The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) was created when United States Steel Corp., United Steelworkers, Allegheny Technologies, Aloca, Goodyear and others joined together to sound a unified voice on issues that face American manufacturing.
Issues include health care and retirement security to enforcing and strengthening trade laws to hold China and other countries accountable for unfair trading practices, explains the Alliance.
"American workers in many ways are under attack; we've lost 3.2 million manufacturing jobs since 2000. Our alliance is coming together at a critical time when people are tired of one-sided fighting and are looking for a real commitment to finding common ground and ensuring a strong industrial economy," said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers.
The group is very focused on fair competition. "Our investments in technology and innovation have helped make our workers and our facilities the best in the world. So, it's not a matter of not being able to compete. We can compete. It's a matter of competing in a global market that's fair and equitable. Working together, we have the best opportunity to make that possible," said Patrick Hassey, CEO of Allegheny Technologies.
AAM is partnering with leading public policy institutions, academics and others on research, including reports to be released in the coming weeks on the enforcement of current trade laws and the impact of the U.S. trade deficit with China on American jobs.
Some facts on the current state of American Manufacturing include:
- American manufacturing directly employs 14 million workers and creates an additional 8 million jobs in other sectors.
- Since 2000, the U.S. has lost 3.2 million manufacturing jobs and seen more than 40,000 facilities close.
- As a share of gross state product (GSP), manufacturing is the largest sector in 10 states and in the Midwest region as a whole. It is the second largest in nine states and third largest in 21 others.
- American manufacturing is responsible for two-thirds of research and technology development investment in the U.S.
- Nearly 80% of all patents filed in the U.S. originate in the manufacturing sector.
- American manufacturers are the leading buyers of new technology in the U.S.
