May 19, 2008 — Bring your imported toys and other items in to be screened for lead Tuesday at the V.I. Taxi Association Building Clubhouse in Estate Contant.
The United Steelworkers' (USW) Women of Steel (WOS) are hosting a lead-screening session to educate families about potentially toxic products and what the union views as the bad trade policies allowing them in. The product screenings are part of the union's "Protect Our Kids — Stop Toxic Imports" campaign in the U.S. and Canada.
The union's members have an economic interest in preventing imports, as well as a civic-minded concern for the potential of lead contamination.
"I've been scared to death for the children after hearing about lead on toys like Thomas the Tank Engine, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Big Bird — and on baby bibs, too," said Donna Shaver, a member of the USW's Women of Steel, a division of women steelworkers within the union. "We're hoping our campaign helps find poisoned products so we can get them out of our homes, but we also want to draw attention to the root of the problem: bad trade deals. These cheap goods from countries like China have an expensive price that is threatening the health and safety of our children and families."
The union is calling on Congress to support the U.S. Food and Product Responsibility Act, introduced in the Senate by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and in the House by Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.). This legislation would safeguard Americans against toxic food and products by requiring companies producing the goods and importers importing them to take responsibility, the union says.
Over the past few months, the Women of Steel have conducted lead-screening tests similar to the St. Thomas event in more than 25 cities across North America.
"Products we made safe through regulation of U.S. manufacturers are coming in poisonous through a back door in trade policy," said University of Pittsburgh professor Herbert Needleman, in a statement released by the union. Needleman pioneered lead research and treatments 30 years ago, according to the union.
Beginning with the recall of 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine toys in June 2007, more than six million toys have been recalled for high levels of lead, according to the USW. Lead can cause a variety of health problems, including learning disabilities, stunted growth, kidney damage and even death. More information about the union's project can be found at stoptoxicimports.org.
The USW represents 850,000 workers in the United States and Canada employed in the industries of metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service sector. For more information about the union, go to usw.org.
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