CWA Calls on Congress to Support President Obama’s Plan to Invest in Science, Research and Technol

Contact: Tod Steward, (206) 694-0005, Tod.Steward@gmmb.com and Paul Quirk, (202) 572-2879, Paul.Quirk@gmmb.com or Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org

Recent Research – released by Blue Green Alliance and others – indicates 'green investment' nationwide could create 2 million jobs in two years

(Washington, DC): Speaking today at the Blue Green Alliance's Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference, Larry Cohen, President of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), called on Congress to support President Obama's plan to make investments in science, research and technology to reverse the massive job losses caused by the current economic downturn and tackle the serious threat of irreversible climate change.   

"We're facing the most serious economic and environmental challenges in a generation," said Cohen. "We need real leadership that answers President Obama's call for invest in needed science, research and technology so we can grow a cleaner green economy and put millions back to work."

CWA supports the Obama administration's economic stimulus plan now working its way through Congress and the proposed investments in a green economy, including:

o  Doubling the production of alternative energy in the next three years, which will require investments in science, research and technology to expand and build new energy industries; and

o  Putting 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars – which can get up to 150 miles per gallon – on the road by 2015, and ensuring that these cars are built here in America.

Green Recovery: A Program to Create Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy, a recent report released by the Blue Green Alliance and the Green Jobs for America campaign, indicates that a $100 billion dollar green investment nationwide could create 2 million jobs in just two years. 

According to the report, America has the workers needed to fill these newly created jobs. The typical green job utilizes the very skills scores of middle-class Americans already have – from engineers to carpenters, electricians to steelworkers and farmers to truck drivers.

CWA's industrial division, IUE-CWA, is already contributing to President Obama's cleaner green economy goals by helping put more hybrid cars on the road.  Cobasys, an American manufacturer of hybrid car batteries in Springboro, Ohio, is employing almost 200 IUE-CWA workers to build batteries for America's next generation vehicles.  One IUE-CWA member who works at Cobasys, Shawn Grimes, was on hand at the conference to share his experiences and encourage other businesses to invest in American workers.

"Many of my co-workers lost their jobs due to plants closing or production being sent overseas. Thankfully, Cobasys decided to invest in U.S. production of hybrid car batteries so we could help build a green economy and get America out of the red," says Grimes.  "I believe that the government's support, both at the national and state level, will better help companies like Cobasys invest in green technology and encourage consumer demand for related products."

Too often, the jobs associated with new innovations like the hybrid car battery are shipped overseas.  General Electric, which employed IUE-CWA workers, produced filaments for incandescent light bulbs in their Youngstown, Ohio plant. After employees developed a new long-lasting, energy-saving florescent bulb, the CFL, the company chose not to upgrade its U.S. plants to produce the bulbs. Instead, GE decided to lay off employees and shipped the jobs to China. 

Click here for a brief write-up on the GE and Cobasys case study examples.  

By transitioning early from regular batteries to hybrid batteries, Cobasys decided to do what GE did not – upgrade its U.S. operations.  This positioned Cobasys as a leader in the field and they have been able to expand and employ more skilled American workers while other companies are still closing U.S. plants and shipping jobs overseas. Cobasys' batteries have the potential to make a huge difference in reducing greenhouse gases.  Compared to the average vehicle, a hybrid battery increases fuel efficiency by 8 to 10 percent.  In addition, hybrid cars that use hybrid batteries emit up to 97 percent less toxic emissions and half as much greenhouse-causing carbon dioxide as the average car.

"There are thousands of skilled workers who are jobless and can benefit from reinvestment in the production of green technologies right here at home," said Cohen. "That is why CWA is working with local and state governments to promote the growth of green union jobs like those at Cobasys.  We want America to continue to be a leader in the development and production of green technologies and call on lawmakers to join us and other fellow Blue Green Alliance members in supporting green investment in America."

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The Communications Workers of America represents 700,000 workers in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It's one of America's fastest growing unions. CWA members work in communications, media, airlines, manufacturing and public service. CWA has been a member of the Blue Green Alliance, a strategic partnership between labor unions and environmental organizations to expand the job-creating potential of the green economy, since 2007. Other Blue Green Alliance members include the Sierra Club, the United Steelworkers (USW),  the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)