Buy American

If we are going to revitalize the economy we need to level the playing field for the American worker. That is, we believe in family-supporting jobs, worker’s compensation, social security, providing for the safety of the workers, and protecting the environment. Over the past decades manufacturing plants have been closing down and taking these jobs overseas so they can avoid the costs associated with a socially responsible society. Trade is good if it is on a level playing field.

One way to help level the playing field is to participate in the growing sweat-free movement. That is, governmental entities are passing ordinances and bills that require certain purchases take place with companies that can demonstrate that their workers are paid above poverty-level wages. The more such legislation that passes, the more we are leveling the playing field. 

The next step in the movement is to ensure that these companies are not falsifying affidavits that their workers are paid above poverty-level wages. To that end, I passed legislation that had Milwaukee join the national Sweatfree Purchasing Consortium. This consortium pools their resources to verify that these companies are actually in compliance.

But until we actually level the playing field we need to help protect and expand the few manufacturing jobs we have left. To that end, I passed a buy-American car ordinance. This ordinance requires that the city purchase American-made cars. Additionally, I am encouraging other governmental entities to pass similar legislation.

A number of friends have told me that they would like to buy American-made cars but they are unsure on how to go about this because so many parts of a vehicle are made in different areas of the world. I tell them that all they need to do is go to the UAW website (uaw.org) and other sites and they can identify cars that are primarily made in the United States. If we focus on General Motors and Ford cars, we can help prevent the demise of the U.S. automobile industry. If the American automobile industry falls, then the jobs we lost so far will pale in comparison.

Tony Zielinski is the city of Milwaukee’s alderman for the 14th District, which includes Bay View. He can be reached at tzieli@milwaukee.gov or (414) 286-3769.

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