Standing Up for American Workers

For years, Sherrod has spoken out and voted against trade agreements that hollow out American manufacturing communities and put Ohio workers at a disadvantage. He voted against NAFTA and against trade agreements with Central America, Colombia, China, and South Korea.

Sherrod stood up to members of his own party in opposing Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and led Democrats in moving away from these harmful deals. He continues to lead bipartisan efforts to secure a better deal for workers, working with the Trump administration on renegotiating of NAFTA.

Sherrod is committed to making sure that those who have seen their livelihoods affected by unfair trade deals don’t get left behind. He has led senators from both parties in calling for full funding for Trade Adjustment Assistance and introduced legislation to expand this critical training and assistance program to service sector employees and workers who lose their jobs to countries like China.

Sherrod understands that Ohio workers and manufacturers need an advocate to protect their role in the global marketplace. He has worked with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) to call for greater scrutiny of and consequences for countries that engage in steel dumping and currency manipulation.

He supports setting steel and aluminum tariffs to ensure that American manufacturers who play by the rules will not be undercut by cheap imports from countries like China. He played a critical role in the Trump Administration’s decision in 2017 to set tariffs that will allow Ohio manufacturers like Whirlpool to hire hundreds more workers.

Sherrod has also worked to help American companies compete overseas. He led the reauthorization and expansion of the Export-Import Bank, which benefited 226 small businesses in Ohio between 2007 and 2015.

Sherrod has also teamed up with Senator Portman to crack down on Chinese currency manipulation. Sherrod has asked Presidents of both parties to work with him to hold China accountable for currency manipulation, and has introduced legislation to treat currency manipulation as an unfair subsidy, which would give Ohio manufacturers and their workers new tools to fight back against Chinese cheating.

Sherrod knows that our competitiveness depends on maintaining our leadership in innovative, high-quality manufacturing.

In 2008, Sherrod fought to save the American auto industry, protecting the livelihood of more than 625,000 Ohioans. Since then, he has worked to help American manufacturers expand and innovate.

Sherrod has secured millions of dollars in investment to create jobs and train workers in Ohio’s manufacturing communities. He has helped create a national network of innovation hubs and business incubators to support Ohio’s growing high-tech manufacturing field and fought to make sure that the jobs created by these innovation zones go to people in the surrounding communities.

As part of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Sherrod worked with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to ensure that employers play an active role in workforce development programs, giving workers the skills they need to thrive in the 21st-century economy.

• United Auto Workers
• Ohio AFL-CIO
• AFSCME Retirees
• CWA Retirees
• Ohio IUE Retirees
• UAE Region 2B Retirees
• USW Organization of Active Retirees
• AFL-CIO National Alliance for Retired Americans
• United Mine Workers of America
• SEIU District 1199
• Building Trades + ACT Ohio
• Ohio State Council of Machinists
• Communication Workers of America – District 4
• AFSCME Ohio Council 8 and Retirees 1184
• Ohio State Conference of IBEW
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18
• Upper Ohio Valley Building & Construction Trades
• Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 50