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Most Americans have never heard of American Chung Nam. During the past two years, the Naperville, Illinois-headquartered firm was the nation’s largest exporter–shipping 187,500 20-ft containers of wastepaper overseas, mostly to China and Asia where it is transformed into packaging.

Most Americans are familiar with Wal- Mart, the biggest importer in the US, accounting for more than 417,600 20-ft container units of a vast array of goods, mostly from China into the US. In fact, the number of containers Wal-Mart uses for its imports is 46 percent higher than the total number of export containers used by the top 12 US manufacturing companies combined.

An annual report on import-export activity based on shipping container usage published by Manufacturing & Technology News, underscores the contrast between what the US is exporting and what we are importing—a clear indication of the difference between a consuming economy and a producing economy.


The report quotes Michael Fusillo, director of maritime research for Port Import Export Reporting Service, or PIERS, the company that compiles and maintains the database:

The exports are almost predominately low-value stuff. They just need to fill the ships somehow with scrap metal, wastepaper and industrial resins. We don’t really make much anymore. We’re shifting a lot of wealth and human capital offshore.

The US is increasingly dependent on foreign sources for finished goods that were once manufactured here—appliances, clothing, tools, machinery, consumer goods. Not surprisingly, America’s top 20 importers are led by retailers (with Wal- Mart well ahead of the pack).

Last year, three of the top 20 US exporters (in volume, not dollar value) sent wastepaper to other nations. Fourteen of the top 20 exporters were shipping chemicals, paper, food, tobacco and metals. Only three of America’s top 20 exporters shipped what might be considered highvalue manufactured products - Proctor and
Gamble, DaimlerChrysler and General Electric.

Top 20 U.S. Importers Via Ocean Container Transport
The first number in brackets is the 2002 ranking. NR means not ranked in the top 100 in 2002
The second number in brackets is the number of containers imported in 2002.

                                 Cingular Wireless: Now Union Families Have Clear Choice

The choice of wireless phone providers can be confusing, prices and services all look alike. Package deals blare“free” talk time, bargain prices for equipment and lots of fine print.

For union families and anyone who cares about fair treatment for workers, the choice is easier. There is only one fully unionized cellular phone service. Cingular, the largest of the bunch, has positively accepted union representation by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for all 22,000 of its employees.

While Cingular proudly proclaims its union status and offers union members a discount; Verizon, Cingular’s top competitor, is a firm that has fired union activists and disciplined others who support organizing campaigns. Verizon shut down facilities where union drives were taking hold. Taking a page out of the Wal-Mart handbook, Verizon tells new hires on their first day on the job that it opposes unionization. The company uses “captive audience” meetings and threats from supervisors, along with a multi-page web site full of false statements about unions to intimidate workers.

CWA is alerting union workers to the sharp differences between the two companies — with an information blitz that includes mail inserts to families holding Union Privilege credit cards along with outreach to the labor press and the general media. For more information about Cingular’s special offers for union members go to the company’s web site: www.cingular.com, or call: (800) 356-9752.

* Means Check the VIN; Model made both in the U.S. and overseas

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The companies listed below all make products in the USA. They may also make products offshore, so you should always check before you purchase! All of these products were feature on John Ratzenberger's "Made in America" television show on the Travel Channel. Check out all of these products by clicking on any of the links.

SEASON ONE

SEASON TWO

Listings above are courtesy of the Label Letter at www.unionlabel.org  ................................................................