Working Families Demand Congress Take Action on Toxic Toys

by Mike Hall, Jan 17, 2008

Union members across the country yesterday delivered a loud and clear message in more than 100 cities and towns: It’s time for Congress to step up and stop toxic trade and protect our kids from toxic toys.

Among them were more than 40 union members and community activists who braved cold rain and snow in St. Joseph, Mo., to march in front of Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.). They demanded he support legislation to safeguard Americans from toxic imports and hold corporations responsible for the toxic products they import into the country. Says Mike Veale, president of the Northwest Missouri Central Labor Council:

I was really excited to see so many union members come together for such an important cause. You can’t buy toys made in the United States much anymore, and the toys being imported are being proven dangerous again and again. For so many people to show up in our small community, it shows the depth of the support and commitment of people on this important issue.

Last year, some 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine toys, along with more than 6 million other toys, were recalled because of high levels of lead. Other toxic imports that have come to light in recent months include lipstick, toothpaste, seafood, children’s lunch boxes and pet food.

The National Day of Action was part of the United Steelworkers’ (USW’s) “Protect Our Kids—Stop Toxic Imports” campaign. Both the campaign and yesterday’s actions are backed by AFL-CIO state federations and central labor councils and a board coalition of consumer and environmental groups.

Along with rising awareness about the problem of dangerous and toxic imports, especially children’s products, yesterday’s mobilization aimed to build support for the U.S. Food and Product Responsibility Act, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.).

Says USW President Leo W. Gerard:

People are starting to realize that we’re paying the price for cheap, imported goods so corporations can make bigger profits. It’s time for our policymakers to fix this broken trade system, repair our regulatory agencies and protect our jobs and families.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO helped organize several Stop Toxic Trade events, including a march by more than three dozen union members and activists at Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R) Janesville office. State federations and central labor councils in Alabama, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina and Tennessee joined in the day of action.

In St. Paul, Minn., Barb Kucera, editor of Workday Minnesota, reports that a large crowd carrying signs that read “Protect Us” and chanting “Stop Toxic Trade” and a group of preschoolers led the procession into Sen. Norm Coleman’s (R) office to present petitions signed by hundreds of Minnesotans.

In addition to the demonstration at Coleman’s office, Minnesota events were held at Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s (R) office in St. Cloud and Congressman Tim Walz’s (R) office in Rochester.

“I’m a grandma and I’m very concerned about my grandchildren and what they’re playing with,” said Nan Duchene, Women of Steel coordinator for USW District 11. Women of Steel is leading the “Get the Lead Out” campaign.

Click here to read Barb’s full story.

Let’s hope Bachmann is more concerned about toxic toys than she is about working people. Yesterday, she expressed pleasure that Minnesotans are working longer hours and holding two jobs.

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