Steelworkers Endorse Governor Corzine’s Bid for Re-ElectionTrenton – Citing Governor Corzine’s commitment to keeping high-paying manufacturing jobs in the state and training workers at New Jersey’s chemical facilities, the United Steelworkers Union today endorsed the Governor’s re-election efforts. “The members of the Steelworkers’ union are key components to New Jersey’s economy and growth,” Governor Corzine said.  “More importantly, they have worked tirelessly to keep good, high-paying manufacturing jobs in New Jersey while ensuring access to quality health care and fair wages for their members.  These are the very same values I have fought for my entire life and I am proud to have them stand by my side as we continue to move New Jersey forward.”New Jersey cannot afford to elect a Governor who will play partisan politics and deny New Jerseyans much needed federal recovery act funds which will put people back to work. Having a strong partner and ally with President Obama is essential if we want to continue moving New Jersey and the country in the right direction.   Unlike Chris Christie or Republican Governor’s Palin, Jindal or Sanford, who all said they would not accept federal Recovery Act funds that total $17.5 billion – of which nearly $1.6 billion are in infrastructure projects – Governor Corzine has partnered with President Obama to create jobs, put people back to work and improve our economy.  Re-electing Governor Corzine will help us continue moving forward with these efforts and lead New Jersey to a brighter future.“Governor Corzine doesn’t just talk about saving jobs, he backs it up with real action and real results.” said John Shinn, Steelworkers’ New Jersey Area Sub-District Director.  “The Governor personally got involved in our efforts to keep Marcal Paper in New Jersey.  His efforts saved the company along with 700 family-sustaining manufacturing jobs right here in New Jersey.  Moreover, in the wake of 9/11, Governor Corzine supported our efforts to make sure the state’s oil, chemical and atomic plant workers received training in security measures to protect our workers, companies and, most importantly, our communities.” Due to Governor Corzine’s bold leadership, New Jersey became only the second state in the nation to implement Family Leave Insurance – a self-funded insurance program for workers to be able to take up to six paid weeks to care for sick loved ones or newborns. Since the inception of the Family Leave Insurance this year, more than 5,400 workers have been determined to be eligible.During the Governor’s term in office, New Jersey has become a national model for expanding quality health care.  Over the last four years, the Governor has worked to expand the successful NJ Family Care program, qualifying previously ineligible children –  and fighting the Bush Administration when it tried to kick 10,000 New Jersey children off the program - adding almost 100,000 children to Family Care, which now provides nearly 600,000 children with the affordable health care they deserve. Chris Christie would give insurance companies free reign to drop coverage for critical procedures.The United Steelworkers Union represents workers in construction, manufacturing, health care, chemical plants and oil refineries throughout the state. ###