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Women of Steel to McCain: Palin Wrong Choice for Working Women, Families

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) Women of Steel today sent an open letter to Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain expressing disappointment in his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO )

The letter praises McCain for again putting a woman on the presidential ticket. Geraldine Ferraro was the Democrat nominee for vice president in 1984.

"You chose a female as your running mate, and we applaud your contribution to the progress this represents," the letter states. "Unfortunately, you chose the wrong woman for the wrong job. Governor Palin is a working mother whose achievements should be respected - but due respect for a budding political career doesn't mean she is ready to be vice president - a heart beat away from the presidency. Nor does it change the fact that she's not the best candidate to improve the lives of women and working families in this country."

The letter points out that Palin does little to change McCain's anti-worker, anti-woman agenda that, among other things, opposes giving workers the right to join a union and bargain collectively; erodes the ability of working families to secure quality health care by taxing their employer-provided coverage for both active and retired workers; and does nothing to protect or expand family leave or make it paid.

To view the letter in its entirety, visit assets.usw.org/action_center/WOSPalinLetter/openlettertomccain-palin.pdf

The USW's Women of Steel are dedicated to increasing working women's activism through the sharing of information and networking. The goal is to impact issues affecting all working women and their families, and to recognize women's leadership development and involvement at work and in the community. Women of Steel are employed in a diverse cross-section of industries including health care, manufacturing and public service.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in the U.S. andCanada employed in the industries of metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and mining. For more information: www.usw.org.

Contact: Connie Mabin (724) 601-5282

Ann Flener (412) 999-0541

Leeann Anderson, 412-562-2282

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)