Specter Proposes Worker's Bill of Rights

Senator Specter unveiled his 5-point plan today at the US Steel Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, PA. He says the nation continues to see manufacturing plants plants and jobs head overseas. He says the steel industry is especially under threat.

Specter says for many years American Steel Workers have had to compete in a world that preaches free trade but often practices illegal trade. He said the chief threat is from China whose predatory trading practices and currency manipulation are flooding the market with low-priced imports in violation of international trade laws.

He says it is time for American workers to have a bill of rights like the first ten amendments to the Constitution that would protect them from unfair competition and destructive trading practices.

His proposed bill of rights includes:
1- The Yuan Must Float: American Workers have a right to expect China and other states in the WTO to allow their currencies to fluctuate with the rest of the market.
2- American Workers have a right to expect the government to act aggressively to defend their jobs and livelihoods from illegal trade.
3-Congress should rescind the President's authority to overrule recommendations made by the ITC
4-American workers have a right to speedy remediation if claims arising from illegal trade.
5-American workers have a right to have the strongest possible "Buy American" requirements for funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.