USW@Work (ISSN 1931-6658) Is Published Four Times a Year by the United Steelworkers EMAIL: [email protected] District 11 AFL-CIO•CLC 60 Blvd

USW@Work (ISSN 1931-6658) Is Published Four Times a Year by the United Steelworkers EMAIL: Editor@Usw.Org District 11 AFL-CIO•CLC 60 Blvd

SPRING CITY LIGHTS THE WAY 4 STRIKE AT ASARCO 8 NEW CONTRACTS AT BFGOODRICH AND ALCOA 14, 19 WOMEN ON THE RISE 22

62339_Magazine.indd 1 10/21/19 10:20 PM “I’M HONORED THAT HCL WORKERS CHOSE TO JOIN OUR UNION AND OUR FIGHT ON BEHALF OF ALL WORKING PEOPLE. THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. TOGETHER, WE’LL MAKE SURE THEY ARE.” INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT THOMAS M. CONWAY, SEPT 25, 2019, ON THE DECISION BY PITTSBURGH TECHNOLOGY WORKERS AT GOOGLE CONTRACTOR HCL TO JOIN THE USW CURRENT INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD THOMAS M. CONWAY International President JOHN SHINN Int’l. Secretary-Treasurer DAVID R. McCALL Int’l. Vice President (Administration) FRED REDMOND Int’l. Vice President (Human affairs) KEN NEUMANN Nat’l. Dir. for Canada LEEANN FOSTER Int’l. Vice President UNION LIGHTING ALCOA CONTRACT HEALTH AND SAFETY ROXANNE BROWN Local 132 members at Spring City USW members at Alcoa over- USW members attending a health, Vice President at Large Electrical Manufacturing produce whelmingly ratified a four-year safety and environment conference ornate cast iron lamp posts for master agreement covering about honored Local 10-1 for averting DIRECTORS big cities, small towns, college 1,600 production and maintenance a tragedy when their refinery in DONNIE BLATT campuses and theme parks. workers at five U.S. locations. Philadelphia was rocked by fire and District 1 04 14 explosions. MICHAEL BOLTON 26 District 2 STEPHEN HUNT FEATURES District 3 SPEAKING OUT TRADE WATCH NEWS BRIEFS DEL VITALE USW members, retirees and their The U.S. Commerce Department Several dozen USW members attend- District 4 families are invited to “speak out.” is investigating several foreign ed the union’s first Veterans of Steel ALAIN CROTEAU Letters should be short and to the countries accused of skirting or cir- Council meeting in October. Members District 5 point. We reserve the right to edit cumventing duties meant to protect of Local 13-1 in Texas ratified a new MARTY WARREN for length. the jobs of American paper workers contract with a subsidiary of Dow District 6 03 from unfair foreign competition. Chemical. Union Plus, the benefit 32 program, awarded scholarships to MIKE MILLSAP District 7 four students whose parents are USW members. ERNEST R. “BILLY” THOMPSON COVER 33 District 8 Foundry worker Aneudi Manzanet COMMUNICATIONS STAFF DANIEL FLIPPO Photo by Steve Dietz. JIM McKAY JESS KAMM BROOMELL AARON HUDSON AND GREG COLE District 9 Editor Director of Communications Graphic Designers 04 BOBBY “MAC” MCAULIFFE CHELSEY ENGEL, LYNNE HANCOCK, R.J. HUFNAGEL, TONY MONTANA, JOE SMYDO, BARBARA WHITE STACK District 10

EMIL RAMIREZ USW@Work (ISSN 1931-6658) is published four times a year by the United Steelworkers EMAIL: [email protected] District 11 AFL-CIO•CLC 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Subscriptions to non-members: $12 for one MAIL: USW@Work year; $20 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Pittsburgh, Pa., and additional mailing ofﬁces. 60 Blvd of the Allies ROBERT LAVENTURE Pittsburgh, PA 15222 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: USW@Work, USW Membership Department, District 12 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 USW@WORK RUBEN GARZA Volume 14/4 Copyright 2019 by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO•CLC. All rights reserved. No part of this Fall 2019 District 13 publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the United Steelworkers.

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62339_Magazine.indd 2 10/21/19 10:20 PM SPEAKING OUT Soul of a Union Man I was glad to see Brother Gerard’s “Soul of a Union Man That means the EEOC will know for the first time which reprinted in the summer issue. Leo grew up understanding in corporations are the worst offenders – the corporations that his bones the challenges of working people and writes beauti- pay women and minorities less than they pay white men for fully about that past. the same obs. One of Leo’s legacies, the BlueGreen Alliance, can play a Although the information won’t be available to the public, ma or role in the U.S. response to the climate crisis onslaught. it will help the EEOC enforce federal laws barring such I hope to see ongoing coverage of our union’s work with the discrimination. It would be great if the EEOC could get equal BGA in the coming months. pay, for example, for the U.S. women’s national soccer team. At a time when union membership is declining, it’s good ana llusch s cr ar S hap r that the federal government will step in and enforce equi- asa na as ty. he value of union membership is that equity already is enforced with labor agreements. All people who work in Getting Involved certain categories of obs – whether they are men, women, I was thrilled reading the last edition of USW@Work and white, black, Hispanic, Asian or whatever – receive the same seeing younger folks getting involved with the union and hav- pay and benefits because it is guaranteed in their labor union’s ing mentors to guide them along the way. It’s important for contract with the employer. the next generation of workers to know labor’s history and to hat’s part of the union advantage. keep fighting for what’s right, as Kenneth Lewis of Newport News, Va., said in the new organizer training story. in a an ocal i r or alls ain a i r olli r ocal n o i a al as A March to Remember Workers in Marietta, Ohio, will never forget Leo Gerard. Support Health Care Workers As a staff representative, I was assigned the task of nego- We are proud to be members of a union that puts a priority tiating a first contract for 77 workers at a small plant that on issues of workplace safety. Health care occupations may produced magnet material. The company refused to recognize not be the ones most people think of when we talk about the union, and in March 1997, the USW began a strike for unsafe work environments, but the truth is that there is an recognition. epidemic of violence in hospital obs like ours. The company hired a giant law firm, Jones Day, to he USW has been extremely active in pushing for represent it. It was quite clear what intentions were. But the solutions to this problem, and we are hoping that the readers resolve of the USW and in particular, then Secretary- rea- of USW@Work will keep up this fight. We’ve been urging surer Gerard, to win the struggle could not be matched by the members of Congress to support the Workplace Violence company and its expensive lawyers. revention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act We won that strike after 23 months with an outstanding (H.R. 309 S. 8 ). first contract and the reinstatement of 19 striking workers who Under this bill, OSHA would create a national standard were unfairly discharged. Leo attended many of our rallies. requiring health care and social service employers to develop His gutsy fearlessness was contagious to all of us. and implement violence-prevention plans. One of our biggest rallies was attended by thousands of We ask that all USW members contact their representa- USW members and retirees. Leo and AFL-CIO resident tives in Congress and urge them to support this bill. You can Richard rumka were the main speakers. Leo was determined to find your representatives and their contact information at march two miles through downtown Marietta to the plant gates. www.house.gov representatives. As we set off with Leo leading the march, a half dozen Every member of this union, and every American worker, local police officers jumped out in front. One officer yelled at deserves to come home each day safe and healthy. ogether, Leo, “Where’s your permit You can’t march without a per- we can make it happen. mit.” Never missing a step, Leo shouted back at him, “Right AARON HUDSON AND GREG COLE os l in pr si n ocal behind me. What a leader, what a union Graphic Designers Malinda Sholler, financial secretary, Local 158 ar ochran r ir is ric s a onongah la a. a a oras hio

EMAIL: [email protected] Equal Pay MAIL: USW@Work On Sept. 30, the federal government began requiring 60 Blvd of the Allies employers with more than 00 workers to report to the federal EMAIL: [email protected] USW active, retired members and their Pittsburgh, PA 15222 MAIL: USW@Work families are invited to “speak out.” Letters Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) how 60 Blvd of the Allies should be short and to the point. We USW@WORK much they pay employees of different races, genders and Pittsburgh, PA 15222 reserve the right to edit for length. Volume 14/4 Fall 2019 ethnicities.

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62339_Magazine.indd 3 10/21/19 10:20 PM Aneudi Manzanet Photos by Steve Dietz

Foundry Workers Create can’t get done at an automated found- ments of transportation using federal ry,” said Local Recording Secretary Jon highway funds. Vintage-Style Lamp Posts Bowers, a computer-controlled machine Company President Alan Brink is operator. proud that there have been no layos in SW members mix muscle and Fixture parts and patterns used in the past 20 years. artistry with old and new tech- production are made on computerized “ree years ago, we were involved in nologies at Spring City Elec- machinery, but much of the work of getting legislation that requires company Utrical Manufacturing to create ornate building sand molds, pouring iron or of origin markings on all imported lamp cast-iron and aluminum lamp posts for aluminum, and grinding and painting posts,” Brink said, noting that he appre- major cities, small towns, college cam- the nished products is done the way ciates union work aer having been a puses and theme parks. it was 100 years ago, partly because the member of the United Paperworkers, Intricately detailed lamp posts, lumi- nished products are too large for auto- now part of the USW, while working naires and accessories made at Spring mation. during college. City’s 19th century foundry by members “is is all very old-school style arti- Like many foundries, Spring City is of Local 132 grace the grounds of the san type work from molding to grinding loud and gritty. Yet it seems to be a sat- U.S. Capitol, Universal Studios, Dis- and our machine shop,” Bowers said, isfying place to work where many union ney World Florida, and the streets and his voice rising to be heard above the members are second-generation and sidewalks of New York, Boston, Phila- din of foundry work and the beeping of most are proud of their cra and what delphia, and Washington, D.C., among forklis. “It’s all done very meticulously they make. other places. by hand. It’s very intense physical labor.” Today the company employs 110-plus Located on South Main Street in workers, more than 80 of whom belong Spring City, Pa., 30 miles northwest Buy America important to Local 132, which came to the USW of Philadelphia, the company traces e “Buy America” provision on steel through the 2017 merger with the Glass, its history back 175 years. It occupies and iron in the federal highway laws Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied a complex of buildings on eight acres is very important to the continuing Workers Industrial Union (GMP). where a foundry was rst built in 1843, survival of Spring City because many of Now a council within the USW, the nearly a generation before the Civil War the streetscape projects that the compa- GMP is transitioning into the USW with began in 1861. “What we do here you ny supplies are funded by state depart- the goal of full integration by January

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62339_Magazine.indd 4 10/21/19 10:20 PM Tim Manley Jr.

2021, said GMP Council Vice President Bennett Sallemi, who has worked with the local for 17 years. Being a union company is o en helpful to marketing eorts. “If you can walk a local government ocial through our plant and they see the people making the product and know that those people have good wages and benets, they almost always buy from us,” said Chris Rosfelder, vice president of sales and marketing.

Constructing sand molds Spring City’s lamp posts are made in large sand molds assembled on the factory oor. Molds construct- ed during the day are lled with molten metal over the night shi

to take advantage of lower electric Tremaine Jeffcoat power rates. While most of the company’s products look like antiques, their lighting is modern and can be retrotted onto older poles. Al- most all of its new xtures, made in house, include green LEDs, or light-emitting diodes.

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62339_Magazine.indd 5 10/21/19 10:20 PM e rst step in manufacturing a lamp worked around the ask at a jogger’s le over from the mold is removed from post is to fashion a full-scale replica or pace, stopping only briey to acknowl- the pole. Air-powered grinders are used pattern of the nal product, exact in edge that his hard work catches up with to dene detail and smooth the exterior every way, using aluminum, wood or him physically at the end of his shi. of the castings. plastic. e company has some 6,000 Michael Warrick, 35, uses a plasma patterns warehoused on the property, Internal cores torch to cut away excess material in- allowing for a wide range of designs. Since a solid cast-iron lamp post cluding ashing at the seams and gates, New patterns and light xture parts would be too heavy to move, workers where the hot metal enters the mold, are made on computer numerical con- insert a core that is smaller than the before the pole moves to the next step. trol (CNC) machines from computer-as- pattern, leaving a void on all sides. “It’s hard work and it’s good work. sisted draing (CAD) drawings. When molten cast iron is poured into It keeps me in shape,” Warrick said. “I One of Spring City’s most recogniz- the nished mold, it takes the shape of like to do a good job. I like to do quality able products is the Bishop’s Crook lamp the pattern. e core ensures hollow but work. It’s artwork, good art.” post, named for the fanciful sta that uniformly thick walls. bishops carried. Decorated with a gar- Ahkeen Ford-Bey, a 10-year veteran Art in grinding land that wraps around the sta, it has molder, was nishing smaller sand- Farther down the line, Chris Hohl been used in New York for more than a packed molds for parts and drilling literally puts his back to the job. Leaning century. Keen-eyed Spring City workers holes in them to allow for drainage. his body toward a grinding wheel with oen spot it on TV and in movies. a large casting in both hands, he Hanging in the company’s oce Photo Courtesy of Spring City Electrical dely turns the piece until it is building is a photograph from Sept. smooth and gleaming. He tosses it 11, 2001, with the World Trade into a pile of nished parts, wipes Center in rubble and a Bishop’s his brow, and picks up another. Crook lamp post made from duc- “ ere’s an art to cutting this tile iron still standing. stu,” said Hohl, 61, stopping to talk shop. Making patterns in sand “Oh, yes, I’m very tired when I e pattern is cut in half verti- go home, but I’ve done this since cally on the shop oor. One half I was 17 so I’m used to it. You can is laid at side down on a “pattern see how fast and how nice I can board.” A ask, or solid steel fence, go through these,” he said before is locked around the pattern and returning to the grinder. “I’ve got lled with green or wet sand that is plenty of work to do here, so I tightly compacted to ensure detail better get back to it.” survives. e nishing department crew e ask is then ipped and the works to ensure the quality of the pattern board removed. e other product is up to par before it is half of the pattern is then placed sent to the paint room and ulti- onto the rst half with workers mately the customer, said Justin making sure the two are perfectly “We all can’t sit at a desk,” he said as he Pfeier, the department’s lead man. aligned. A second ask is placed on top worked. “It is good work,” Pfeier said. “We all of the rst one. Sand is again tightly Using chemically treated sand that work well together. Everything comes compacted around the pattern. hardens, Alex Roseo, 22, was assembling out the way it’s supposed to and every- e two asks are then separated and cores, smoothing them and making sure one does a good job.” laid open-face on the oor. e pat- no holes were present that would allow e Spring City foundry has survived tern halves are removed, revealing an molten metal to escape. “It’s not that for 175 years by utilizing a skilled work impression in the sand that has all the dicult, but it keeps you busy,” he said. force, changing products and going details of a nished product. At night, iron is melted in an electric high-tech when necessary while nurtur- On the September day when furnace, turning from red hot to white ing and preserving vintage artisan skills. USW@Work visited the plant, veteran hot to molten before it is poured into It’s a pattern for success. foundry worker Wayne Hunter was the mold and allowed to slowly cool. using a pneumatic tool similar to a e asks are then separated and the For more information on Spring City jackhammer to compress sand in a ask core is removed. Electrical, visit www.springcity.com. Search big enough for a 16-foot light pole. He Finishing and painting are next. Sand youtube.com for factory tour videos.

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62339_Magazine.indd 6 10/21/19 10:21 PM - Michael Warrick

Alex Roseo

Aneudi Manzanet Tim Manley, Jr.

Wayne Hunter

Robert Manley Michael Needling

Albert Dever

USW@Work • Fall 2019 7

62339_Magazine.indd 7 10/21/19 10:21 PM Nearly 2,000 Workers Strike ASARCO fter a decade of no wage years,” LaVenture said. “These workers At issue is a master agreement increases, a coalition of nearly deserve a contract that reflects their covering workers from all ASARCO A2,000 union workers led by the contributions.” locations and bargaining units with USW struck copper producer ASARCO, The last time wages rose for hourly local supplemental agreements for each a Grupo Mexico subsidiary, in mid-Oc- employees was Sept. 30, 2009. In work site. tober over unfair labor practices. 2010, wages were frozen under a one- Strike votes were held after the “We cannot allow ASARCO man- year extension. In 2011, wages were USW, acting on behalf of its members agers – even when directed by Grupo again frozen, benefits were cut and the and the other coalition unions, provided executives in Mexico City – to pick and pension plan was closed to new hires. management with a 48-hour notice of choose which U.S. labor laws and stan- LaVenture said ASARCO’s most intent to terminate a contract extension dards apply to them, and the company recent four-year contract proposal that had been in place since Dec. 1, can’t expect to roll back generations of insulted union members by including 2018. The strike began in Arizona at collective bargaining progress without no wage increase for nearly two-thirds 11 p.m. local time Oct. 13 and at 1 a.m. a fight,” said District 12 Director Rob- of workers, freezing the existing pen- Oct. 14 in Texas. ert LaVenture.” sion plan, and more than doubling the LaVenture said that the USW is Strike votes were held on Friday, out-of-pocket contributions individual willing to resume bargaining and Oct. 11, after union members rejected a workers already pay for health care. ready to meet as long as necessary to “last and final” offer from the company negotiate a fair contract, and urged that included no wage increases for a Coalition unions his management counterparts to make majority of the union work force and a In addition to the USW, the union resolving the labor dispute an urgent freeze of the existing pension plan. coalition includes Boilermakers, the priority. LaVenture said workers who sac- International Association of Machin- “Management has tested these em- rificed to sustain the company during ists, Teamsters, the United Association ployees for years, and we’ve met their past downturns earned and deserve (UA), the International Union of Oper- challenges each step along the way,” a fair contract with better and more ating Engineers, and the International LaVenture said. “When we march secure earnings, benefits and pensions, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers together for fairness and justice at but ASARCO proposed the exact (IBEW). ASARCO, we are delivering a unified opposite. The strike involves workers at four message that the company’s attacks on “Working 12-hour shifts in an open- locations in Arizona – the Mission our livelihoods must end and that we pit mine, smelter or refinery is difficult Complex, the Silver Bell Mine, the are standing up for respect and dignity and dangerous, and ASARCO employ- Hayden Complex and the Ray Mine – from this employer.” ees have not had a wage increase in 10 and a refinery in Amarillo, Texas.

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62339_Magazine_X.indd 8 10/22/19 5:49 PM he U.S. Supreme Court declined from newer employees bonuses based court to hear its case for overturning to review lower-court rulings re- on copper prices. the district court ruling that was twice quiring copper producer ASAR- District 12 Director Robert LaVen- affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals CO, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, ture said the company’s attempt to for the Ninth Circuit. to pay millions of dollars in disputed divide the union membership by with- LaVenture said the union is gratified copper price bonuses to a coalition of holding the bonus payments backfired, with the Supreme Court’s decision, but union workers in Arizona and Texas led uniting rather than dividing workers in warned that the struggle for ustice with by the USW. the two states. ASARCO and Grupo Mexico will likely The decision, issued on Oct. 7, “Although ASARCO has delayed continue. means ASARCO has exhausted all of and postponed paying the millions he union will work hard to make its appeals and must comply with an of dollars it owes for years, we nev- sure the company finally pays what arbitrator’s order to pay the bonuses to er stopped fighting to ensure justice it owes to eligible current and former hundreds of employees hired after June for these workers and their families, employees, LaVenture said, promising 30, 20 . LaVenture said. “The company’s con- to provide updates to workers when a Eight international unions represent- stant attempts to undermine our con- payment timetable becomes available. ing more than 2,000 hourly workers at tracts have truly united us in solidarity. “Management has proven it is will- five ASARCO mines and processing ASARCO owes more than $ 0 mil- ing to go great lengths to avoid paying facilities have been fighting to enforce lion in copper price payments to about employees, but the company has finally the award since December 2014, when 750 current and former employees. The run out of room to run from this obliga- Arbitrator Michael Rappaport deter- company filed a petition for a Supreme tion, he said. mined the company wrongly withheld Court ruling last May, asking the high ASARCO

exhaCOURT APPEALSusts on coppercopper bonusbonus

USW@Work • Fall 2019 9

62339_Magazine.indd 9 10/21/19 10:21 PM workers in high-tech fields connect and Carnegie Library Contract Tech communicate with each other about their Workers at google working conditions, as well as provid- Workers in Pittsburgh ing support in organizing and collective Choose the USW bargaining. Join USW It is believed that this is the first or one Join USW ech workers at Google contractor of the first times that white-collar workers heers, hugs and applause HCL Technologies in Pittsburgh sought to unionize at Google, the search greeted the announcement that Tvoted overwhelmingly in Sep- engine giant. Tech workers by and large C 321 full- and part-time librar- tember to join an affiliate of the United have been reluctant to organize and have ians and related staff at the Carnegie Steelworkers that was formed to help and a reputation of being paid well with good Library of Pittsburgh overwhelmingly protect technical workers. benefits and flexible workplaces. voted in August to become new mem- “I’m honored that HCL workers HCL, founded in India in 1976, embers of the USW. chose to join our union and our fight on ploys 143,000 workers in 44 countries and Librarians, library assistants, clerks behalf of all working people,” said Inter- boasts annual revenues of $8.9 billion. It and IT professionals who work for the national President Thomas M. Conway. resorted to anti-union tactics during the library at 19 branches and a support “They deserve to have their voices heard. Pittsburgh campaign, hiring Eric Vanetti center launched their organizing cam- Together, we’ll make sure they are.” of Vantage Point Alliance, self-described paign last June and can now begin the The HCL employees, who work experts in union avoidance. The firm process of bargaining a first contract. alongside Google employees at the gained notoriety in defeating a union cam- “We are honored to welcome search engine company’s office hub paign at Fuyao Glass in Moraine, Ohio, these vital community builders into in Pittsburgh, voted 49 to 24 despite a that was documented in the film “Ameri- our growing union,” International company-led anti-union campaign, which can Factory.” President Thomas M. Conway said. included mandatory captive audience “We have vast experience after nego- “This is a big step toward making the meetings and the use of a controversial tiating fair contracts for many thousands library more fair and equitable for the anti-union consultant. of members who work for multinational workers that keep it thriving.” “Over the past few months, manage- corporations,” Conway said in a statement The Carnegie Libraries in Pitts- ment has implied – and in some cases criticizing HCL’s anti-union stance. “But burgh, founded in 1895, were the first outright told us – that it’s better to just be in its drive to avoid bargaining in good of 2,500 libraries across the country quiet than fight for what’s right,” HCL faith with its funded by industrialist and union-bust- worker Johanne employees in er Andrew Carnegie. Rokholt said America, HCL, The vote count, conducted at the after the vote like Fuyao, is library’s main branch on Aug. 14, was count. “Today resorting to the 173 for the union and 106 against. we proved that same tactics Some 321 employees were eligible to we are not will- employers have vote. A small number of ballots were ing to do that.” used for 100 challenged. Contract years.” workers like Library’s third union Conway The USW is the third union to those at HCL said captive are part of a sec- represent Carnegie Library workers audience meet- in Western Pennsylvania. The Team- ond-tier shadow ings – like those From Left to Right: Stefan Sidelnick, Andrea Savatt, Johanne Rokholt, Joshua sters represent drivers and the Service work force at Borden, Ben Gwin, Mary Zuzack, Renata Nelson, Isabel Mills HCL coerced Google of tens Employees union represents environ- employees into mental service workers. of thousands of temps, vendors and con- attending – typically begin with managers tractors, referred to as TVCs. They make The United Library Workers of the talking about how they prefer solving Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh began up over half of Google’s total staff and conflicts “within the family” and with- report receiving less pay and benefits than the campaign with hopes of gaining a out a union to advocate on the workers’ voice on issues that affect the library, permanent Google employees. behalf. Generally, the company’s behav- “We deserve more respect, dignity the communities they serve and their ior evolves into bullying individuals or own working conditions. Organizers and democracy in our relationship with groups of workers if support for the union our employer,” said HCL worker Joshua expressed a desire for a more inclusive persists. and democratic work environment and Borden. “We fought for a seat at the table, “We are a modern, international union and today we won. We look forward to a say in decisions about pay, benefits, with strategic partnerships around the hiring and promotions. bargaining a contract that reflects our world and members in every sector of the important contributions.” The new unit joins a growing economy, including a variety of profes- number of white-collar Steelworkers. Technical professionals sional workers, from pharmacy techni- About 340 adjunct faculty members The organizing effort began earlier cians to university professors,” Conway at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University this year through the Pittsburgh Associa- said. “We are proud of the respectful and were bargaining a second contract tion of Technical Professionals, a project productive relationships the USW has with the school, and the union also sponsored by the USW aimed at helping established with employers and various represents about 430 adjuncts at Rob- Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania industry groups through almost 80 years.” ert Morris University, about 15 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. 10 USW@Work Fall 2019

62339_Magazine_X.indd 10 10/22/19 5:49 PM New Vote Ordered extensive anti-union campaign by the university, which included paying hun- for Pitt Grad dreds of thousands of dollars to Ballard Spahr, a Philadelphia-based law firm Student workers that specializes in “union avoidance.” The final tally showed 675 workers raduate students at the Univer- voting for the union and 712 no votes. sity of Pittsburgh are ramping “Graduate students have known for Gup their campaign to become a long time that we needed to join to- part of the USW after a state labor gether in a union,” said Olivia Enders, official ordered a new election for the a graduate student employee in the group due to the university’s unfair Department of Instruction and Learning labor practices that affected their first in Pitt’s School of Education. “The re- vote in April. cent unexpected increase in the already A Pennsylvania Labor Relations steep health care costs for our families Board (PLRB) officer ruled in Sep- is just one more example of our need tember that the university violated the for a collective voice.” students’ rights in its effort to affect the If successful, the new unit would outcome of the graduate students’ vote include about 2,000 teaching assistants, in April to join the Academic Workers teaching fellows, graduate assistants Association of the USW. Pitt appealed and graduate student researchers. the ruling on Oct. 8. The grad students’ campaign is just In his decision, Hearing Examiner one part of the USW’s effort to orga- Stephen Helmerich said Pitt committed nize higher education workers. “coercive acts” to convince graduates SettlementSettlement at to vote against the union, and those acts Faculty blasts chancellor “potentially affected a large enough In January, Pitt’s faculty also filed pointpoint Park pool of eligible voters for the effect on for a union election, citing the univer- the election to be manifest due to the sity administration’s failure to focus re- djunct instructors at Pittsburgh’s extreme narrowness of the result.” sources on the school’s core mission of Point Park University reached The teaching and a tentative agreement on a new research. The A ruling stated contract in September. that Pitt’s university has The three-year contract includes anti-union ac- also waged wage increases each semester through tions included a legal battle spring 2022, along with other contrac- intimidation to resist that tual improvements. This is the second and misin- unionization contract for the Point Park adjuncts, fol- formation, effort. lowing a three-year agreement reached including This sum- in June 2016. creating the mer, mem- The new contract settlement came impression bers of the after several high-profile public events through Pitt faculty in support of the instructors, including emails that it From Left to Right: Geneveive Newman, Rahul Amruthapuri, George Borg, condemned the distribution of educational leaflets to Kim Garrett, Donald Joseph was keeping university students and family members when they specific track of who voted. Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s refusal arrived on campus on Aug. 19. “Sadly, the university has done ev- to fully comply with a PLRB subpoe- “The faculty owes a debt of gratitude erything it could since day one to stand na requesting information regarding to the wonderful students and families of in the way of its own graduate students the list of faculty eligible to be in a Point Park, as well as the full-time fac- having a voice, including engaging in potential bargaining unit that the Pitt ulty for their unwavering support,” said unlawful conduct,” said International administration provided to the PLRB Damon Di Cicco, president of Local President Thomas M. Conway said. earlier this year. 1088 and an adjunct faculty member. “This time around, Pitt must allow “Given the depths to which Chan- Adjunct faculty members teach these workers to exercise their rights cellor Gallagher has already sunk in roughly half of the classes at the univer- under the law and allow the democratic order to thwart our efforts to form a sity. The full-time faculty is also union- process to proceed without obstruc- union on campus, it’s unsurprising ized, represented by the Communica- tion,” he said. that the administration is pursuing this tions Workers of America (CWA). Pitt grad employees filed for a course of action,” said William Scott, “This contract represents a victory union election in December 2017, seek- an associate professor in the English for the faculty, but more importantly for ing a voice in decisions that affect their department. “It’s clear that he knows quality education,” said Local 1088 Vice working conditions, as well as greater a majority of faculty members want a President Sharon Brady. transparency and increased protections union and is willing to do anything to against discrimination and harassment. keep us from voting.” The April 2019 election followed an

USW@Work Fall 2019 11

62339_Magazine_X.indd 11 10/22/19 5:49 PM MembersMembers MobilizeMobilize FOR Civil, Human Rights

Elise Bryant lise Bryant, president of the Coalition of Union Women, kicked off the 20 9 USW ECivil and Human Rights Conference in Minneapolis by leading 00 attendees in song. Their collective refrain – “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now, Forward as One” – set the tone for the rest of the meeting. District 11 Director Emil Ramirez then spoke to the audience on the importance of educating and mobilizing members to fight for the soul of our country together. Int’l Vice President “We are a better nation than what we are Fred Redmond witnessing today, he said. he conference featured dozens of inspirational leaders and speakers including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Robin Wil- liams of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), British Columbia’s Minister of Labour Harry Bains, and Valerie Castile, mother of hilando Castile, who was shot and killed by a Minnesota policeman in 2016. After her son’s tragic slaying, Castile moved to keep her son’s legacy alive by starting the hilando Castile Relief Foundation. “It would have been so easy for me to withdraw, she told a panel discussion. “But I love my son and I

Photos by love my community. I had Steve Dietz to do something.

Mayson Sabrina Int’l President Doug Fulk Liu Thomas M. Ward Conway

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62339_Magazine.indd 12 10/21/19 10:21 PM Lively, moving plenaries were resistance, he said. “We are a nation of Fulk eventually came out as trans and punctuated by workshops that focused immigrants. now serves as the District 6 trans liaison. on immigrants’ rights, Islamophobia, In a video address, retired Interna- “I’ve been able to educate other people, LGB equality, the Black Lives Mat- tional resident Leo W. Gerard reiterat- and the union has been able to educate me ter movement, and more. ed the union’s responsibility to call out as well, Fulk said in a video showcased Health care worker Marketa A. An- the crisis and fight to make it right. at the conference. “It’s an exciting position derson, a Local 9439 member in Minneso- “ here’s a violation of human and because I get to help people. ta, attended a class on workplace violence, civil rights staring us right in the face, Fulk, a member of Local 2699-09, which has increased by 30 percent since he said. “ he best thing we can do is was instrumental in creating a handbook 20 2 and accounted for 8,400 in uries and mobilize our membership and educate for Canadian members on how to deal 458 fatalities in 2017 alone, according to our membership and tell them this isn’t with gender transitioning in the work- the National Safety Council. the kind of union we are. place. With other committee members, o Anderson and others, much of the “ his union stands for ustice for ev- he also conducted two workshops that fo- Mobilize problem stems from understaffing and erybody. Everyone is welcome into our cused on the anniversary of the Stonewall Mobilize lack of training. Management, of course, union as they should be in our society. riots in New York, anti-discrimination FOR Civil, Human Rights has different ideas. contract language and tips on how to be “We’re told it’s ust part of the ob, allies to the community. said Anderson, a home health aide. “I am so proud of the amazing Thomas “Tas” Starks of Local 560 welcome that our first-ever LGBT in Gwinner, N.D., a first-time attendee, Advisory Committee received, Fulk found value in the workshops, especially said. “I can’t wait to see what we will the seminar on Islamophobia. accomplish before our next civil rights “We are working on building soli- conference. darity with some of our Muslim brothers “This committee symbolizes the and sisters I gained a lot of insight, expansion and diversity of our union, said Starks, a shear operator at Bobcat Redmond said. “We must move forward Co., the maker of compact loaders and and help uplift our most vulnerable, and excavators. that includes the LGB community. Starks is passionate about civil rights he movement will only grow stronger and was emboldened by the atmosphere by being inclusive to all and reaching and education. “I learned a lot, but mostly International Vice President at Large out to traditionally underrepresented it affirmed much of what I already knew, Roxanne Brown, the International Exec- activists. making me feel less crazy, which encour- utive Board’s first black woman, spoke Redmond closed the conference by ages me to get out more and organize to the conference about unity and the honoring the legendary William “Bill more, he said. bigger picture her appointment paints. Lucy, a prominent labor leader who A large group of revved-up activists “It’s not about me, she said. “It’s was vital in organizing the 1968 Mem- marched to the Minneapolis City Hall an opportunity for all of us to lead this phis sanitation strike. he strike caught in support of comprehensive reform of union. It’s about what I represent for the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King, the broken U.S. immigration system, and the present and future of this union. It’s who was shot and killed in the ennes- legislation to prevent wage theft. about what you represent. see city while supporting workers. “Everywhere we go we want to make he union took another leap forward Redmond also reminded the attend- it perfectly clear that the United Steel- by introducing attending members of ees of the earnestness required in the workers stand in solidarity with our broth- the LGB Advisory Committee. he many fights the movement must take on ers and sisters at the southern border and committee is working to advise the USW moving forward. we will not be quiet until ustice prevails, on how to improve working conditions “We’re living in a time that Dr. International Vice President Fred Red- for the LGB community. King referred to as the fierce urgency mond said to a storm of cheers and chants. Mayson Fulk, a production worker at of now,’ said Redmond. International resident homas M. Leggett and latt Automotive in London, “We need to vigorously, and with Conway also addressed the border crisis, Ontario, has been active in the labor a vicious sense of completion, make calling on the labor movement to stand movement since he oined the Steelwork- sure that we take action now. We need with immigrants and their families as ers in Canada after leaving the United to move outside of our comfort zone so ICE raids terrorize communities. States, where harassment-free employ- we as a union and as a movement can “We’ve got to be a part of that ment was becoming impossible for him. make real change.

Doug E.J. Guillermo Ward Jenkins Perez

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62339_Magazine.indd 13 10/21/19 10:21 PM MEMBERS RATIFY

AT BFGOODRICH embers voted by petitiveness of their facilities. a wide margin in he USW’s previous M August to ratify a three-year agreement with BF- new three-year contract with Goodrich expired on July 27. BFGoodrich that covers about he two sides began talks for 2, 00 workers at facilities in a new contract this spring. he uscaloosa, Ala., and Fort new agreement runs through Wayne, Ind. July 30, 2022. he new collective bargaining agreement includes Solidarity key annual wage increases and Kevin Johnsen, the new bonuses, maintains quality, af- chairman of the USW’s fordable health care coverage, Rubber lastic Industry and strengthens retirement Council, said the agreement benefits. was a testament to the strength “ he hard-working mem- and solidarity of the union’s bers at these locations, along membership. with tire workers across the “It was only by standing industry, have faced a number up with one voice and con- of challenges in recent years, fronting these challenges first and foremost the threats together that we could reach a of foreign competition and fair and equitable agreement, unfair trade, International Johnsen said. resident homas M. Conway Overall, the USW rep- said. resents more than 8,000 “ hey should be proud workers in the tire industry that they were able to reach at companies including BF- an agreement that maintains Goodrich, Goodyear, Bridge- family-supporting obs while stone-Firestone, itan, Cooper, ensuring the long-term com- Sumitomo and Uniroyal.

he USW represents offering voluntary buyouts to more than 7,000 work- some workers at the Gadsden ers at Goodyear plants plant. Eligible employees were in Topeka, Kan.; Fayetteville, required to submit applications N.C.; Danville, Va.; Gadsden, for buyouts by Nov. 1, Good- Ala.; and Akron, Ohio. year said. Although the USW’s Goodyear also announced contract with Goodyear runs earlier in the summer that it RESTRUCTURING AT through July 2022, the compa- would invest $ 80 million to ny is implementing a restruc- expand capacity at the Fayette- turing plan that has already ville, N.C., facility to increase resulted in layoffs and changes production of larger-rim pas- to work schedules at the Dan- senger tires and to “modernize ville and Gadsden plants. and improve operations and IN DANVILLE AND GADSDEN In September, the Akron, efficiency.” Ohio-based company began

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62339_Magazine.indd 14 10/21/19 10:21 PM KUMHO WORKERS

Second Election at Georgia Tire Plant Successful After Company’s Illegal Union Busting

orkers at the Kumho Tire fac- an order in May for a new vote at the “Too often companies try to bully tory in Macon, Ga., voted in Kumho factory after finding that com- and intimidate workers who simply WSeptember for USW represen- pany officials violated workers’ rights want to exercise their right to bargain tation, nearly two years after an initial during the first election in October collectively,” said International Pres- vote was marred by the company’s 2017. ident Thomas M. Conway. “That is numerous violations of workers’ rights. Following that initial vote, which re- simply a losing strategy. Rather than While some legal hurdles remain sulted in a narrow defeat for the union, fighting their own workers, employers before the election results are official, the USW filed charges with the National should work with them to build a better the initial vote count showed 141 votes Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accus- future for everyone.” for the union and 137 against, with 13 ing the company of illegal conduct in its In addition to its violations of work- challenged ballots still to be resolved. effort to suppress the union. ers’ rights, Kumho has also been fined About 325 workers would be in the In his ruling, Administrative Law for numerous health and safety hazards USW bargaining unit at Kumho. Judge Arthur J. Amchan wrote that the following an inspection by the Occupa- “Kumho spent thousands upon company’s illegal conduct was “perva- tional Safety and Health Administration thousands of dollars and used every trick sive” and that it warranted not only a (OSHA). in the book to fight its own workers, in- new election, but the “extraordinary” OSHA said a recent inspection cluding suspending a union activist who remedy of requiring company officials showed that workers were at risk for was eight months pregnant. Still, soli- to read a notice to employees outlining falls, burns and amputations as well darity prevailed,” said District 9 Director all of Kumho’s violations. as chemical and electroshock hazards. Daniel Flippo. “We look forward to Kumho’s violations, Amchan said, The agency fined Kumho more than resolving these challenges as quickly as included illegally interrogating employ- $507,000 and put the company into a possible so that these workers can finally ees, threatening to fire union supporters, “Severe Violator Enforcement Program” have the chance to sit down with the threatening plant closure, and creating for “willful, repeated, or failure-to- company and bargain a fair contract.” an impression of surveillance, among abate” violations. An administrative law judge issued other threats to workers.

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62339_Magazine_X.indd 15 10/22/19 5:49 PM here’s nothing like the sights and sounds of squealing tires and racing engines to build authorization vote in the run up to last union solidarity. year’s contentious contract bargaining T A Saturday at the drag races is one of with U.S. Steel Corp. nament, a chili cook-o, an aernoon the events Local 1066 in Gary, Ind., used “I’ve never seen our hall so full or watching the Chicago Bears and an this year to get its members and their everyone so united as when we took that annual Christmas carnival. families to meet outside of work and strike authorization vote,” said Local build the unity and solidarity that can 1066 President Mark Lash. “A ght and Amazing feedback make a good union powerful. hard times bring our members together.” “We started holding these events to “ is is great. is is really g re at ,” Lash and the local’s Executive Board promote solidarity. Let’s work together, retiree Bill Burt said on Sept. 14 as he decided, “we’re not letting this go away,” let’s be what the union is meant to b e ,” took his beaming granddaughter for her he said. “We’re going to do everything in said T.J. Piccirilli, the event coordinator. rst ride on a regulation drag strip in our power to keep people energized and “We’ve had such amazing feedback.” northwest Indiana. working together.” Many of the local’s members enjoy e idea for regular away-from-work at led to a series of weekend events cars, so the events committee set up a events came aer Local 1066 attracted a including a summer day at a local water drag race day in September. Racing and huge crowd to its union hall for a strike park, a barbecue and bean bag tour- a car show, plus food and activities for

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62339_Magazine.indd 16 10/21/19 10:21 PM Kyle McCormack, Local 1014

T.J. Piccirilli, Local 1066

Dan Hessling and David Nathan Hoyt, son of Dave Hoyt, Local 1066

Dave Swisher, Local 1066

Sharntell Smith, Local 1066

Photos by Steve Dietz We’re family the kids, attracted some 300 members “In the plant, all I know is someone is never alone when you’re with the USW, and family to a local track sanctioned by a crane man. Out here I see a father. I see with the solidarity of the union.” the International Hot Rod Association. a mother, the children. I see aunts and Maybe, just maybe, Local 1066 started e event also attracted hundreds of uncles. Out here we’re a family,” said local something that will last. other enthusiasts from Volkswagen clubs Financial Secretary Duane “Vern” Joyner. “In 20 years from now, hopefully, to drag racers who run on corn ethanol. Sitting in a lawn chair in front of his it will be our kids planning this same What are the benets? “Getting to muscle car, Local 1010 retiree Ken Adair union event,” Joyner said. “Tying the know each other outside of work, getting said he came to the track for the soli- community into what we do, it’s a win- to know each other’s wives, husbands darity. “I was a member for 35 years,” win for all of us.” and kids – things that really make you he said. “ ere are a lot of things in life want to stick together with that person that you have to go through; sometimes Visit http://usw.to/usw1066 to see a you’re working with,” Lash said. you have to do it by yourself. But you’re USW video on the drag race day.

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62339_Magazine.indd 17 10/21/19 10:21 PM ictoria Whipple supported the the House and 39 Democrats and one United Steelworkers during an Independent in the Senate, would help V organizing campaign at Kumho to level the playing field for workers. Tire in Macon, Ga., and it landed her a “The PRO Act will help restore the two-week unpaid suspension. balance of power between employers It was the worst possible time. Whipple and their workers and hopefully begin USW was eight months pregnant, and she’d to address the epidemic problem of been putting in overtime to make extra income inequality,” Conway said. URGES money before the baby’s birth. She and Conway urged representatives of all her husband, Tavaris Taylor, have seven political parties to co-sponsor the PRO CONGRESS other kids ranging in age from 10 to 1. Act and rally their peers in support, None of that mattered to Kumho, especially if they plan to seek union which suspended Whipple on Sept. 6, votes, volunteers or endorsements. TO PASS the day workers wrapped up an election “Steelworkers across the country in which they voted 141 to 137 to join will know which of their elected public the USW. Thirteen challenged ballots servants voted to support their union, PRO ACT were unresolved at press time. good jobs, access to quality, affordable The retaliation against Whipple health care and retirement with secu- shows why workers need unions, espe- rity and dignity,” he said. “As always, Restore Rights cially at Kumho, which waged a bitter we will educate and encourage our fight against the USW’s organizing members to let their representatives for American campaign. It also shows the need for the know where they stand as constituents Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) throughout the process.” Workers Act, which the USW is urging Congress to pass. No real penalties now The PRO Act (H.R. 2474, S. 1306) Although retaliating against workers would fine employers up to $50,000 for for union organizing is a violation of retaliating against workers during orga- federal labor law, employers don’t face nizing campaigns. It would require the any real penalties right now. So they feel National Labor Relations Board to go to free to suspend, fire or harass anybody court to seek reinstatement of workers they want. who are fired or face serious financial The PRO Act would prohibit harm because of retaliation, and it would employers from holding mandatory give workers the right to file lawsuits anti-union presentations like the “town and seek damages on their own. hall” meetings Kumho forced Whipple and her co-workers to attend before a Comprehensive legislation union election. International President Thomas M. And if an organizing campaign fails Conway called the PRO Act the most because of an employer’s illegal inter-

Victoria Whipple comprehensive labor bill undertaken ference, as happened with the USW’s by Congress in many years. The bill re- 2017 effort to organize workers at Kum- ceived its final markup by the Commit- ho, the employer would have to bargain tee on Education and Labor Sept. 25. with the union anyway. “Despite being more productive The bill also would provide protec- than ever, American workers are further tions once workers voted for representa- behind than they have been in generation. If, for example, a company dragged tions,” Conway said. “CEOs with the its feet during bargaining for a first help of corporate lobbyists have been contract, a regular ploy to lower worker trying to hobble unions for decades morale, mediation and arbitration could with right-to-work and other anti-work- be used to speed the process along. And er laws. Yet organizing remains the the PRO Act would prohibit employers only viable means to rebuild a strong from hiring permanent replacements for American middle class and ensure striking workers. workers receive an honest day’s pay for After decades of steadily eroding an honest day’s work.” labor rights, employers now hold most For decades, corporations have been of the cards. That’s wrong. The PRO exploiting weaknesses and loopholes Act would help workers stand up to the in labor law. The PRO Act, which so corporations that are using every dirty far has the support of 208 Democrats in trick in the book to hold them down.

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62339_Magazine_X.indd 18 10/22/19 5:49 PM USW MEMBERS RATIFY NEW ALCOA CONTRACT

Pact Covers 1,600 at Five U.S. Locations

SW members at Alcoa overwhelmingly ratified a The bargaining committee praised the support, strength four-year master agreement that improves wages and and solidarity of the membership as instrumental in get- Umaintains quality health care coverage for about 1,600 ting the agreement. Also important to the settlement were production and maintenance workers at five U.S. facilities. membership actions and demonstrations, including building The contract, which runs through May 15, 2023, is the volunteer communication action teams (CAT) to distribute first since Alcoa split into two companies in November 2016. information to rank-and-file members and take back ideas and Alcoa retained smelting and refining operations and spun off input to the committee. downstream products into a new company, Arconic. General wages increase by 3 percent this year, 3.25 per- “This is a challenging time for these workers, with un- cent in 2020, and 3 percent in 2021 and 2022. The settlement fair trade and declining prices taking their toll on the U.S. includes a $1,750 ratification bonus and a lump sum bonus aluminum industry,” said International President Thomas M. of $600 in lieu of retroactively applying the 2019 increase Conway. “Thanks to their strength and solidarity, they were because of payroll system limitations. able to achieve a fair agreement, one that makes sure they can continue to care for their families and also positions the Pension plans company for future success.” There were no changes in pension plans covering current Bargaining went beyond the expiration of the previous employees. The company demanded that pension plans be contract in May. Workers voted to authorize the USW bar- closed to employees hired after ratification, a change that the gaining committee to call a strike if necessary, but stayed on union resisted for months. the job while talks continued under the terms and conditions Rather than risk a potentially long and divisive strike over of the expired previous agreement. the defined benefit plan for new hires, the bargaining com- “Our members have earned and deserve fair wages, ben- mittee made the difficult decision to bargain the best possible efits and working conditions,” said District 7 Director Mike defined contribution plan for new hires. Millsap, who chaired the union’s bargaining committee. He Alcoa began bargaining by demanding substantial increas- said the gains, both economic and non-economic, were hard es in employee health care contributions, but the solidarity fought. and actions of the membership forced the company to back “These hard-working union members contribute a tremen- down. There were no increases in deductibles, out-of-pocket dous amount to the company’s success, and they stood up and maximums or coinsurance. Premiums remain at the current demanded a contract that recognized those contributions,” levels until 2022 with small weekly contributions of $2 to $4 Millsap said. “This agreement is a victory for the workers and in the final two years. for the company.” As previously reported, USW members at Arconic voted The ratification was announced on Sept. 19 after voting in July to ratify a three-year agreement covering more than that week. The contract covers Local 104 at Alcoa’s Warrick, 3,000 members at four U.S. facilities: Local 309 in Alcoa, Ind., facility; Local 420-A at Massena, N.Y.; Local 5073 at Tenn.; Local 105 in Davenport, Iowa; and 420A in Massena, Gum Springs, Ark.; Local 4370 at Point Comfort, Texas; and Iowa. Local 310A in Wenatchee, Wash. In both instances, negotiations ended in a completely Conway said the union went to the bargaining table different tone than when they began last spring when the months earlier to negotiate in good faith for a contract, but companies demanded excessive and unnecessary concessions. “management made us fight for it every step of the way.” The Arconic contract included annual wage increases. It Talks were particularly challenging because they were the maintained or improved existing benefits, such as supplemen- first since the old Alcoa was split in two. Adding to the diffi- tal unemployment, health insurance and retirement provisions culties were declining aluminum prices, signs of slowness in for current active employees. The contract also included a the economy and manufacturing, and the company’s unjustifi- ratification bonus of $1,750. able insistence that it get its way on certain items.

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62339_Magazine_X.indd 19 10/22/19 5:49 PM he 40 million people who visit al protective equipment ( E), and that employ to produce glass is much the the “Sin City each year may the union is an equal partner with the same as it has been for centuries. not know it, but when they make company in incident investigation and roduction begins with the raw ma- their way along the famous Las Vegas safety-related planning. terials sand, sodium and calcium, which Strip, they’re surrounded by thousands “We are very safety-driven, ighet are melted together at a temperature of of square feet of glass made by USW said. “You can never do too much. more than ,000 degrees. he molten members. For workers like Robert Cooper and mixture is then poured onto large tin About 220 members of Local 9465 Bradley Lewis, who use machines to baths as it gradually cools. As it cools, at the ilkington Glass plant in Lau- cut, pack and ship heavy loads of sharp, the glass is then rolled to a specific rinburg, N.C., produce massive panes potentially dangerous glass every day, thickness, then cut and inspected. of architectural glass, much of which health and safety will always be a pri- becomes part of skyscrapers and other ority. Many workers at the Laurinburg Working around the clock high-rise buildings around the globe, facility must wear clothing made of Local 9465 members work in shifts including iconic Las Vegas hotels. Kevlar for protection. at the 24/7 operation to produce about “We ship glass all 300,000 tons of over the world, said architectural glass Local 9465 President per year. Brandon ighet, who ilkington’s products range from has worked for more USW Local at than 8 years at the 3 millimeters to 9 Pilkington Glass factory, which dates millimeters thick, to 1973 and is located Thrives Despite with various coat- ust a few miles from Anti-Union ings, including two- way mirror finishes the South Carolina Environment border. and tints of various ighet and his colors to meet co-workers have been customers’ specific USW members since needs. Some of the 200 . Before the work- glass that ilkington ers formed a union, the produces even has company got by with the ability to block a work force made signals from cellular up largely of tempo- phones and other The devices. hat glass is rary employees. he workers’ membership used in buildings that in the USW prompted require high levels of management to pro- security. UNION he company mote many to full-time UNION status and led to more boasts a customer- competitive wages DIFFERENCEDIFFERENCE satisfaction rate of and improved working nearly 99 percent, conditions. in part thanks to “A lot of good Elizabeth P. Jones the diligent work of things came out of Local 9465 members that, ighet said. like Jamie Jones and One of the many good things to “You can never be too safe, Darrel Steen, who use massive, ceil- come out of unionization was an in- Cooper said. ing-mounted cranes to move the glass creased focus on health and safety, said In addition to the inherent dangers onto trucks so it can be shipped far and Elizabeth Jones, who like Pighet has of working with a sharp, fragile ma- wide without cracking or breaking. worked at the plant since 200 . terial, workers employ chemicals and hat focus on customer satisfac- “We’ve come a long way, said other potentially hazardous materials as tion has helped the factory to continue Jones, who noted that she spends about part of the factory’s regular operations, running and the company to thrive, half of her work time focusing on im- Jones said. even during the depths of the Great proving health and safety at the factory. Making the kind of glass that work- Recession when new construction in the ers produce at the .3-million-square- United States hit historic lows. Equal partners foot Laurinburg plant also requires the he local union has also helped to he union has worked hard since use of heavy machines. While the work maintain continuity, Jones said, by reg- 2001, Jones said, to ensure that the is largely a “hands-off process, the ularly planning family and community shop floor is as clean as possible, that basic “float” method that the workers events, ensuring that co-workers get to members have all the necessary person- know each other outside of the bustle

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62339_Magazine.indd 20 10/21/19 10:22 PM of the plant. hat’s been especially important for a local that spans two states and draws members from across six counties. “We have a diverse work force, ighet said. “But everyone’s core values and principles are very much the same. hat consistency and togetherness at ilkington has been good for the USW, as one of the only local unions in a region of largely unorganized workplaces. Union advantage Dealing with a prevailing anti-union sentiment in the Carolina region can present challenges, but it also provides Robert Cooper a silver lining. New employees who

have held obs elsewhere quickly recog- Brandon Pighet nize the advantages the union provides compared to nonunion obs, said ighet. “Our members do a fantastic ob of taking new members under their wing, he said. “Most people can see the difference right away. hat stark difference makes it easier to get new hires to sign union cards and get them involved in the local union, which can be difficult in anti-union environments like North Carolina, said Jones, who has served as Local 9465 vice president since 20 2. “Knowledge is power,” Jones said. “Without the union, the company can do whatever they want to do. Having a work force with a large number of younger workers also makes internal organizing an important priority for the local, ighet said. “ here’s not a huge amount of union density in the area, he said. “Some people only know what they hear on TV.” District 9 Director Daniel Flippo said the active, hands-on approach that James G. Jones Shaqueta Graham Local 9465 uses to build the union can be a model for other locals, especially those in the southern United States that have to organize in the face of right-to- work (for less) laws. “ he key to building our union is to be active and to communicate – both to members and nonmembers – the difference that the union makes in the lives of workers, families and communities, Flippo said. “When we can do those things effectively, we win. Staff Representative Kenn Nettles, Brandon, Elizabeth and the entire local demon-

strate this every day. Bradley Lewis and Robert Cooper

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62339_Magazine.indd 21 10/21/19 10:22 PM OMEN Wparticipation S

ON THE RISE in the usw

his summer brought sweeping its political and legislative arenas with changes to the USW Interna- Anna Fendley named director of regu- tional Executive Board when latory and state policy, and Kim Miller the retirement of International appointed as assistant to the president. T resident Leo W. Gerard and other of- She will advise the officers at Interna- ficers opened doors to the largest group tional Headquarters about policy issues of women to have ever held leadership with Amber Miller (no relation) assum- positons in the union. ing her former post as director of the his is all happening at a moment Rapid Response program. of great growth for the Women of Steel “ he laws and policies enacted at (WOS) Leadership Course, which both the national and state level have a is witnessing increased participation huge impact on nearly all of the diverse across the districts. o Ann Flener-Git- sectors where our members work, said tlen, who heads the Women of Steel Brown, who previously served as legisla- program, this is no accident. tive director. “Our union is lucky to have “Women across the country and this new team leading these fights.” across the globe have been stepping up Gerard, before stepping down, noted in greater numbers recently, and that the importance of this expansion for includes women in unions, she said. women in leadership, and applauded the “ hey’re becoming empowered and union’s commitment to diversity. taking ownership of their lives. “We represent more different kinds A fresh slate of leaders, led by new of workers in more and more sectors, International resident homas M. Con- and our board is changing to reflect that way, has stepped up to succeed Gerard, growth, said Gerard. “ he USW is International Vice President at Large committed to bringing forward the next Carol Landry, Secretary- reasurer Stan generation of labor leaders and to pro- Johnson and Vice President Jon Geenen. vide the tools, training and opportunity family. When she As the union’s first black woman to they will need to succeed. took office, she actually serve as an International Officer, Vice he next generation doesn’t begin or closed out the minute book her resident at Large Roxanne Brown end at the union’s headquarters. Many mother started as recording secre- acknowledges the significance of her of the women who are leaders today be- tary. She approached the role with appointment and touched on what it sig- gan their ourney at the local level, like vigor and purpose right off the bat, nals during her appearance at the USW Amber Miller, who got her Steelworker helping send the local’s first group of Civil and Human Rights Conference. start at Chase Brass and Copper Co. in activists to the district’s WOS lead- “It’s not about me, Brown said. Montpelier, Ohio. here, she served in ership course. Among those women “It’s an opportunity for all of us to lead a variety of leadership roles, including were her mother, proud member of this union. local union president. Local 7248 and current Rapid Re- he union has also seen shifts in For Amber Miller, leadership is in the sponse Coordinator Jill Stough.

Photos by Steve Dietz and Chelsey Engel Color photo: Jen Radwanski Fischler and her daughter Sarah. Below, left to right: Assistant to the President Kim Miller, Int’l Vice President at Large Roxanne Brown, Director of Rapid Response Amber Miller, Int’l Vice President Leeann Foster, Associate Legislative Director Anna Fendley, Assistant to District 1 Director Teresa Hartley, Assistant to District 11 Director Cathy Drummond

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62339_Magazine.indd 22 10/21/19 10:22 PM Paying it forward Teresa Hartley, the recently appointed assistant to District 1 Direc- tor Donnie Blatt, attended all five years of the WOS program in the same district and loves to pay the experience forward. “ his union gave me a voice, Hartley said. “I have been afforded the opportunity to work closely with the sisters, brothers and siblings in our district, and to provide the same opportunities and education to them that I have had for myself. Earlier this year, in District 11, avid Woman of Steel Cathy Drummond was named assistant to Director Emil Ramirez. Drummond, who has served as the district’s WOS coordinator since 20 , has been working hard to build the program and is planning to roll out a Level 2 module early next year. “Our district’s program has really grown with the number of women who have stepped up,” Drum- mond said. “And I’d say at least 75 percent of the participants this past August were women new to their facilities and new to the union. he ability to oin a union and collectively bargain is more important than ever for women, who still get paid, on average, 73 cents on the male dollar. Unions help narrow that gap, and their leaders help by fighting for policies that promote gender equity along with workers’ rights. “Women’s rights are workers’ rights, and workers’ rights are women’s rights,” said International Vice resident Leeann Foster. “ he Steelworkers understand that and will continue the fight to make sure everyone else does, too.

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62339_Magazine.indd 23 10/21/19 10:22 PM FANNIE SELLINS:

T WOMAN OF ST S ANIZER SHOT AND BEATEN TO DEATH E IR NORS ORG 100 YEARS EL F USW HO AGO

n August 1919, union organizer Inspiration to all Organized garment workers Fannie Sellins was walking a Although Sellins’ death came After losing her husband at a picket line with striking workers more than two decades before the young age with four children to at the Allegheny Coal and Coke founding of the USW, her activism support, Sellins went to work in a Co.I outside of Pittsburgh. When she and dedication to the cause of labor St. Louis garment factory. There, saw guards brutally beating a pick- helped lead to the founding of the she organized her co-workers into eting miner, she rushed to his aid. USW, and continues to serve as an the International Ladies’ Garment Deputies opened fire, hitting Sellins inspiration for Steelworkers every- Workers’ Union. Her success caught four times, and beat her until they where. the attention of the UMWA, which crushed her skull. Through her activism, Sellins hired her in 1913. Both Sellins and Joe Strzelecki, built a close personal relationship “Fannie Sellins was a trailblazer the miner she tried to help, died that with Philip Murray, then president of in every sense of the word,” said day. Although there were dozens of the United Mine Workers of America District 10 Director Bobby “Mac” witnesses to the crimes, none of the (UMWA) District 5, who went on to McAuliffe. “She helped build the deputies involved was ever convicted. serve as president of the Steel Work- foundation for our movement.” “Fannie Sellins gave her life in ers Organizing Committee and as the Sellins became a national hero- the attempt to put an end to the suf- first president of the USW. ine to struggling American workers fering of miners and their families, Murray hired Sellins to help him when she was arrested in 1916 for to lead them out of wage slavery,” organize mine workers and to help defying an anti-picketing law. International Vice President Leeann them support steel workers in their “I am free and have a right Foster told a crowd attending a me- own fight to form a union. to talk or walk any place in this morial event in Sellins’ honor at the Sellins was “the heart of the local country as long as I obey the law,” Local 1196 union hall in Bracken- labor movement,” said William Z. Sellins said at the time. “I have done ridge, Pa., not far from the site where Foster, national director of the 1919 nothing wrong.” she and Strzelecki were murdered. campaign to organize the steel indus- Labor activists waged a national Local 1196, in conjunction with try. Foster helped lead the 1919 steel campaign for her release, print- other USW members, the Battle of strike, which began only weeks after ing thousands of postcards with a Homestead Foundation, local histor- the murders of Sellins and Strzelecki. photo of Sellins in her prison cell ical societies and other activists, held Keli Vereb, a member of Local and asking workers to mail them to a daylong series of events on Aug. 2227-01 outside of Pittsburgh, who President Woodrow Wilson, who 26, the centennial of Sellins’ death. served as a longtime Women of Steel eventually pardoned her. The day included a ceremony at coordinator in District 10, worked Sellins’ willingness to stand up the site of the killings, a luncheon with organizers to help plan the cen- to injustice is a powerful lesson for featuring tributes to Sellins, and tennial events. She said that until she Americans even 100 years later, finally a twilight memorial at the got involved, she wasn’t fully aware said Women of Steel Director Ann cemetery where the labor martyr was of Sellins’ impact on the USW and Flener-Gittlen. laid to rest. the labor movement as a whole. “History shows us the many “Fannie Sellins was a proud “I was very moved by the whole sacrifices others made so we can union woman. She fought for a better event. It was overwhelming,” Vereb have a better life,” Flener-Gittlen life for herself, her family, her sisters said. “I’m still surprised at how said. “We owe her and others like and brothers, all workers and union many of us don’t know the story of her our dedication to keep the union members,” said Foster, who oversees Fannie Sellins. We should all know movement strong.” the union’s Women of Steel program. what she did.”

24 USW@Work Fall 2019

62339_Magazine_X.indd 24 10/22/19 5:49 PM Courageous public speaker Vereb noted how courageous Sellins was for speaking out so pub- licly in the early 20th century, before women even had the right to vote, adding that it was fitting that precisely one year after ANNIE SELLINS: her death, on Aug. 26, 1920, American F women gained voting rights with the th adoption of the 9 Amendment. “ alk about a strong woman, said WOMAN OF S Vereb. “Imagine what she went through. She did so much for women, so much for ST R BEATEN TO D TE ORGANIZE EATH 100 workers. IR W HONORS YEARS AGO EL F US oday, a stone sits at the very spot where Sellins was killed, though the site is now part of an elderly couple’s yard in a residential community. he family that owns the land recently granted Local 1196 permission to excavate the stone so members can preserve and display it for future generations of Steelworkers. “I think people will appreciate what that symbolizes,” said Local 1196 President Todd Barbiaux. Maintaining her legacy Maintaining Sellins’ legacy and continuing to share her story is important, especially at a time when the political environment for union members and immigrant workers so closely mirrors the one Sellins and her fellow organizers faced 100 years ago, Foster said. Anti-immigrant and anti-union rhetoric was as rampant in 9 9 as it is today. Employment rosters at mines and factories in those days included large numbers of immigrant workers, and union organizers faced an intense backlash from corporate and political foes, as well as the company-controlled media. “In thinking about the future of our important work to build and defend working people and build our movement, we can look at Fannie Sellins and take our cues from her fights,” Foster said. “Fannie’s leadership and bravery in the face of overwhelming corporate power and abuse inspires us to follow in her footsteps. here’s no better way to remember Sellins than to continue those fights, said USW Civil and Human Rights Director Amanda Green-Hawkins. “We honor the legacy of Fannie Sel- lins when we continue to work and fight for ustice and equality every single day of our lives, Green-Hawkins said. Barbiaux said the Local 1196 family takes special pride in preserving Sellins’ memory and legacy. “What she lived for and what she died for, that’s what led to all of this, former Local 1196 President Walt Hill said as he gestured to a crowd of USW members inside the union hall. “None Sally Feistel of this would have happened without Photo by her courage. Steve Dietz

USW@Work • Fall 2019 25

62339_Magazine.indd 25 10/21/19 10:22 PM USW MEMBERS TACKLE HEALTH AND SAFETY

Photo by Steve Dietz

Signiﬁcant damage hen a fire and series of While the June 21 incident accident investigations, active explosions rocked a hil- caused significant damage to the shooters, safety committees, oc- W adelphia oil refinery this Philadelphia refinery, the quick work cupational health and stress, aging summer, the training and expertise of USW members prevented the fire work forces and the opioid crisis. of Local 0- members helped them from spreading and protected the re- Good information avert a tragedy that could have killed finery’s supply of hydrogen fluoride, he workshops proved to be a thousands of people. a highly toxic acid. Unfortunately, valuable source of information and For their efforts, USW members management later announced it would discussion. hat was especially true honored the 650-member Local 10-1 shut down the refinery. for first-time attendees like Local at September’s Health, Safety and The award was one of a dozen 7687 members Erik Gundy and Environment Conference, presenting made to local unions and individuals Wes Moomaw, who work for BAE them with the prestigious Falkowski that highlighted activism and heroism, Systems in York, a. Seguin Award for environmental as well as the union’s deep commit- “We learn so much more protection. ment to making workplaces safer. together, Gundy said, pointing to a “ he work that you’re doing is he conference is one of the pad filled with pages of notes from crucial to the union, International union’s largest regular gatherings of workshops. “ here is something resident homas M. Conway said rank-and-file members, second only that you can draw out of every in opening the five-day conference, to the triennial constitutional con- session. which was attended by 1,623 union vention. It attracted safety activists Moomaw, a welder at BAE members and management guests. from hundreds of USW locals, along Systems, said meeting members In addition to wages and benefits, with members of the Communica- from across the continent and shar- improving workplace safety has been tions Workers of America (CWA) and ing stories about health and safety a goal of the USW since its founding management representatives. issues made him understand the in 942. Conway noted that ittsburgh Bobby “Mac McAuliffe, di- th importance of solidarity. at the beginning of the 20 century lost rector of Pennsylvania’s District 10, “ he union is so much bigger more than 00 workers every year in welcomed the delegates by reminding than ust your local, he said. the steel, coal and railroad industries. them that the knowledge they gained International Vice President housands more were in ured. belongs to every USW member. Leeann Foster led a popular panel “In many ways, the work that you do “ ake what you learn back to your discussion on successes in safety this week grows out of that history, locals, McAuliffe said. “You learn and health. anelists were he said, adding that the work of making more sometimes after the workshops Local 1329 President Keith facilities safe goes hand-in-hand with are over by talking to each other. Frazier, Local 51 Pres- organizing and growing the union. here were 284 workshops ident Darren Kirby, “ he foundation of our union is the covering 125 topics and 37 breakout Local 738 Steward/ safety and health work that we do, meetings, some in Spanish. Sub ects Safety Steering Conway said. “We’re not going to leave included long and irregular working Committee that work undone. hours, shift work and fatigue,

26 USW@Work • Fall 2019

62339_Magazine.indd 26 10/21/19 10:22 PM Violence at work Another panel focused on on- the-job violence against health care workers, an issue the USW has been union’s top priority, recalling wit- pushing Congress to address. nessing his best friend lose his life International Vice President while working in a glass plant. Fred Redmond, who oversees the “When you experience that, USW’s 50,000-member health care you never forget about it,” Shinn sector, said health care workers are said. “That’s why we are so dedicat- three times as likely as others to ed to what we do.” be victims of violence at work. He Collaboration necessary asked members to urge their con- Redmond said he was glad to gressional representatives to vote for see management at the conference the Workplace Violence Prevention because coming up with solutions to for Health Care and Social Service safety issues is easier when manage- Workers Act (H.R. 1309/S. 851), ment takes a proactive role. He cited which would require employers as an example the 40-year battle the to implement violence-prevention USW waged to implement stricter plans. federal standards for workplace member Alexis Clemmons and “The health care industry needs William Holden, director of health, beryllium exposure. to get this message,” he said. Companies opposed a new stan- safety and industrial hygiene at The most somber moment of Bridgestone. dard for decades. Then the USW the event came as the delegates partnered with Materion Brush, one Topics included training for paid tribute to 46 co-workers who green or new and inexperienced of the world’s largest producers of lost their lives since the last safety beryllium, and change became a members; the Right to Act, a conference in March 2018. pro-active approach to identify reality. New standards began taking The audience stood in silence effect in 2017. unsafe work; the increasing ef- as the names of fallen workers slow- fectiveness of labor-management “Collaboration isn’t easy, but it ly scrolled past on video screens. is absolutely necessary,” Redmond safety and health committees; and The memorial included a moving labor-management areas of collab- said. poem and rendition of “Amazing Cindy Wiegenstein of Local oration. Grace.” A panel discussion on climate 646 at Packaging Corp. of Amer- Coming to a consensus on ica in Valdosta, Ga., knows how change reminded attendees that health and safety issues is a good health, safety and environmental important those labor-management foundation on which union mem- safety partnerships can be. She issues extend far beyond USW bers and bosses can build a collab- workplaces. The discussion includ- attended with a member of her com- orative relationship that extends to pany’s management team. ed USW members, scientists and other issues, Conway said. environmentalists, all of whom “We need to instill in everyone agreed that workers must be an Immediate response the importance of safety,” Wiegen- integral part of the discussion on When a worker dies or suffers a stein said, noting that many locals climate policy. catastrophic injury, it doesn’t matter are experiencing large numbers of Brandi Sanders, a refinery whether that worker was union or baby-boom generation retirements worker and member of Local 13-1 non-union, management or con- and need to ensure new workers are in Texas, said that the USW and tractor, said ERT Coordinator Al committed to safety and health. its allies must focus not just on McDougall, whose team responds Ultimately, the most success- combatting the effects of climate immediately when a USW work- ful workplace health and safety change but also on making sure that place suffers such an event. McDou- programs involve every member, the transition to a green economy gall encouraged locals to contact International Vice President David includes good-paying union jobs. the ERT as soon as they experience McCall told the delegates. “That’s why we need you in a tragic incident using the 24-hour “We are our co-workers’ and this fight,” said Health, Safety and ERT hotline: (866) 526-3480. our brothers’ and our sisters’ keep- Environment Director Mike Wright, Secretary-Treasurer John Shinn ers,” McCall said. “This is work that the discussion moderator. has seen firsthand why preventing can never stop.” life-altering tragedies must be the USW@Work • Fall 2019 27

62339_Magazine_X.indd 27 10/22/19 5:49 PM Bankrupt Refinery PAY S $4.6 MILLION TO executives ess than three months after an early-morn- that when the local was at the table for effects ing fire damaged a Philadelphia oil refinery bargaining with ES, the company continuously Land resulted in layoffs of hundreds of USW said it was “broke. members, those workers learned that the facili- “Obviously they are only broke after they ty’s owner, hiladelphia Energy Solutions ( ES), stuff their pockets, he said. “While they’re tell- paid $4.6 million in bonuses to eight top execu- ing everybody else they’re poor, bankrupt, had tives just before filing for bankruptcy. nothing for severance and canceled the medical Since then, the company agreed, through a benefits plan they stuffed their own pockets.” memorandum of understanding (MOU) with While the company says it believes that the Local 0- , to set up a $2.8 million “transition layoffs that followed the fire are likely to be fund” to help the 640 union workers who were permanent, some are still holding out hope that laid off at the end of August. If distributed a buyer will be found who would be willing to equally, the transition fund would amount to only restart the plant. about $ ,000 for each laid-off worker. About 83 Industry analysts say that is a long-shot, but workers were kept on the ES payroll as “care- O’Callaghan hasn’t given up. takers. “ he plant could be running right now, the The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware local president told the hiladelphia Inquirer. approved the MOU with the union in September. “One unit out of 30 units was damaged. hen, hen, in October, the bankrupt company sought to pay out an additional $400,000 to managers, but this time it wanted to keep the amounts and recipients of the bonuses a se- cret. The USW filed an ob ection to this motion. A hearing was scheduled for Nov. 1. Local 0- resident Ryan O’Callaghan said

28 USW@Work • Fall 2019

62339_Magazine.indd 28 10/21/19 10:23 PM Mike Smith named NOBP CHAIR Kim Nibarger Retires Mike Smith

nternational President Thomas M. Conway He came to Pittsburgh during preparation for national appointed Mike Smith, a USW health and safety oil bargaining, worked with Nibarger through the fall and I activist and former refinery unit operator, to lead was at the bargaining table with Nibarger and Conway. the USW’s more than 30,000-member National Oil “Mike has a solid oil background, with experience in Bargaining Program (NOBP). both health and safety and bargaining, and he is commit- In taking over as chair of the NOBP, Smith suc- ted to continuing the success we have enjoyed in the oil ceeded Kim Nibarger, also a health and safety advo- sector,” Nibarger said. “He has a deep understanding of cate and refinery operator, who retired in September the refinery operations, experience bargaining after leading oil industry bargaining since 2016. locally and at the national table, as well as a “We are grateful for all of Kim’s ardent activism strong health and safety background.” and commitment to safety throughout his career and Like Nibarger, Smith was dedicated to wish him all the best,” Conway said in announcing the worker safety and served in multiple roles appointment. “We know our oil workers will be in with the local’s health and safety committee. good hands, and we look forward to all of what Mike In 2012, he began working with Local 5 full will bring to the union’s work in the sector.” time as a rep, assigned to the Chevron group to Through the NOBP, the union negotiates industry assist with grievances, bargaining and political pattern wage agreements that govern wages and ben- work. efits at oil refineries and chemical plants around the Smith was also a labor representative on United States where USW members work. the CAL/OSHA Advisory Committee before Smith worked as an operator in the hydro-process- coming to Pittsburgh in the summer of 2018 to ing unit at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, Calif., work with Nibarger and participate in where he was a member of Local 5, an amalgamated national bargaining. local whose members also work for Tesoro, Shell and other refineries.

Kim Nibarger

USW@Work Fall 2019 29

62339_Magazine_X.indd 29 10/22/19 5:49 PM 2019 Jefferson AWARDAWARD USWCares WINNERS tacey Goodman, a USW mem- and a mother of two young children ous and compassionate members who ber from District 1 who lost when she died. “She would fight for foster a culture of giving back in our S her daughter to drug addiction anybody that she loved, and I am union. Don’t forget to nominate mem- last year, is the 20 9 champion of the going to continue to fight for her and bers who are active in their communi- USW Cares Jefferson Awards for her everybody else. ties for the USW Jefferson Awards and efforts to help others. Since 20 , the USW has part- encourage your brothers and sisters to For her relevant work in taking on nered with the Jefferson Awards Foun- do the same. the opioid epidemic after her daughter, dation, recently renamed Multiplying Goodman was chosen as this Jordan Bladel, became a victim of it, Good, to celebrate Steelworkers who year’s USW champion from a select

Goodman is the 20 9 USW Champion do amazing works of community group of volunteer winners from every

Volunteer. service, and to show the world that district, SOAR and the USW staff.

“She was my fighter,” Goodman Steelworkers have big hearts. he champion award went to the vol- FLLL LL L F said of her daughter, who was 24 he USW LLLLis proud to have gener- unteer with the highest overall score.

SOAR USW Staff Eleanor Gattafoni-Robinson, District 3 Karen Shipley, District 8 Gattafoni-Robinson organizes the annual Terry Shipley raised tens of thousands of dollars for Fox Run; fundraises for Relay for Life; is heavily West Virginia flood relief and $5,000 for 4-H. She LLLLLLLLLLLLinvolved with her church’s service and philanthro- LLLLLLLLLLLLLvolunteers at soup kitchens, donates to women’s shel- py; cooks and serves food for junior hockey teams ters, and delivers “blessing bags to the homeless and

and fans at Cominco Arena; provides service and backpacks to children. She is active in her church and

support to struggling community members at rail is always doing something to help people in need.

Association for Community Living; is serving her FLLLLL LL L F fourth consecutive term as a city councilor, and does LLLL so much more. She is truly devoted to building her community. Friends say her impact is priceless.

District 1 District 2 Stacey Goodman, Local 700T Donna Dams, Local 2-21 Goodman lost her daughter in 20 8 to opioid ad- hrough involvement in her local’s Women of diction and decided to help other families with addict- Steel committee, Dams has volunteered more than LLLLLLLLLLLLed loved ones. She got involved with FAC , Families LLLLLLLLLLLLL 00 hours, helped raise thousands of dollars and and Addicts Coming ogether. collected hundreds of donations for a variety of com-

hrough FAC , Stacey conducts mock overdose munity service efforts. hey include a back-to-school

trainings and raises money for addiction services. She backpack drive and a pancake breakfast for fellow

works with her local union and district to encourage workers who were ill or going through cancer treat- FLLLLL LL L F employers to treat addiction as a health and safety LLLLment. Dams also made over 100 blankets by hand and issue at work. collected pa amas to donate to local nursing homes and a veterans hospital.

District 3 District 4 Brian Arnold, retired from Local 7619 Buffalo Black Labor Week Committee Over the nearly 30 years he worked in a mine and Started in District 7 by 2017 Jefferson Awards over the course of his lifetime, even after he retired, winner Ephrin Jenkins, Black Labor Week is a LLLLLLLLLLLLArnold has devoted his life on a daily basis to the LLLLLLLLLLLLLprogram dedicated to educating, empowering and sincerest service and care of everyone around him. He uplifting Buffalo, N.Y. visits hospitals to check on friends and co-workers. he Buffalo Black Labor Week committee plans He volunteers as a pastor to those who are sick or and executes the annual program. USW members otherwise afflicted, and he has participated in countless teach labor history and social ustice courses in community events and fundraisers for worthy causes. schools, cook breakfast for veterans, host panel discussions, and lead community service pro ects. 30 USW@Work • Fall 2019

62339_Magazine.indd 30 10/21/19 10:23 PM

LL L F FLLLLL LLLLL

District 5 District 6 Gilles Bordeleau, retired from Local 6887 Alex Patterson, Local 6500 Bordeleau remains active in his local as a member Patterson is on the Health Sciences North AWARD of its retirement committee. He meets with workers Foundation Board in Sudbury, Ontario. He AWARD LLLLLLLLLLLLLLand their families to explain the defined benefit pen- LLLLLLLLLLLLLdedicates much of his spare time and energy

sion plan and other benefits. to the board, which funds a variety of pro ects

Bordeleau is founder of a breakfast program for for the hospital ranging from raising money for

the children of St-Octave school of Montr al-East. equipment to donating to other causes that serve FLLLLL LL L F He organizes the collection of Christmas baskets for LLLLLhospital patients. Most recently, the board has disadvantaged people in Montr al-East and ointe- raised funds to purchase two badly needed MRI aux- rembles, and he created a soccer league for machines. people with trisomy, a genetic disorder.

District 7 District 8 Jerry Coppinger, Local 6103 Dave Riffle, Local 477 Coppinger and his wife have adopted five Riffle supports the youth of Upshur County children out of foster care. In an effort to thank the in West Virginia as a middle school archery

LLLLLLLLLLLLorganization that helped them build their wonderful LLLLLLLLLLLLLcoach, 4-H camp leader and fundraiser for the

family, they fund a “party for the community that Buckhannon Upshur High School band.

raises donations to pay for Christmas gifts for chil- Although he has a wife and three children FLLLLL LL L F LLLLL LLLL dren in foster care. he party is known as the Forever and works overtime often, he finds the time to Family Festival. be a strong youth leader in his community, even if that means using more than two weeks of his vacation time to do it. District 9 District 10 Bill Powers, Local 90 Justin Calderone, Local 2227 As an active member of Local 90, owers has On top of working full time and helping the led his local to participate in pro ects that better their union grievance committee, Calderone runs the LLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLcommunity. He has helped raise more than $300,000 LLLLLLLLLLLLLCalderone Caring Foundation, which he started in member donations for United Way of Greater in memory of his son who died at age 2.

Knoxville over the past several years. He took the he Calderone Caring Foundation aims to

lead on two Habitat for Humanity homes and has help families with children who encounter health

personally donated more than $ 0,000 to the United problems by offering paid hospital parking, food FLLLLLL LL L F LLLLL LLLL Way. He is also a longtime volunteer at the Cerebral vouchers, gift bags and date nights for parents who are alsy Center. staying at the hospital. he foundation also assists families with medical supplies that are not covered by insurance.

District 11 District 12 Local Union 444 Women of Steel Committee Xochitl Cobarruvias, Local 675 Because of their hard work over the last few years, Cobarruvias has tirelessly helped the communi- the Women of Steel in Local 444 are recognized in ties of Carson and South Los Angeles, Calif., by LLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLLLtheir community for helping disadvantaged children, LLLLLLLLLLLLLcollecting money, food, and school supplies for veterans and people in need. those in need.

Local 444 WOS is involved in an Easter egg hunt She started a popular monthly food bank that

for children with special needs, a bake sale and raffle has delivered more than 0,000 bags of groceries

to purchase adult bikes for a sober-living house, a to the needy. Because of her, 2,000 families were FLLLLLL LL L F LLLL backpack drive for foster kids and veterans, a collection able to have a hanksgiving meal and 00 children for a union sister in ured on the ob, a fundraiser for received backpacks with school supplies last year. uilting for Warriors, and many more causes. She raised over $7,500 for families involved in area sports programs to buy uniforms and cover fees.

District 13 Locals 1226 & 13-725 Women of Steel Committees The two committees collaborated to plan and execute fundraising projects to benefit two different groups of community members the Great Adventure Camping Trip Group (GACT) and the Rosepine Nursing Facility. LLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLLLLLLLLL he WOS sisters raised $ , 00 for GAC , whichLLLLLLLLLLLLLL provides a no-cost weekend camping trip to single parents and their kids, and convinced their employer to match that contribution. Members from both locals help with activities for campers and talk to young adults about millwork and unionism. For the Christmas holiday, they collected personal items for a nursing home and volunteered at a party where they distributed gifts and spent time with residents.

USW@Work • Fall 2019 31

62339_Magazine.indd 31 10/21/19 10:23 PM TRADE WATCH

in eopardy. housands of obs have been lost to foreign unfair trade practices, Foster said. “Our trade laws are supposed to defend American workers and industries by ad- dressing foreign unfair and predatory trade practices, Foster added. “We need our government to stand up for domestic obs and stop the assaults on our workers. While overall demand for uncoated paper has been declining over the long term because of the shift toward email and other electronic communications, that problem was accelerated by a rush of aggressively priced imports. Making office paper is highly capital intensive. aper machines are massive – as big as a football field – and expensive. hey are made to run continuously and can’t be turned on and off easily without significant costs and risk of damage. For Commerce Investigates most companies, it’s critical that the machines keep running. Uncoated Paper Roll Imports When imports increase, companies are forced to make less efficient or less prof- itable uses of equipment by switching to he U.S. Commerce Department vention promptly is an important part of different products or by taking unsched- has agreed to investigate imports effective enforcement. uled down time for lack of orders. of uncoated paper to determine if In 2016, acting on a trade case brought Domtar, like other paper companies, has made ad ustments to its product mix Australia, Brazil, China and Indonesia are by the USW and four domestic produc- circumventing existing duties meant to ers, the United States levied antidumping and work force. In October, Domtar an- protect American obs. and countervailing duties against precut nounced the permanent shutdown of two he investigations will determine uncoated office and copy paper from paper machines, one in Ashdown, Ark., if imports of coated paper in roll form, Australia, Brazil, China, Indonesia and and the other in ort Huron, Mich. which are converted into sheets after ortugal. Company President and CEO John entering the United States, are circum- he duties targeted free sheets of Williams blamed the shutdowns on venting existing duty orders initiated in uncoated paper in standard letter sizes, increased imports and declining demand. 2016 to counteract illegal subsidies and the kind of white paper used in offices About 00 union obs and 204,000 short dumping at below fair prices. equipped with copiers and printers. he tons of uncoated freesheet capacity will he request for the inquiry was International rade Commission (I C) be eliminated. made by the USW and a group of paper found that all of the countries named in Ashdown will continue to operate one companies – Domtar, Packaging Corp. of the 2016 complaint sold certain uncoated paper machine with an annual production America, the North Pacific Paper Co., and paper at less than fair value and that im- capacity of 200,000 short tons and employ Finch aper. ports were subsidized by the governments 725 people. It also operates one of the “ oo many foreign companies and of China and Indonesia. world’s largest fluff pulp machines used governments seek to avoid playing by in the production of diapers, feminine the rules and will do whatever they can Impact devastating hygiene and adult incontinence products. to undermine our producers and steal our International Vice President Leeann Fluff production will increase. obs, International resident homas M. Foster, who oversees the USW’s paper Earlier this year, Georgia-Pacific Conway said. sector, said the dumping of paper rolls is announced it was leaving the office paper “ he USW has fought for decades to having the same devastating impact on business entirely and laying off about 700 see that our laws provide a level play- domestic producers and workers as do people, including 650 USW members, ing field for our members but, despite imports of cut sheet paper. at its paper mill in ort Hudson, La., promises of a new approach to trade, “ he domestic paper sector has been near Baton Rouge. A portion of the mill workers continue to have to fight for their under attack for more than 20 years as dedicated to producing toilet tissue and own obs and for enforcement of our foreign producers seek to take advantage paper towels remains open with about 300 trade laws, he added. “Handling circum- of our market, putting our members’ obs employees.

32 USW@Work • Fall 2019

62339_Magazine.indd 32 10/21/19 10:23 PM NEWS BRIEFS

Court Sides with USW on School Bus Case One of the nation’s largest school bus operators unlawfully of employees from the prior employer. First Student also said changed wages and benefits of USW-represented workers when it would recognize the union if it hired 51 percent or more of it took over bus operations from a school district in Saginaw, the applicable employees if they met the company’s hiring Mich., a divided federal appeals court ruled. criteria, which was virtually identical to district requirements In a 2- ruling on Sept. 3, the U.S. Court of Appeals for that the employees had met. he company repeatedly said it the D.C. Circuit agreed with a National Labor Relations Board was union friendly and would maintain wages. (NLRB) ruling and found that First Student Inc. was obligated After the $9. million contract with the school board was to bargain with the USW as a “perfectly clear successor of the signed, First Student met with the district’s bus employees and school district. announced there would be unilateral changes in employment Until 20 2, when it hired First Student, the school district terms, including the introduction of two-tier pay rates for driv- directly employed more than 0 school bus drivers and bus assis- ing and non-driving work. tants, or monitors, represented by Local 84 0 to provide student he company ultimately hired all but a few district employees transportation. out of a unit of 0 to employees, and refused to bargain with During the process of subcontracting bus services in 2011, the the union over the new terms and conditions. Saginaw County Board of Education asked potential contractors he legal wrangling may continue. he company may petition to partner with the district and commit to transitioning existing the full Court of Appeals to hear the case, or petition the Supreme employees at the same rate of pay with comparable fringe bene- Court to hear it. Otherwise, the case would move to a compliance fits. stage at the NLRB, where the agency will consider how to reme- Before being awarded the contract, a First Student represen- dy the company’s unlawful and unilateral changes. tative said the company typically hires 80 percent to 90 percent

From Left to ight: Larry Shoop, JD Wilson, Jose Loya, ince arris, Travis Lohmann, Deanna ughes, evin ey, ick Fritschka, Chris Smith, Chris oungmark, Scott Casey, Will ttig, John Dugger, nternational President Thomas M. Conway, Cary Eldridge, Jim Norris, Maurice Cobb, James Mason, Jeff Wright, Josh eirsey, Cole Mason, Nellie Caraballo

Veterans of Steel Hold Inaugural Meeting strategize for the future. Several dozen USW members who served in the armed forc- International resident homas M. Conway, who served es and who share the goal of improving the lives of their fellow as a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force before he began his union veterans came together for the union’s first Veterans of Steel career, welcomed the delegates to ittsburgh for the meeting Council meeting in October. and reminded them that the Veterans of Steel program was he veterans’ council, established at the union’s most recent intended to grow from the local level, rather than being a top- constitutional convention, brought a wealth of experience and down pro ect. ideas to the discussion, which included topics such as ideal Conway urged the council members to reach out and con- contract language for veterans’ issues, increasing funding for nect with other veterans as much as possible “both inside and the Department of Veterans Affairs, placing qualified veterans in outside of the USW. good union obs and publishing a resource guide for vets who are Veterans who are interested in participating in the program union members, among other topics. should visit usw.org vetsofsteel to sign up and receive a free Will Attig, executive director of the AFL-CIO’s Union Vet- Veterans of Steel sticker. Members can also text erans Council, spent the day with the USW group and helped it VET to 47486.

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62339_Magazine.indd 33 10/21/19 10:23 PM NEWS BRIEFS Former Head of USW Atomic Sector Dies Next Generation Conference Set James Kermit “Kip” Phillips, Jr., a former international The first-ever International Next Generation Conference vice president of the USW, OCAW and ACE, died on Sept. will be held on Nov. 18 to 22 in Pittsburgh at The Westin 12 at Marshall County Hospital in Benton, Ky. He was 77. ittsburgh hotel. hillips headed the USW’s atomic he conference is intended to educate and inspire young sector for many years and retired in workers to be union activists. he four-day event will include 20 4. He worked his way up through group sessions, workshops, an entire day dedicated to com- the union ranks after beginning his munity service, and more. career in 1969 at Air Products and Local unions are encouraged to send members who are 3 Chemicals, Inc. or younger, or new to the union with a lot to learn. Everyone, “Kip was an amazing mentor and young members or union veterans, is welcome. friend,” said retired International Vice Newly involved members can learn union basics. More resident Carol Landry, who led the experienced activists will have the opportunity to participate USW’s nuclear sector after hillips in workshops that will focus on mentoring, a fundamental retired. part of the Next Gen program. Participants are asked to regis- A member of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers (OCAW) ter online at us .org/ngcon r nc . Local 3-727, Phillips served as recording secretary, operating vice president and president. He was a member of the Ken- Solvay Workers Vote Union Yes tucky State AFL-CIO executive board, a vice president and roduction employees at Solvay’s ulsa, Okla., plant voted president of OCAW District 3 council. He also served on the overwhelmingly on Aug. 8 to join the USW. The National Labor OCAW International Members Committee. Relations Board (NLRB) certified the election 10 days later. In 989, the OCAW membership elected him to its Interna- The USW represents 79 workers at a plant that makes tional Executive Board. In 994, he was elected International high-performance composite materials that are used in au- Vice President. After OCAW merged with the United Paper- tomotive and sports products including yachts, helmets and workers to form ACE in 999, hillips was international vests. vice president director of governmental affairs. When ACE District 13 organizer Dionisio Gonzalez said the organiz- merged with the United Steelworkers in 200 , he became ing campaign took about 40 days. He attributed the win to a international vice president in charge of the nuclear sector. “great in-plant committee. wo ma or issues prompted workers to seek union representation: harsh discipline through a point system and favoritism. Communication and education were essential since the group didn’t have a lot of union experience, said Gonzalez. He was able to provide information about union topics, like the right to organize, through handbills. Another important part of the success was Solvay’s Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with IndustriALL, a global union federation that includes the USW. Solvay agreed to respect the rights of employees to organize and join a union.

Local Ratiﬁes Contract with Dow in Texas Members of Local 3- voted in October to ratify a new

Left to right: Jeremy Ollanketo, Dan Cox, Gilbert Elementary School Principal Marci Paulsen, contract with Rohm and Haas, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical, Next Gen Coordinator Michael Grondz and Tyson Butorac. Not pictured: Dave Drummond and covering 235 workers at the company’s facility in Deer Park, Jeremy Bowen. exas. he contract runs through March , 2023, and contains Next Gen Supports Schools annual wage increases and other improvements. The Next Generation committee of Local 4950 in Mich- “ his contract is a testament to the strength and solidarity igan’s Upper eninsula iron ore range donates the proceeds of the members of this local union, their families, and the en- of an annual raffle to local elementary schools in Marquette tire community of Deer Park, who stood beside them through- County. his year, the local distributed $ 3,000 to nine out this fight,” District 13 Director Ruben Garza said. schools. Since starting the project in 2016, more than $30,000 Bargaining on a new agreement began in February. he has been donated. Each school uses the money for a special company imposed a seven-week lockout of the workers that pro ect that helps prepare students for the future. Local 49 0 began on April 22 after USW members voted overwhelming- is an amalgamated local that includes the ilden Mining ly three times to re ect unacceptable proposals. he company department of Cleveland Cliffs. ended the lockout in June and negotiations continued.

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62339_Magazine.indd 34 10/21/19 10:23 PM Union Plus Scholarships Awarded Oil Worker Honored for Safety Advocacy Union Plus, the benefits program for union members, The Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and awarded scholarships this year to four students whose parents Health (PHILAPOSH) gave its 2019 Leadership in Health are USW members. and Safety award to Local 10-234 member Matt Birney. Kaci Bradish, a kinesiology major at Grand View Univer- Birney, the union health and safety representative and an sity in Des Moines, Iowa, was awarded $1,000. After gradu- operator at the Monroe Energy refinery in Trainer, Pa., helped ation in April 2020, Kaci plans to attend graduate school and get the USW’s Triangle of Prevention (TOP) program started become a pediatric physical therapist. Her mother, Rebecca at the site. He also served as a TOP representative and alter- Bradish, is a member of Local 310L in Des Moines. nate. He was a member of the joint labor-management health Nicholas Brennan of South Glens Falls, N.Y., was award- and safety committee for four years. ed a $4,000 scholarship. A 2019 high school graduate, Nicho- Prior to his refinery work, Birney was a municipal fire- las began college this fall as a physics major with aspirations fighter for the city of Chester, Pa., for 20 years and a member of pursuing a doctorate in astrophysics. His father, Aaron of Fire Fighters LU 1400. Brennan, is a member of Local 4-002. Local 10-234 President Jonas Dauber nominated Birney Melissa Ertl, of Albany, N.Y., was awarded $2,000. A for the award. “Matt is real dogged in his pursuit of safety. He 2015 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Me- has such a wealth of knowledge and experience and is better lissa is a fourth-year counseling psychology doctoral candi- rounded than most safety representatives because of his emer- date at the State University of New York at Albany. A 2011 gency response and operator background,” Dauber said. and 2012 Union Plus scholarship recipient, Melissa hopes to pursue a career as a professor after completing her studies in Members of Local 3657 from the USW’s headquarters staff in Pittsburgh showed 2021. Her father, John Ertl, is a member of Local 00445 in support for striking members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) at the closed Park Falls, Wis. General Motors plant in Lordstown, Ohio. Taylor Kellogg, of Tewksbury, Mass., an early childhood education and psychology dual major at Hofstra University in New York, was awarded $3,000. She hopes to become a teacher and join a teacher’s union. Her father, John Kellogg, is a member of amalgamated Local 12012 in Massachusetts, one of two locals locked out last year for several months by utility giant National Grid. Union Plus is a brand of benefits offered by Union Priv- ilege, a nonprofit organization founded by the AFL-CIO in 1986. Its volunteer board of directors is made up of leaders from more than 60 international unions and chaired by AFL- CIO President Richard Trumka. In total this year, Union Plus awarded $170,000 in scholarships to 108 students representing 34 unions. Over 7,100 applications were received from 65 unions, an increase of 20 USW Stands with UAW percent from 2018. International President Thomas M. Conway pledged the The deadline for next year’s applications is Jan. 31, 2020. USW’s support to the United Auto Workers (UAW) on Sept. 16, Applications received after the deadline will not be consid- the opening day of the UAW’s strike against General Motors. ered. Go online to unionplus.org/scholarship for applications The strike idled 50,000 UAW members at factories across and eligibility information. the Midwest and South to secure fair wages, affordable health care coverage, a share of profits, job security and a defined 2019 Rapid Response Conference path to permanent seniority for temporary workers. Hundreds of USW activists were on their way to Washing- “The USW stands in total solidarity with striking UAW ton, D.C., as USW@Work went to press, preparing to delve members, as they undertake this fight with GM. It inevitably into key issues affecting workers and to learn how better to falls to workers themselves to protect and advance their inter- discuss those issues with their fellow members. ests from runaway corporate greed and the continued aban- About 600 members were registered to attend the union’s donment of working-class communities,” Conway said. annual Rapid Response, Legislative and Policy Conference “When it comes to corporate self-interest, management and to visit their legislators to push for laws to aid working at General Motors has displayed the worst possible behavior, Americans and their families. including plant closings and a complete failure to share the The conference was scheduled to kick off on Oct. 28 with rewards UAW members made possible. two days of workshops and discussions on topics including “UAW members had no choice but to stand up for them- safeguarding retirement plans, ensuring workplace safety and selves and their families. The USW, at every level of our expanding the right to organize. organization, is prepared to offer assistance and support as On Oct. 30, the delegation was set to visit lawmakers’ of- they begin this struggle. They have our complete backing and fices on Capitol Hill to lobby in favor of legislation on those commitment,” Conway said. and other issues of importance to working Americans. The UAW announced a tentative agreement with GM on Look for full coverage of the conference in the next issue. Oct. 16 as USW@Work was going to press.

USW@Work • Fall 2019 35

62339_Magazine_X.indd 35 10/22/19 5:49 PM Have You Moved? Notify your local union ﬁnancial secretary, or clip out this form with your old address label and send your new address to:

USW Membership Department, 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Name ______New Address ______City ______State ______Zip ______

Photos by Steve Dietz

Greg Garcia, Local 1066

Bill Burt, retired Local 1066 and granddaughter Theadora

Vern Joyner Local 1066 and Darrin Scott, Local 6787

62339_Magazine.indd 36 10/21/19 10:23 PM