Unions attack Bush plan designed to help U.S. manufacturing

EUCLID, Ohio -- A Bush administration proposal designed to bolster the struggling manufacturing sector drew sharp criticism Friday from union leaders who called the plan "absurd election-year double talk."

Commerce Secretary Donald Evans recommended the creation of a President's Manufacturing Council and a new assistant secretary in the Commerce Department who would focus on manufacturing.

The administration also announced it has reversed course and now wants to keep a manufacturing assistance program targeted for elimination last year. The proposals come as the administration tries to fend off Democratic attacks over the loss of 2.8 million factory jobs in the past 3 1/2 years.

"The manufacturing sector is clearly recovering and it has been recovering now for the last five or six months," Evans said Friday before several hundred workers and business executives on the plant floor of Lincoln Electric Co. in suburban Cleveland. "We certainly believe we're going to see more job creation in that sector of our economy in the months and years ahead."

'Recycles' policies

But Richard Trumka, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, said the plan was inadequate and "merely recycles previously announced policies, and ultimately is not much more than a corporate wish list."

The plan "offers nothing to keep jobs here at home, nothing to make sure that core workers' rights are enforced in future trade agreements, and no real program to help workers who have lost their jobs," Trumka said.

The Steelworkers union called the plan "absurd election-year double talk" and said it rolls back environmental and safety regulations that were place in the 1990s.

Steelworkers president Leo W. Gerard said the administration's effort is "an insult to every American worker, let alone the 2.7 million workers who've lost their jobs since George Bush took office."

Critics also said the initiative falls short of correcting trade policies that have plagued the industry.

The decision to support continuation of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a network of assistance centers around the country, was one of a series of recommendations included in an 88-page report that represents the administration's plan for providing a boost to the manufacturing industry.

Rob Smith, a 25-year Lincoln Electric employee, said the government needs to cut down on unfair competition from cheap labor overseas.

"Everybody wants the economy to start rolling. The only way to start rolling is to start producing," Smith said. "I'm happy to hear they are coming up with something to address manufacturers' opinions and concerns."