast Indiana Central Labor Council have developed relationships all over the globe; helping those in need or collaborating on important projects for working people.  Last week Barbara Ehrenreich came to town to meet with us about what’s going on in Northeast Indiana because of the economy.   Barbara Ehrenreich is the author of thirteen books, including the New York Times bestseller ‘Nickel and Dimed.’  She is a contributor to the New York Times, Harpers, and the Progressive, she is also a contributing writer to Time magazine.  She is a true friend of American workers and to the Hoosiers who know her. 

“Barbara is writing a series of op-ed’s for the New York Times examining how the recession is affecting those who were already poor before the recession.  To read Barbara’s first piece, click here).  There were over 45 folks who joined the discussion in Fort Wayne last week, most somehow or another affected by job loss.  We spent about two hours talking with folks testifying to their experiences with reduced work weeks, lay-off, shut downs, and how their families are coping.  We also talked about the horrendous deficiencies in Indiana’s unemployment system.  Some talked about moving in with family members or what steps community groups are taking to lend a hand.  Others had awfully sad stories of losing their job and benefits one week and having a heart attack the next. One woman reduced to working just 8 hours a week is joining the army, taking her daughter and husband on the road to whatever military base they get sent to.

“I went to the meeting because I wanted to get an understanding of all the issues that local folks are experiencing. Not to mention that my family is reliant on the system right now.  Between me and my parents, my husband and his parents, I am literally the only one with a full-time job.  My mother-in-law joined me and joined in the discussion and felt a sense of comradeship when we left.  Being out of work does something to you mentally.   Somehow it’s customary to blame yourself, as if you somehow caused the demise of your own employment.   That is why the Central Labor Council here created an alliance of folks who share this common dilemma: it’s called the Unemployed and Anxiously Employed Workers Initiative (UAEWI) and they have been doing great things, working together to try and make the system work for workers: see this article.          

“Watch for Barbara’s series in the New York Times and look for the UAEWI to do great things in Northeast Indiana.”

##

AAM Field Coordinator Lou Delatore, who recently captained bus #2 on the “Keep it Made in America” bus tour, sent in a brif item about Spring Hill, Tennessee.  Lou spoke at an AAM event in Spring Hill and pointed out that there is now a website, Save Our Plant, dedicated to providing information and discussion on why General Motors should select their facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee for the production of a new subcompact vehicle.

##

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of the Red Line accident on Washington’s Metro system.

Speaker Pelosi will bring climate change legislation to the floor for a vote this week.

Vice President Biden will be talking manufacturing today in Ohio.

Ford may be looking at the new Taurus as its flagship sedan.

##

AAM has added a third intern to our staff, Jason Kingsley.  We asked him a few questions.

Where are you currently going to school, and what are you studying?

I graduated in May from Christopher Newport University majoring in history with a minor in leadership studies. I will be starting the Master’s International program in the fall at George Mason University. Upon my completion of classes and a term in the Peace Corps, I will receive a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Prior to joining AAM, had you been interested in economics or U.S. manufacturing?  What have you learned since joining AAM?

Prior to joining AAM I was alarmingly uninformed, as I have found in my first two days, about the details of U.S. trade and economics. I was however, interested in manufacturing and economics as they related to the U.S. labor movement, having grown up around unions my whole life. I have already learned a great deal particularly about the U.S. trade deficit and the environmental issues taking place in China’s steel manufacturing today. 

What brought you to an internship at AAM?  Was it random?

I came to AAM through contact with Mike Yoffee and Tom Conway of the United Steelworkers. I had originally approached them about doing an internship with the Steelworkers when they informed me about the interesting work being done here at AAM.

How are you finding Washington, DC so far?  The summer’s can be brutally humid and hot.  Did you ever live here before?

I have lived in Alexandria basically my entire life, so I have had some time to acclimate to our challenging weather, though August is inevitably a rough month. The city is always exciting and I am getting to see it in a whole new way now that I am commuting in every morning.

What music do you typically listen to?  And what hobbies or activities
are keeping you busy while you’re here?

As cliché an answer as it may be, my musical tastes are very eclectic. However, reggae has always been near and dear to my heart since Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley were the first two CDs/tapes I ever owned. In my free time I make an attempt at playing golf and am a big fan of live music.

##