USW Condemns Outsourcing of Air Force Fuel Tankers

Condemns McCain's Lobbying; Calls on Congress to Defund

March 4, 2008 -- PITTSBURGH - The United Steelworkers (USW) today denounced the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for awarding a contract for the construction of Air Force refueling tankers to the European firm, Airbus, and called for its defunding. The contract is worth up to $100 billion, with its value rising to $408 billion over its lifetime. The USW also decried Sen. John McCain for his role in lobbying the DOD on behalf of the French corporation.

USW International President Leo W. Gerard pointed out that the DOD’s choice of Airbus undermines our country’s economic and national security. Gerard expressed grave concern over the fact that McCain lobbied so relentlessly for Airbus instead of U.S. based Boeing at a time when the U.S. government has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over unfair trade practices resulting from the French company’s illegal subsidies.

"Senator McCain's insistent lobbying for Airbus reveals he's no different than George Bush when it comes to putting the interests of corporate profits ahead of concern for American workers and their communities,” Gerard said. “In other words, the only thing that will change for workers under McCain is that things will get worse."

“With tens of thousands of jobs at stake over the next 20 years,” Gerard said, “this decision will have a deep, damaging and enduring impact on the aerospace industry and supporting industries, such as aluminum, glass, rubber and advanced materials and electronics, among others where many USW-represented workers will feel the impact.

Finally, the union joined the AFL-CIO, whose executive council this week called on Congress to exercise its Constitutional authority by conducting a complete review of the nation’s procurement policies, including any and all waivers of the “Buy American” provisions granted by the Bush Administration to date.

“Given the breadth and depth of the potential negative consequences of this contract award,” Gerard said, “the USW urges Congress to defund this project in its entirety until the investigation is complete.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers in the United States and Canada employed in the metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and other industries as well as the service and public sectors.

Source: USW