The United Steelworkers (USW) and the Sierra Club jointly recommended Friday that bold investments in the US’ infrastructure and a new framework for international trade be made central to the Democratic Party’s platform.
USW International President Leo W. Gerard and Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued the statement below in conjunction with today’s Democratic platform hearing on energy and the environment:
“When the platform committee meets, it’s critical that it develops a plan to use public and private partnerships to fund upgrades and repairs to our nation’s roads, bridges, and energy and water infrastructure. The platform also needs to support public transportation and bringing our schools and our communications networks into the 21st century. These critical investments will grow our economy by creating and maintaining good jobs, raising wages and rebuilding struggling communities.”
Specifically, USW and the Sierra Club called for investments in energy efficiency, clean energy, climate resilient infrastructure, a modern power grid, and other measures to mitigate climate disruption.
“This will produce significant additional benefits throughout the US economy and make the clean energy economy a major new engine for job creation. Reputable economists have concluded that the investments necessary for the US to make its minimum contribution to global emissions reductions will create millions of new jobs,” the statement said.
Additionally, the groups demanded that Democrats fight for fair trade, as opposed to free trade, and take a stand against the “job-killing” Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“It’s time to develop a new framework for international trade that supports the critical objectives of protecting workers, the environment and our shared planet,” the statement said, “but we must first stop the TPP, which would spur increased greenhouse gas emissions and give thousands of new foreign-owned corporations broad rights to challenge US protections for workers and the environment.”