Trade-Related Jobs Losses: 211 Percent Increase
Trade-related job losses have occurred in Michigan in recent years. This is according to a new report. As a result, Michigan has experienced a 211% increase in jobs lost to offshoring. This occurred between 2017 and 2019 in comparison with the three years prior. This is according to the U.S. Labor Department data.
Trade-Related Job Losses: 308 Percent Increase
The data analyzed in which Michigan also experienced a 308% increase in trade-related job losses in 2019 over 2018. Moreover, Denise Bailey, a local organizer with the Trade Justice Education Fund, analyzed the data.
“Michigan actually had the second-highest number of job losses in the U.S.,” Bailey said. “It goes contrary to what we’ve been hearing from the (Trump) administration about ending offshoring. The data is not reflecting that, we’re actually seeing an increase in Michigan.”
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, China Trade Deal
Trade-related job losses can vary. Yet Bailey contends policies such as the Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017 influenced the job losses. In addition, last January’s China trade deal created incentives and safeguards for corporations to move production aboard.
GM Warren Transmission Plant Shut Down
GM Warren transmission plant was shut down last year. Former President of UAW Local 909 Ghana Goodwin-Dye worked at this plant. As a result, Warren said the company’s decision to transfer production to Mexico was a major blow to workers and affected them severely.
Ghana Goodwin-Dye said the wider community has suffered from offshoring
“The businesses, the stores, the suppliers, the tax base; I just can’t say enough of how transporting our jobs outside of the United States affects not just those people in that one particular industry,” she said.
She feels federal leaders need to put local families and communities ahead of corporations.
