On June 28, Local 600 responded to a U.S. Department of Commerce request for comments to the Unfair Trade Practices Task Force. The Task Force was created in May to help the U.S. manufacturing sector regain some of the nearly 3 million jobs lost since 2000.

The new administration of Local 600 campaigned on a platform of taking a more active stance on runaway production. The three-page letter sent by the Union represents a new policy direction.

In the letter commending the Department of Commerce for launching an inquiry, President Gary Dunham stated that runaway production is part of the exportation of American jobs, and he pledged the Union's help in resolving this problem.

"What we in the entertainment industry have called "runaway production" for years now is actually part of the wholesale exportation of American jobs to foreign countries currently known as 'outsourcing,'" the letter said. "Trade-distorting subsidies specifically designed to lure American productions to foreign countries are putting the present and future economic viability of our members in jeopardy."

You can read the full text of the letter at: http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/utptf/comments/
icg-utp-cmt.pdf.

From the entertainment industry, the Film and TV Action Committee, FTAC, also filed comment with the US Commerce Dept. along with other business entities.

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