10555_Reg_Mag.indd 1 1/30/12 4:21 PM INSIDEUSW@WORK I’m so happy we have a union and a contract. Now we get to take our breaks. If we’re thirsty we can drink water … and all of the “hours we work are in our paycheck. But the biggest difference is we finally get respect as workers. Oliverio Gomez Car wash worker and new member of Local 675 ” INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

Leo W. Gerard International President

Stan Johnson Int’l. Secretary-Treasurer 08 12 Thomas M. Conway INTERNATIONAL PAPER LOCKED OUT Int’l. Vice President USW members ratify a four-year master eco- After earning more than $300 million in profits (Administration) nomic and security agreement with International over three years, Cooper Tire locked out 1,051 Fred Redmond Paper. Other contract settlements are reached USW members at its Findlay, Ohio, production Int’l. Vice President with Domtar and Georgia Pacific box plants. facility on Nov. 28. (Human Affairs)

Ken Neumann Nat’l. Dir. for Canada

Jon Geenen Int’l. Vice President

Gary Beevers 14 24 Int’l. Vice President OIL BARGAINING CORELLE PLANT EXPANDS National contract talks with the oil industry in- International demand for USW-produced Carol Landry volve 36 companies, including the nation’s larg- Corelle dinnerware prompts World Kitchen Vice President at Large est refiners, and 130 USW locals that represent to spend $50 million on expanding a plant in approximately 30,000 workers. Corning, N.Y.

DIRECTORS FEATURES ON THE COVER David R. McCall, District 1 Speaking Out 03 Darci Klotz, a USW member at Regal Ware in Wisconsin, puts the finishing CAPITOL LETTERS 32 Michael Bolton, District 2 touches on American-made cookware. See story on page 04. News Bytes 33 Stephen Hunt, District 3 Union Security Clause 35 John Shinn, District 4 Daniel Roy, District 5 Wayne Fraser, District 6 Jim Robinson, District 7 Ernest R. “Billy” Thompson, District 8 Volume 07/No.1 Winter 2012 Daniel Flippo, District 9 Communications Staff: Official publication of the United Steelworkers Jim McKay, Editor Direct inquiries and articles for USW@Work to: John DeFazio, District 10 Wayne Ranick, Director of Communications United Steelworkers Communications Department Robert Bratulich, District 11 Gary Hubbard, Director of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. Five Gateway Center Aaron Hudson and Kenny Carlisle, Designers Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Robert LaVenture, District 12 Deb Davidek, Chelsey Engel, Lynne Hancock, phone 412-562-2400 J.M. “Mickey” Breaux, District 13 Tony Montana, Barbara White Stack. fax 412-562-2445 online: www.usw.org Contributors: Jim Coleman and Connie Mabin, New Media Department USW@Work (ISSN 1931-6658) is published four times a year by the United Steelworkers AFL-CIO•CLC Five Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Subscriptions to non-members: $12 for one year; $20 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Pittsburgh, PA and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: USW@Work, USW Membership Department, 3340 Perimeter Hill Drive, Nashville, TN 37211

Copyright 2012 by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO•CLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the United Steelworkers. 2 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 2 1/30/12 4:21 PM Let’s Bang Pots started working at the age of 16. It also occurs to Want to start a national peaceful support mech- me that I pay taxes which provide for the politi- anism for the Occupy movement? Banging on pots cians’ pay, insurance, and retirement – to which with spoons each evening is a good way to start. they contribute nothing. Governments in Argentina, Chile and else- Now who’s going to try to cut my benefits? The where were brought down by ordinary citizens same people who feel entitled to let us foot the bill banging pots with cooking spoons. On the streets for their benefits in addition to our own. where they live organized groups go outside for 10 Ellen LaFemina minutes to bang a pot at whatever time best suits Associate Member, Ashland, Mass. their purpose. The racket will definitely get attention, and Fighting Back soon the entire neighborhood could be banging I am so happy to know that the unions are fight- along with us. Maybe then we can together change ing back against corporate and Wall Street greed. the way Washington works. An uncle once told me that if it wasn’t for unions, Estelle Leighton everybody would be working for $5 an hour. Saxapahaw, N.C. Over the last 15 years, I have seen many good jobs leave my area, and it scares and depresses me. RG Steel Layoffs When I was small, my grandfather explained Just before Christmas, RG Steel gave employ- the difference between Republicans and Demo- ees a present – laid off until further notice! crats. He said the Republicans were for the There’s no doubt that 2012 will bring big wealthy and the Democrats were for the working changes in RG Steel’s operations at Sparrows class. The problem is I don’t think any politicians Point. There have been many calls to Baltimore are for the working class anymore. They are con- County Councilman John Olszewski from upset trolled by big corporations and Wall Street. employees who fear a permanent shutdown. Pete Raschke Let’s hope that RG Steel sticks to what they Associate Member, Ashland, Ohio said: “RG Steel symbolizes the dawning of a new day in steel production and service. We are creat- Nation is Crumbling ing a pathway to a brighter future for our custom- The last I heard, there are about five people ers, employees and communities.” in desperate need of a job for every job opening, Only time will tell if they are speaking the meaning that a whole lot of Americans are left be- truth. hind with no means of providing for their families. LeRoy R. McClelland Sr., Retiree The nation has been crumbling from the bottom Local 9477, Essex , Md. up and as long as we won’t acknowledge today’s poverty, there is no chance of restoring the middle Editor’s note: At press time, RG Steel issued class. a recall notice to 500 laid-off USW members at Sparrows Point and separately announced a D.H. Fabian breakthrough in the company’s drive to secure ad- Fort Atkinson, Wis. ditional financing to ramp up production overall. As the writer notes, however, only time will tell. Stay Strong Just want to remind my union brothers and sis- Working as a Team ters to stay strong and fight for a better way of life I thank God that 230 USW members stuck to- for all of our union brothers. It is hard in a Right- gether and won a long, hard battle against Honey- to-Work state, but there is power in numbers! well in Metropolis, Ill. The company thought it had Dennis Coleman USW active and retired bested them by hiring scabs with no experience, Local 8888, Heathsville, Va. members and their which they found out didn’t work. families are invited to Now, make sure that the company lives up to “speak out” on these Inspired to Fight Back pages. Letters should be the contract. Good luck to the workers who got What has inspired me to stand up and fight back to work doing so with pride and solidarity. short and to the point. back is the debt I owe to those who have fought We reserve the right to Richard Vogt, Retiree before me to give my family and myself the edit for length. Local 1115, Waukegan, Ill. benefits we enjoy today and to help ensure that the workers who come after me are not left behind. Mail to: Who’s Entitlement? We need to preserve what we have and build on USW@Work I resent politicians’ constant referral to my it, not go back. Solidarity now and forever! Five Gateway Center, health insurance, Social Security, and Medicare Mike Polkki Pittsburgh PA 15222 as “entitlements.” I have earned and paid out Local 4974, Ishpeming, Mich. or e-mail: of pocket for these things for 59 years – since I [email protected]

USW@Work • Winter 2012 3

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 3 1/30/12 4:21 PM atching Steelworker Rodney Kutz at work, it’s obvious that he is skilled at his craft – casting moltenW aluminum into cookware at the Regal Ware plant in Kewaskum, Wis. “There is a lot of pride in the cook- ware that we make here at Regal Ware,” Kutz said as he prepared a mold for a dutch oven that would be finished down the line in merlot porcelain with a hard non-stick interior. USW-represented production work- ers at Regal Ware, a Wisconsin maker of stainless steel and cast aluminum cookware, are working hard to sustain a 100-year tradition of made-in-America quality in a punishing global market- place. Regal Ware, its employees and their communities have been pummeled by the recession, outsourcing and cheap imports from China. Yet they are bet- ting the company can survive in its second century by staying true to a commitment to make good products in the United States with a skilled and experienced union work force. “It’s a very competitive market, but what differentiates us from imports is our attention to detail and the quality of our products,” said Tim Gintner, vice president of Local 850. “We’re very proud of it.” Union for 70 years The family-owned business, whose workers have been union represented for some 70 years, operates plants in Kewaskum and nearby West Bend, the larger of the two facilities. It marked the 100th anniversary of its West Bend division last September with a commu- Photos by Jeff Barger nity celebration. “We look forward to the next 100 years,’’ said Local 850 President Carol Vetter, who credited the cooperative

4 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 4 1/30/12 4:21 PM Chris Nellessen Rodney Kutz Patricia Roecker Dave Laufer

relationship between the union and the Local 865 at West Bend while Local tough in the economy, who is going to company for its century of success. 849 at Regal Ware had 850 members. buy pots and pans when they have other President and CEO Jeffrey Reigle “It’s been a bit of a struggle for bills to take care of?” describes employees as family and everything to merge together – two It’s important, though, to maintain brags about their attention to quality different work forces that were com- manufacturing and skilled jobs here in and the pride they show in what they petitive with each other, two different the United States. “We’re losing our do. He said the cooperative relationship locals who had their own ways of doing history of manufacturing,’’ said Feucht, with the union dates to his grandfather, things. But you know what? It’s turned who has 47 years of service between the company founder James O. Reigle. out pretty damn good,’’ said David two companies. More than 80 percent of the current Feucht, a long-time union activist who “I don’t know what else I would employees have been with the company is a member of the Local 850 bargain- have enjoyed doing,” he added. “I’ve 25 or 30 years and more, some repre- ing committee. managed to have a good-paying job and senting second, third and even fourth have been involved with the union for generations of their families in the work Ups and downs about 35 years.” force. The recession and imports have “They are craftsmen at their work, taken a toll on jobs. Today, fewer than New American Kitchen brand and making stuff in the United States is 300 members of the local produce stain- Known for direct selling, the com- what drives our economy. We all know less steel, multi-ply and cast aluminum pany recently re-entered the retail mar- that,’’ said Michael Bolton, director cookware for a variety of Regal Ware ket with a new brand of stainless steel of District 2, based in Menasha, Wis. brands and customers. They also make cookware called American Kitchen by “I’m proud we have this company in large stainless steel and aluminum Regal Ware that is available at certain the district that knows the value and coffee urns sold under the West Bend retail stores and online. (See page seven importance of making products in the name and water purifiers and filtration on how to find Regal Ware.) United States.” systems. The American Kitchen line includes Employment is down from 560 cookware with a stainless steel encap- Companies, local unions merge members at the time of the merger less sulated aluminum disk that is impact Regal Ware and the former West than a decade ago. But the local union bonded to the bottom – the only product Bend Co., once friendly competitors reported work had picked up somewhat of its kind made in the United States – located just ten miles apart, separately at year’s end, allowing most members as well as clad metal tri-ply cookware manufactured cookware until Regal on layoff with recall rights to return. and stainless bakeware. Ware bought its rival’s assets in Regal Ware’s direct sales brands 2002. It’s a very competitive – Saladmaster, Kitchen Fair, Classica When the two companies merged, Gold, Royal Queen and Lifetime – so did two proud union locals – 849 “ market, but what are available only through authorized and 865. They both joined the USW distributors. The company also does through the 2005 merger of PACE differentiates us from contract private label manufacturing. and the United Steelworkers of In 2008 Regal Ware started ship- America. imports is our attention to ping American-made cookware to Both locals started out in the Taiwan and China and today over 1940s as the UAW-CIO and went half – 55 percent – of Regal Ware’s through name changes and mergers detail and the quality of sales are outside the United States. including the Allied Industrial Work- our products. Japan, Korea and Indonesia are good Photos by Jeff Barger ers of America (AIW), the United Pa- markets for the company. Western perworkers International Union (UPIU) “We’ve had ups and downs. It’s not Europe is growing. and PACE before becoming USW. as great as it used to be but, of course,” “There is a prestige in owning a At their peak in the mid-1970s, the economy hasn’t been great either,’’ high quality set of American cookware, membership was over 2,000 at said Feucht. “I always say, if things are particularly in Asia,” said Reigle, who

USW@Work • Winter 2012 5

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 5 1/30/12 4:21 PM has brought back to Wisconsin work Not long after the merger, Regal once done by contract manufacturers Ware sold the West Bend brand name in China. for appliances to the Focus Products Group, based in Illinois, but contin- Getting started ues to make large coffee urns under Regal Ware got its start in 1945. the West Bend name. James O. Reigle, Jeffrey Reigle’s Many of the products that are no grandfather, sold cookware door to longer in production can be found in door before he and two associates the West Bend Co./Regal Ware mu- purchased the Kewaskum Alumi- seum in West Bend that was opened num Co., originally incorporated in in 2008 by a local historical society 1919. They opened as the Kewaskum to honor the industry’s contribution Utensil Co., which was renamed to the region. Regal Ware in 1951. West Bend, incorporated in 1911 Quality all the way as the West Bend Aluminum Co., Today cookware is made using started out in an old button factory lean manufacturing techniques. The along the Milwaukee River, making union and management have together frying pans, sauce pans, pie plates over the years optimized the flow of and water dippers. Over the years, work with an eye towards increasing it changed hands several times, and efficiency and eliminating waste. was once owned by the drug store Production is scheduled accord- company Rexall and Kraft Inc. ing to actual demand from customers During its heyday, West Bend using a pull, or kanban, process that branched out into manufacturing a tracks when inventory must be re- wide range of small electrical appli- plenished. That allows the company ances including such things as bread to control costs by avoiding overpro- makers, corn poppers, electric timers duction. and vegetable cutters. Manufacturing is organized in Production of West Bend’s small departments with workers making kitchen appliances were outsourced a product from start to finish. That, to lower-wage countries including said John Butzlaff, who is on the China well before the asset sale to bargaining and safety committees, Regal Ware in 2002. Losing the jobs makes individuals more responsible in electrical products was devastating for the quality of what they make. to the West Bend work force and the “We are very quality conscious memory of that downsizing remains. all the way through,” Butzlaff said. “We lost a lot of jobs to overseas, Safety committee members par- especially all of the electric lines, the ticipate in regular plant walks aimed appliances. They are all gone,” said at locating and addressing prob- production worker Anna Way, who lems. “We look for things. We talk started at West Bend 41 years ago to people on the floor and ask them at age 17 and now works for Regal if they have issues and we red tag Ware. “Hopefully, we can get some anything brought up to us so it gets of that back. We need the jobs.” fixed,’’ Butzlaff said. “We try and get Leo Emmer

Tom Gassner Sandy Mueller Kathy Panzer

Photos by Jeff Barger 6 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 6 1/30/12 4:21 PM the word out to our members if they imperfections. have problems to make sure they “This is good stuff,’’ he said as bring them forth, don’t work with he showed off a cleanly pressed something that’s not right.” piece. “If you’re not doing the job right, you’re not doing any favors for Standing behind quality anybody.” Union members randomly inter- Tom Gassner was working in the viewed during a tour of both facto- tool and die shop making an as- ries all expressed pride in their work sembly fixture to hold pot covers in and pointed out the quality of what place. The shop makes tools used in they were making. the manufacturing process. “This weighs about eight “We try to make quality – every- pounds,’’ Darci Klotz said as she put thing right,’’ he said. a large dutch oven through a series of industrial sanders to brighten its We need the jobs here bottom. “It’s really heavy but it lasts Jacki Metz applies non-stick forever.” coatings to pots and pans in Kewas- Klotz blamed the economy and kum and oversees a nearby operation shoppers who aren’t concerned about where castings are milled and holes where the products they buy are are drilled for handles. made. “People don’t buy American “We make improvements. We made,’’ she said. “They should look try to be efficient,” said Metz, who at the tags, see if it’s made in the describes herself as “very proud” of USA, and buy those products.” the work she has been doing for 43 Kathie Mielkie replaces handles years. Yet she admits to taking wor- and knobs and otherwise repairs ries about the job home with her at cookware products that consumers the end of a shift. have returned. Items with a lifetime “Sometimes I feel underappreci- warranty are replaced if they can’t ated for what we do here,’’ she said. be fixed. “I think we make the best cookware “We all try to do our best and in the world but we can’t sell enough put out a good product. If something of it here. That’s awful. This is all malfunctions through no fault of very high quality stuff.” the customer, then we repair it or do Myra Gunnare was working at right by it,’’ she said as she worked rapid pace on an assembly line build- on a well-used, scorched pot that ing coffee urns. She spoke briefly as came in the daily returns. “We stand she tested spout assemblies for leaks behind what we produce.” and bolted them in place. Leo Emmer was working on a “It looks a lot harder than it re- huge draw press that pounds metal ally is. It’s a nice job,’’ said Gunnare, in the shape of cookware products. never stopping her hands. “We need With his arms attached to safety to keep jobs in the United States. cords that pull back and keep his We need them here, not in China or hands from being crushed, he took anyplace else.” Darci Klotz the time to look at each piece for

How to Buy Regal Ware The new American Kitchen by Regal Ware brand is available at select retail stores in many states and online through Internet retailers and the company’s own web- site. Go to Regal Ware’s website, www.regalware.com., for a list of retail stores and online retailers. The company’s direct sales brands – Saladmaster, Kitchen Fair, Classica Gold, Royal Queen and Lifetime – are available only through authorized independent distributors. E-mail Regal Ware at [email protected] to obtain contact information for the nearest distributor. Theresa Genger Myra Gunnare

USW@Work • Winter 2012 7

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 7 1/30/12 4:21 PM IP negaotiation Photos by Pat Garin

SW members ratified a four-year mas- uniquely adapted to converter members,” said ter economic and security agreement Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson, who chairs with International Paper (IP) that cov- the USW IP Union Council. ers 5,700 workers at corrugated box “These achievements are a testament to the Uand container plants around the United States. solidarity of our IP converter locals,” he said. The ratification, announced on Dec. 19, “Their active participation and voice made all of followed two weeks of voting at local unions the difference in these negotiations.” representing workers at 43 IP converter plants in 23 states. Success was not easy “These negotiations are strategically im- The bargaining success was not easy. The portant for our union and our members in the industry has been under immense pressure for converting sector of the paper industry,” said the last few decades and, as a result, over 80 box International President Leo W. Gerard. “A large shops have been permanently shuttered since percentage of our paper membership works 1980. in the converting sector and IP is the largest The economic decline that began in 2008 company, so our success here sets a standard has hurt consumer spending and when con- for bargaining and relationships throughout the sumers spend less, fewer boxes are needed. industry.” The outsourcing of manufacturing to Asia The goal going into the negotiations was to has also hurt the domestic corrugated reach an agreement that raises the standard of industry and continues to hold down living and enhances security for USW members growth. at represented plants. Success came in nearly In the years since the 2005 merger every major economic category. with PACE, the USW has changed The newly ratified labor agreement includes bargaining in the paper sector. wage increases in each year and maintains and Historically paper locals bargained builds upon health care offerings. It also con- agreements site by site while man- tains improvements in the 401(k), life insurance, agement was clearly implement- short-term disability and survivor benefits as ing a national corporate wide well as job security, safety and other enhance- strategy. Today, more and more ments. locals are consolidating their power and bargaining key eco- Solid wage increases nomic issues at a national table “This agreement provides for solid wage leading to better agreements increases for the workers in this industry who and more stablility. are affected the most by our current economic Local union leaders were environment and contains a health care plan involved in every step of the

8 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 8 1/30/12 4:21 PM These negotiations are Our strong local “strategically important for “union leadership and our union and our members membership solidarity in the converting sector of made the entire process the paper industry. successful. Leo W. Gerard ” Jon Geenen ”

process including developing the agenda, mo- institutional resources to improve the com- bilizing members for a better deal and direct pany’s success through legislative and policy engagement in the bargaining. efforts on the black liquor tax credit, boiler MACT rules, recycling, trade and a host of Process successful other issues facing the industry. All of those “Our strong local union leadership and efforts raised the union’s level of credibility at membership solidarity made the entire process the bargaining table and led to a much im- successful, and allowed everyone to have a proved offer. role in reaching an agreement with IP that ben- The second generation master agreement efits all parties and ensures a vibrant industry does not replace local bargaining but establish- going forward,” said International Vice Presi- es certain economic and security items that will dent Jon Geenen, who leads the USW’s paper be incorporated into each local union’s next industry bargaining. renewal agreement. The process allowed for the involvement of local union leaders from Weyerhaeuser’s Paper mills settled earlier containerboard packaging and recycling busi- The converter agreement was the second ness, which was sold to IP in 2008 after the settlement of the year with IP. Last May, USW USW bargained the first master agreement members at 15 local unions ratified a four-year for converters. contract covering 6,000 workers at the com- IP has also announced a merger with pany’s paper mills. Temple-Inland Inc., which was under The paper mill agreement also set a bar- review by the U.S. Department of gaining standard for the industry. It was Justice at press time. If completed, approved by a 73 percent voting margin fol- that merger would bring 30 more lowing a recommendation for approval by an union shops into the system. 80-member bargaining committee. In an introduction to the con- As the first second generation master tract summary, the bargaining economic agreement in the industry, it built on committee gave credit for the a previous contract that gave USW members negotiating success to local benchmark language to protect them in the union members and leaders event of a sale. who built essential solidar- The agreement included wage increases in ity through the USW IP each year of the agreement, improvements to Union Council. pensions and 401(k) retirement savings plans, The committee also health care cost stabilization and employment cited USW International security. leaders and staff who used

USW@Work • Winter 2012 9

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 9 1/30/12 4:21 PM Photos by Earl Dotter SW members at Domtar, the paper company, opened the year with a new four-year master agreement that covers Umore than 3,000 workers at nine loca- tions in seven states. The ratification was announced Dec. 1 after local union members voted to approve the agreement in November balloting. The settlement followed a week of negotiations in Nashville over key economic and security issues and a year of strategic planning and meetings. International President Leo W. Ge- rard said the negotiations were impor- tant for the union and the paper sector. Domtar is the largest uncoated free sheet paper producer in North America and

ages, benefits and job “Like GP depends on their produc- setting the basic bargaining agenda. In security were improved tivity, our strength depends upon our this round, local unions were brought in a four-year master members’ solidarity,” Geenen said. “As into the process. For the first time in the agreement covering USW a result, we have improved their long company’s history, local leaders directly membersW at 13 Georgia Pacific (GP) and short-term financial security and dealt with the most influential people in box plants in 11 states. made many other gains in this agree- the corporation to reach an agreement. The improvements negotiated in the ment.” “This process allowed everyone to master agreement, which was ratified have a role in establishing the economic late last year, will be incorporated into Focus on coordination pattern for bargaining,” Geenen said. each local union’s next renewal agree- In 2007, USW locals began to The master agreement deals with ment. refocus on coordination and council specific economic issues and certain The gains, including a $1,000 cash building, which ultimately led to better security items like successorship and payment in the first year of the agree- agreements. The first framework for safety. It does not change the normal ment and 2 percent wage increases in GP box shops in 2008 led to the return expiration of any local union agreement. each of the final three years, were made of 80/20 percent cost sharing in health Local expiration dates vary through possible by the solidarity of the local care, and an 8 percent improvement in Dec. 31, 2014. leaders and members, said International wages and pension increases. The 13 box plants covered in this Vice President Jon Geenen, who leads While successful, the process lacked master agreement include Owosso and the USW’s paper industry bargaining. direct membership involvement beyond Milan, Mich.; Mt. Wolf and Bradford,

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 10 1/30/12 4:21 PM This agreement demonstrates that it’s possible for labor “and management to work together to retain viable family- supporting, green jobs in North America with good wages, benefits and working conditions. Leo W. Gerard ” the second largest globally. It produces facing both parties, like health care, represented USW members at the nine papers and pulp and operates a network pension and protection for workers in a locations: Port Huron, Mich.; Nekoosa of distribution facilities. declining industry,” said International and Rothschild, Wis.; Hawesville and “This agreement demonstrates that Vice President Jon Geenen, who leads Owensboro, Ky.; Plymouth, N.C.; it’s possible for labor and management bargaining in the paper sector. Kingsport, Tenn.; Johnsonburg, Pa.; and to work together to retain viable family- There were gains in every economic Ashdown, Ark. supporting, green jobs in North America area of the agreement and opportuni- Leeann Foster, assistant to Interna- with good wages, benefits and working ties for more during local bargaining. tional President Gerard and chair of the conditions,” Gerard said. Those gains included a 2 percent wage Domtar Union Council, said a main ben- The pact is the second master agree- increase in each year and transition to a efit of all the locals bargaining together ment for Domtar’s USW-represented new health care plan described as one of at the same time is that everyone gets a employees. The first, negotiated in early the best in the industry. voice in shaping the package. 2008, changed the previous practice of The agreement also provides for “What made the difference in these bargaining site by site. wage retention in the event of a machine negotiations was the activism and par- “For this second-generation master, or department shutdown and worker ticipation of our local unions,” Foster the company recognized the value of protections in the event of a sale, merger said. “They were engaged, active and working with the union and its locals or other corporate transaction. vocal about their priorities and their to craft a package that addressed issues A 35-person bargaining committee solidarity paid off.”

Like GP depends on their “productivity, our strength depends upon our members’ solidarity. Jon Geenen ” Pa.; Cleveland, Tenn.; Mt. Olive, Ill.; Albany, Ga.; Huntsville, Ala.; Oshkosh, Wis.; Martinsville, Va.; Akron, Ohio; West Monroe, La.; and Dubuque, Iowa. Last August, USW members ratified a master economic agreement that cov- ers 13 of the company’s paper mills in Brunswick, Ga.; Naheola and Brewton, Ala.; Big Island, Va.; Halsey, Ore.; Green Bay, Wis.; Palatka, Fla.; Monti- cello, Miss.; Cedar Springs, Ga.; Port Hudson, La.; Plattsburg, N.Y.; Crossett, Ark.; and Wauna, Ore. The agreement also established terms for wage increases, health care benefits and employee pension benefits over four years. Other issues are bar- gained in local agreements.

USW@Work • Winter 2012 11

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 11 1/30/12 4:21 PM fter raking in more than $300 The charges include refusing to bar- An NLRB ruling in favor of the million in profits over the last gain by imposing an artificial deadline USW could trigger back pay liability three years, Cooper Tire and on negotiations too short to permit the for Cooper Tire dating to the beginning Rubber Co. locked out 1,051 negotiation of a contract coupled with of the lockout for all of the locked-out Amembers of Local 207L at its Findlay, an announcement that the last/best/final employees. Ohio production facility on Nov. 28, offer would be withdrawn at the deadline “Longstanding relationships in the 2011, despite the union’s good faith offer and a lockout announced. community with customers, suppliers to work during negotiations toward a Other charges are refusing to provide and shareholders should not be taken for new contract. necessary information, conditioning talks granted,” Nelson said. “Cooper is risking Although progress in negotiations had on the union moving from its negotiat- more than money by prolonging this been severely hindered by Cooper Tire’s ing position, falsely declaring impasse, unfair and illegal lockout in Findlay.” unreasonable demands and behavior disparaging the international union in On Dec. 17, 2011, hundreds of people at the bargaining table, workers at the meetings with bargaining unit members poured into a public square in Findlay nearly 100-year-old tire-making facility and unilaterally changing conditions of and rallied to support the mem- were hopeful that the sides would settle employment. bers of Local 207L. on a new labor agreement. Additionally, the unfair practices “Management needs to The company’s demands included are the lockout itself and its con- end this unfair lockout, join a radical overhaul in the calculation of tinuation in support of a company us at the table and bargain incentive pay that management could bargaining position tainted by illegal in good faith,” said not explain. Not knowing if their wages labor practices. Secretary-Treasurer were increasing or decreasing or by what amounts, Local 207L members predict- Workers and their supporters rally in Findlay, Ohio. ably rejected the proposal by a two-to- Photos by Steve Dietz one margin. “Cooper showed its true intentions when the company refused our offer to continue working, locked us out and took our community hostage in its drive to starve us into accepting an unfair con- tract,” said Local 207L President Rodney Nelson. Centered on the company’s insistence that workers ratify its proposed agree- ment before necessary studies on the incentive pay proposal were finalized, the USW filed unfair labor practice charges against Cooper Tire with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in De- cember.

12 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 12 1/30/12 4:21 PM Stan Johnson, who heads the USW’s tire expressed support for the locked-out for the locked-out USW members. industry bargaining. Local 207L members in a letter to The Similarly, Unite the Union, which Also at the rally, Ohio AFL-CIO Courier, Findlay’s daily newspaper, represents workers at Cooper Tire’s President Tim Burga expressed solidar- which they shared with the USW. Melksham, UK plant, has expressed ity on behalf of hundreds of thousands “Locking out employees who helped its support and distributed informa- of fellow union workers in the Buckeye the company during hard times and tion about the lockout in Findlay to its State. hiring scab workers to replace them sub- members. “Cooper’s outrageous, unnecessary verts the purpose of collective bargain- The USW coordinated an internation- and unprovoked attack on the loyal, ing, is contrary to good faith practices al day of action to back the locked-out productive and highly-skilled workers and is un-American at the core,” they workers on Saturday, Jan. 14. Mem- in Findlay within days of the Thanks- wrote. bers of the USW, AFL-CIO and other giving holiday speaks for itself,” Burga After the New Year, a delegation of supporters visited over 125 stores that said. “The Ohio AFL-CIO shares in locked-out Local 207L members traveled sell Cooper tires throughout the United your disgust and will continue to stand to Serbia to meet leaders of Nezavis- States and Canada. and fight with the USW in Findlay until nost, the Serbian union which represents The goals were to educate consumers justice is restored.” workers at a plant in Kruševac that was about the Findlay lockout and to recruit purchased by Cooper Tire in late 2011. store managers to sign a letter asking Thankful for support International President Leo W. Cooper Tire CEO Roy Armes and North Speaking on behalf of the local union Gerard said that international solidar- American President Chris Ostrander to officers and negotiating committee, Nel- ity is especially important in the case of end the lockout and negotiate with the son said the members of Local 207L are disputes with multinational employers. USW in good faith for a fair contract. thankful for the generosity of the Findlay Sharing information can be helpful for Nelson said the company is trying community. workers on both sides of the Atlantic. to spin its decision to lock out Local “We are the community,” he said. 207L as if the union members walked off “Cooper hasn’t been fair with us at the Global union solidarity their jobs voluntarily. Nothing could be bargaining table. While the company “The only answer to global corporate further from the truth. tries to mislead, confuse and divide greed is global union solidarity,” Gerard “Cooper is forcing us to fight for people, we stand simply for truth, unity said. “Our fight is anywhere and every- our jobs and our families,” he said. “We and fairness.” where the company does business never even took a strike autho- Nelson said that the current manage- until our members are back to rization vote, and ment has lost touch with the principles work with a fair contract.” everyone should that built Cooper Tire and shows lack of Before and after the meetings know that if it was respect for the history of the company in in Serbia, Nezavisnost President up to us workers, Findlay. Milorad Panović called upon the we’d be making Descendants of Cooper founders company to end the lockout in tires.” Claude Hart and John Schaefer, in fact, Findlay and pledged support

USW@Work • Winter 2012 13

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 13 1/30/12 4:21 PM SW locals in the oil industry had adequate maintenance been performed. were making preparations in Then, a few weeks later on April 20, January for a possible strike over 2010, 11 workers were killed and 16 others Success comes refinery safety as negotiators were injured in an explosion and fire on the Uneared a Feb. 1 national contract expiration Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in “only from struggle. deadline. the Gulf of Mexico. The explosion sunk the “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes Deepwater Horizon, which was drilling for Prepare yourselves, to get meaningful health and safety lan- BP, and started a massive underwater oil guage changes that are enforceable,’’ said spill, one of the nation’s largest environ- your families and International Vice President Gary Beev- mental disasters. ers, who heads the USW’s National Oil your local Bargaining (NOB) program. “We need this Preparations move forward language to protect the workers.” Preparations for this year’s bargaining membership Bargaining for a national pattern agree- moved forward last September when some ment began Jan. 16 and was underway in 300 delegates attended the USW’s NOB because we can earnest as this issue of USW@Work went conference and approved a policy state- to press. The NOB agreement, which ment with the union’s contract proposals, no longer allow encompasses wages, benefits and contract which included extensive health and safety language covering health and safety, expires language. the industry to tell at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 1, as do most local “We made a promise we would never union oil contracts. rest until we received enforceable safety us safety is their The discussions involve some 36 standards,” Beevers told the delegates. companies, including the nation’s largest “This industry doesn’t respect you, me or business, not ours. refiners and 130 USW locals that repre- the president’s office. This industry only sent approximately 30,000 workers in the respects money. International Vice President Gary Beevers industry. “Success comes only from struggle. ” The USW’s push for improved safety Prepare yourselves, your families and your language has been building for years and local membership because we can no longer drew support from oil locals around the allow the industry to tell us safety is their country whose members routinely work in business, not ours.” dangerous circumstances. Oil locals presented the policy to rank- Those dangers became all too apparent and-file members over a 45-day period in 2005 when a fire and explosion killed 15 following the NOB conference. By mid-No- workers, all contractors, at BP’s refinery in vember, at least 75 percent of voting oil lo- Texas City, Texas. A vapor cloud acciden- cals and units had ratified the policy, which tally released from an isomerization unit authorized Beevers to call for national or was ignited by a pickup truck left running selective strikes if required. on the refinery grounds. Beevers presented the union’s NOB During the last round of negotiations policy to the industry on Dec. 9. The indus- in 2009, the union and industry could not try presented its proposals to the union one come to terms on the USW’s request for month later and they were rejected. enforceable contract provisions to improve Workers and USW officials also briefed safety conditions. The USW withdrew its members of Congress and the U.S. Chemi- proposals rather than strike during a reces- cal Safety Board on bargaining and what sion and focused on an economic package. must be done to safeguard workers and The next year, on April 2, 2010, the need communities from preventable catastrophic for reform became more apparent when events. seven employees of the Tesoro refinery in Earlier, USW oil council members at- Anacortes, Wash., were killed in an explo- tended corporate shareholder meetings to sion and fire that could have been prevented present resolutions on refinery safety. The 14 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 14 1/30/12 4:21 PM Once a proposal is agreed to at the bargaining table and returned to Vice is not met, the local union contract is national bargaining table, it goes to the President Gary Beevers, who again re- rejected. rank-and-file NOB policy committee for views the document. With his approval, it It is possible for a local union contract review. If the committee finds it satisfac- becomes the minimum pattern. to meet the pattern yet not be settled be- tory, the industry is notified that a tenta- No local union can negotiate terms cause of outstanding local issues. Local tive agreement has been reached. below the pattern, but a local can bargain negotiations are conducted concurrently The tentative is given to a local for more than the pattern. If the pattern with national bargaining.

union also attempted to work with the “They’re extending the time between had been tallied in the three years since industry’s American Petroleum Institute unit shutdowns when all the equipment the last contract. on improving safety standards and trans- is checked. When there is a shutdown, Hard hat stickers were distributed and parency in reporting accidents and other they’re not always repairing or replacing “Still Out of Control,” a USW-produced safety incidents. The union backed out of equipment. When they do repair equip- video on the oil industry’s persistent those discussions after its solutions were ment, they’re not bringing it up to current safety problems, was shown at member- not taken seriously. RAGAGEP (Recognized and Generally ship meetings. “We have spent the last three years Accepted Good Engineering Practice) Local 675 members at the BP refinery imploring this industry to address the standards.” in Carson, Calif., occupied a manage- issues we have raised in our proposal … ment cafeteria and held a Jan. 12 rally at but it has been to no avail,’’ Jim Lefton, Mobilization for fair contract the nearby ExxonMobil refinery in Tor- assistant to International Vice President In the months leading up to the start rance, Calif., to defend oil worker jobs. Beevers, told a Nov. 29 Congressional of formal discussions, local unions Local 13-1 in Texas City began a hearing. were trained on strike preparation and strike preparation food drive to collect USW Health, Safety and Environ- on forming Communication and Action donations of non-perishable food and ment specialist Kim Nibarger said the Teams to keep the membership informed drink for picketers. Unused items will be industry is not putting enough emphasis and involved. donated to the Galveston County Food on process safety – the engineering and Local unions put together strike plans, Bank. management controls that should prevent conducted informational and practice A National Day of Action for Safe explosions, fires, toxic releases and other pickets, posted information on union Refineries and Good Jobs was held on catastrophic events. Equipment reliabil- bulletin boards and passed out handbills Jan. 21 in communities across the nation ity, preventative maintenance and inspec- on contract issues as part of a “Stand Up, to show management that oil workers tion and testing fall under process safety. Fight Back” campaign for new contracts. were united in the goal to win enforce- “The oil companies are playing Rus- Oil locals were also asked to keep able safety provisions in their contracts. sian roulette with their equipment. They track of fires, leaks, explosions and near Handbills on refinery safety were passed are doing quick, stopgap fixes like plac- misses at their facilities. A list of refinery out at local ing clamps on pipes instead of replacing events was posted on the USW’s website, gas stations. pipes,” Nibarger testified. www.usw.org/our_union/oil. By January, at least 145 refinery fires and 18 deaths

Delegates to the NOB conference

International President Leo W. Gerard Dave Simmons

Photos by Darrell Byers

USW@Work • Winter 2012 15

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 15 1/30/12 4:21 PM nternational President Leo W. Gerard prices, particularly for home heating oil has asked the Pennsylvania Attorney and transportation fuel. General and the Federal Aviation Ad- “Don’t think this is an exaggeration but Don’t think this ministration (FAA) to investigate the people could freeze to death in their homes threatenedI closures of three Philadelphia- due to a corporate decision,” Jim Savage, “is an exaggeration area refineries that employ 1,300 USW president of Local 10-1 at Sunoco in Phila- members. delphia, told reporters. but people could Last Sept. 6, Sunoco announced it The three refineries produce about half would permanently shut down its Marcus of the gasoline and related distillate prod- freeze to death in Hook and South Philadelphia refineries by ucts produced in the Northeast. Analysts July if it cannot find buyers. Sunoco then are projecting shortages and price spikes their homes idled Marcus Hook in December, citing in gasoline, heating oil, diesel fuel and jet poor market conditions. fuel. That same month, ConocoPhillips In his letter to Pennsylvania Attorney due to a corporate idled its refinery in Trainer, Pa., and said General Linda Kelly, Gerard asked for it would permanently close the facility in an antitrust audit of the three refineries to decision. March if no buyer surfaces. verify claims that they are unprofitable. The three closures together would He also asked Kelly to investigate if con- ” take 690,000 barrels of oil per day out of ditions placed on the sales of the refiner- refinery production and idle 2,700 direct ies could constitute an illegal restraint of employees including USW members and trade. contractors. An estimated 25,000 indirect “Your Antitrust Section is charged with jobs are also tied to the refineries. protecting consumers and businesses by detecting anti-competitive practices and Tighter supplies feared taking legal action to stop them,” Gerard In addition to the job loss, the USW is wrote to Kelly. “We believe the projected concerned that the loss of refining capacity near simultaneous closure of the three could lead to tighter supplies and increased

16 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 16 1/30/12 4:21 PM strategic oil refineries may be driven by such practices.” Buyers sought In his letter to FAA Acting Administra- tor Michael Huerta, Gerard noted that the three refineries process the majority of jet fuel used at airports on the East Coast and asked for an investigation into the impact of the threatened closures on supply and quality. “I also ask that the FAA take whatever steps are available to ensure that these refineries remain open and the supply of high-quality jet fuel in the Northeast remains secure,” Gerard wrote. The USW is working to help find buyers who will keep the refineries open. As part of that effort, International Vice President Gary Beevers has twice written to Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Corbett asking him to meet to discuss the efforts. Local 10-234 at ConocoPhillips is circulating a petition among voters in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania that seeks to save the refineries. It is avail- able online at www.tinyurl.com/usw10. he oil company BP has federal government for violations of agreed to pay a record $50 workplace safety and environmental million fine to Texas for laws at the refinery and up to $2 bil- unlawful releases of air lion to settle civil claims. Tpollution during and after the 2005 BP did not acknowledge liability explosion at its Texas City refinery as part of the clean air settlement and that killed 15 workers. said it settled to avoid the uncertainty The settlement of the fine, the of future litigation. The company has largest for Texas Clean Air Act viola- put the refinery up for sale. tions at a single facility, resolves Its largest fines include $50.6 mil- state claims against the oil giant over lion paid in 2010 to the Occupational emissions at the USW-represented Safety and Health Administration refinery. (OSHA) to make safety upgrades; A fire and explosion at the $50 million in 2007 to resolve a refinery on March 23, 2005, killed criminal investigation by the U.S. 15 workers and injured more than Justice Department into the explosion 170 others. Federal regulators later and $15 million for violations of the blamed the catastrophe on cost cuts federal Clean Air Act from two fires initiated by BP. and a leak in 2004 and 2005. BP also In addition to the settlement with pleaded guilty in 2008 to a felony Texas, BP has agreed to pay more violation of the federal Clean Air Act than $140 million in penalties to the and served three years of probation.

Refinery workers and their supporters march to protest the threatened closures of refineries in the Philadelphia area. A march and rally were orga- nized by USW Locals 10-901, 10-234 and 10-1. USW photos USW@Work • Winter 2012 17

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 17 1/30/12 4:22 PM ince the last round of master agreement ne- gotiations with U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal in mid-2008, when employers were report- ing record-profits, the steel industry in North SAmerica and around the world has seen both incred- ible highs and terrible lows. As this issue of USW@Work went to the printer, members at Timken and Republic were bargaining while contracts with U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal are set to expire on Sept. 1, 2012 – with negotiations just a few short months away. It is expected that the companies will continue to push very hard for changes to health insurance, but USW negotiating teams are also getting a head start on education and research going into bargaining. Funding for retiree benefits will be another issue certain to gen- erate discussion during negotiations as the companies will work hard to minimize costs. Industry slowly recovering The global financial crisis created a panic in October 2008 – first in construction and then in the automobile industry – making USW members in steel among the first to be impacted by declining market conditions. Four years later, the industry is slowly recovering and, as delegates to the USW’s 2011 Basic Steel Industry Conference can attest, it is unpredict- able. In 2008, Severstal North America purchased the former Bethlehem Steel facility in Sparrows Point, Md.; the former W.C.I. mill in Warren, Ohio; and the former Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; and was expected to become a viable, stable third leg for the integrated

International Vice President Tom Conway North American steel industry. That never occurred because of catastrophic mar- ket conditions combined with Severstal’s failure to implement its business plan. In the spring of 2011, a newly-formed company, RG Steel, bought many of the Severstal North America plants Market conditions and limited financing options became the first challenges for RG Steel and Steelworkers to overcome together. New financing announced After months of uncertainty, massive layoffs and frustration, RG Steel announced a new financing ar- rangement in January 2012 that significantly improves the company’s liquidity position and access to capital resources. The company says that the new structure will enable it to continue to execute its operating strat- egy and to better take advantage when market condi- tions improve. Republic, ATI/Ludlum and other USW employers have announced plans to invest in steel plants in 2012. Upgrading existing facilities or adding new equipment and capacity holds the potential to add jobs and build job security. The industry continues to be susceptible to illegal and unfair foreign trade, fluctuations in the cost of raw materials and energy and other financial pressures Photo by Steve Dietz unique to steel making.

18 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 18 1/30/12 4:22 PM hirlpool’s decision to alleging Whirlpool violated the National workers or Fort Smith. close its Fort Smith, Ark., Labor Relations Act by unilaterally “I blame free world trade,’’ Rick refrigerator plant and imposing a waiver of employees’ recall Nemeth, president of Local 370, told the move much of its produc- rights as a condition to get severance media. tionW to Mexico is a disappointment to benefits. USW members over the years partic- members of Local 370, who worked ipated in labor-management cooperation diligently over the years to keep the Closure, profits announced programs at Whirlpool and in the last plant competitive and profitable. Whirlpool announced last Oct. decade engaged heavily in lean manu- “This is yet another example of what 27 that it would close the Fort Smith facturing efforts in an attempt to keep is happening to American manufactur- refrigerator plant this year and elimi- the facility operating. ing industries all across this nation,” nate some 1,000 jobs as part of a larger Despite those efforts, Whirlpool said International President Leo W. world-wide retrenchment. steadily moved jobs to Mexico, begin- Gerard. “It’s a continuing attack on our Productive union workers are pay- ning with lower-end products and later manufacturing sector and the liveli- ing the price for a profitable company higher-end appliances. hoods of hard-working Americans.” seeking higher returns. In the same Last year, as rumors of a closure As USW@Work went to press, the announcement, Whirlpool reported third surfaced, District 13 Director Mickey USW was simultaneously pressing to quarter net earnings of $177 million, Breaux offered assistance to Whirlpool discuss the closure announcement and more than double the $79 million in net to address problems and preserve jobs, opportunities to save the plant with earnings reported a year earlier. but the company declined. the company, and engaging in effects The world’s largest appliance maker A Local 370 delegation met with bargaining for active workers and those plans to send production of side-by-side Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe to see what who are laid off and eligible for recall. refrigerators, Fort Smith’s main product, help the state could provide to keep In late December, as the shutdown to Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. A trash com- Whirlpool in Fort Smith or to market neared, the USW filed a charge with pactor line will go to an Ottawa, Ohio, the plant if it is closed. Meetings were the National Labor Relations Board plant and built-in refrigerator produc- also held with Fort Smith Mayor Sandy tion will move to Amana, Iowa. Sanders and City Administrator Ray Whirlpool cited sluggish demand Gossitt. for appliances in its Whirlpool also last year closed a shutdown announce- refrigerator plant in Evansville, Ind., ment and took pains that made freezer-topped refrigerators to publicly claim the and moved the production to Mexico. fault wasn’t with its Approximately 1,000 workers lost their jobs.

USW@Work • Winter 2012 19 Photo courtesy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 19 1/30/12 4:22 PM n a victory for the USW and industry employs about 4,000 produc- that revoking antidumping and coun- domestic steel producers, the U.S. tion workers and tens of thousands of tervailing duties would harm the U.S. International Trade Commission additional jobs are tied to the supply of industry. The votes on revoking tariffs (ITC) agreed to continue for five raw materials, maintenance and trans- from Italy and Japan were divided. yearsI import duties on cut-to-length portation. Prior to the ITC vote on Dec. 5, the steel plate imported from Korea, India U.S. Department of Commerce deter- Weak market threatened and Indonesia. mined that if the orders were revoked, At the same time on Dec. 5, the The industry asked the commission plate from the five countries would six-member commission revoked tariffs to continue the dumping orders, arguing again enter the United States at subsi- on cut-to-length steel plate from Italy that return of unfairly traded imports dized or dumped prices. and Japan, ruling that action would not to a market where demand is weak will The United States is required to likely lead to continued injury to U.S. lead to production cuts, job loss and complete sunset reviews of import producers. pricing pressure that will curtail rein- duties every five years under the Each of the five steel-producing vestment in the U.S. industry. Uruguay Round Agreements Act, an countries argued for ending the tariffs. “The continued enforcement of our act of Congress that implemented in International President Leo W. Gerard trade laws is crucial to keeping good U.S. law trade provisions agreed to at said the vote on Korea, India and Indo- jobs in the United States,’’ said Inter- the Uruguay Round of Negotiations on nesia will help the domestic industry national Vice President Tom Conway, the General Agreement on Tariffs and recover from a weak market. who bargains with the steel industry. Trade (GATT). The act requires the “Five American steel producers “The USW will continue to be aggres- Department of Commerce to revoke operating plate mills in seven states and sive in tracking and pursuing com- an antidumping or countervailing duty employing about 4,000 Steelworkers plaints where necessary.” order unless it and the ITC conclude were threatened if the duty orders were The vote by six commissioners on that revocation would likely lead to a not kept in place,” Gerard said. continuing tariffs from Korea, India and resumption of dumping or subsidies. The cut-to-length steel plate Indonesia was unanimous in concluding

Steel plate production. Photo courtesy of Pete Trinidad

20 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 20 1/30/12 4:22 PM USW delegation shows support evaporated in 2008 leading Arce- A delegation of 17 Steelworkers lorMittal to close the Gary mill and who make plate at mills in Pennsyl- file a WARN notice announcing its vania and Indiana attended an ITC intentions to lay off nearly 2,500 at hearing last October in Washington, Burns Harbor. D.C., to support the continuation of The USW worked with Arcelor- esponding to USW concerns, the En- tariffs. Mittal to implement a layoff minimi- vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gerard commended them for zation plan, leading the company to is revising rules to allow alternative their participation and praised rescind the WARN notice for Burns biomass fuels to be used as fuel in the testimony of Local 6787 Vice Harbor, Trinidad said. Even so, 500 Rindustrial, commercial and institutional boilers. President Pete Trinidad. The local people were laid off and 900 work- The EPA notified the USW that its decision represents workers at ArcelorMit- ers went on 32-hour weeks. to re-propose significant parts of its Non-Haz- tal plate mills in Burns Harbor and “It was tough for our people to ardous Secondary Materials Rule (NHSM) will Gary, Ind. take those layoffs and salary cuts include redefining a variety of biofuel materials Trinidad told the commission after all the sacrifices they had as fuel rather than waste. that the last decade has been a roller already made,” Trinidad said in his Waste materials are more stringently regu- coaster ride for USW members testimony. “Every day I saw the lated under the Clean Air Act than those desig- in the industry. “They have faced huge financial and human toll on our nated as fuel under the NHSM rule as originally bankruptcies, plant closures, layoffs, workers and their families.” proposed by the EPA last March. forced retirements, lost wages and The pending revision will save thousands of Market worries persist jobs and protect the environment by prevent- reductions in pension and health care Orders picked up in 2010 and the benefits,” he said. ing millions of tons of carbon-neutral biomass layoff minimization plan ended in materials from being diverted to landfills or USW members made many May that year, but USW members sacrifices to ensure there would be a vented to the atmosphere rather than be used as agreed to the alternatives to fossil fuels. In addition, the EPA has re-proposed three The Steelworkers rules covering air rules for larger-scale indus- trial boilers (Boiler MACT), smaller-scale have done everything industrial boilers and incinerators designed to “ burn waste materials. The re-proposals take into possible to put the account a wide variety of concerns raised by the USW and by others in the industry. industry in a position Preserves jobs “The USW would like to commend the to succeed... Pete Trinidad EPA for all the hard work it has done to be responsive to our union’s concerns about this healthy steel industry with jobs,” ben- halving of their incentive payments. rule. We are confident that EPA’s proposed efits and dignity for union retirees, In May 2011, the company reopened changes will help preserve family-wage jobs Trinidad told the ITC. its 110-inch plate mill in Burns Har- and encourage investment in technologies to “We agreed to the consolidation bor and hired some 60 people. make America more energy independent,” of the steel companies, major work Trinidad said a second crew was International President Leo W. Gerard said. force reductions and changes in hired for the 110-inch mill, but at the The NHSM rule was promulgated as part of workplace rules to increase produc- time of his testimony demand had a suite of EPA rules dealing with air emissions tivity and lower costs,” he said. “The not developed as hoped and prices from industrial, commercial and institutional Steelworkers have done everything and orders appeared to be dropping. boilers and from waste incinerators. Applica- possible to put the industry in a posi- “We are all worried that the tion of the three air rules was suspended last tion to succeed and to make sure the market will slip backward toward April so EPA could ensure that companies and companies did their part as well.” 2009 levels, and the way the custom- institutions operating boilers subject to the The U.S. industry originally filed ers seem to be ordering right now, rules would be able to comply without serious antidumping and countervailing duty I’d say they are concerned, too,’’ he problems. petitions against the five countries said. While EPA suspended the air rules, it did and France in February 1999 after “Every ton of dumped plate that not suspend the NHSM rule. “That’s why we imports exceeded one million tons in is allowed to enter our market is are pleased with EPA’s current decision to 1998. Duties were imposed in 2000 a ton of plate that steelworkers at re-propose sections of the NHSM rule,” said against all six countries. In 2005, the Burns Harbor won’t get to make,” International Vice President Jon Geenen, who ITC voted to continue them against he said. “It will also likely mean leads the USW’s paper sector. “Rule suspen- five countries and cancel them that every ton we do make will sell sions do occur, but it is not often that EPA against France. for less. The 110-inch mill will face re-proposes any part of a rule that has already Domestic plate operations ben- closure again. We’ll see layoffs and been finalized.” efited from the tariffs. But demand reduced hours and pay.” USW@Work • Winter 2012 21

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 21 1/30/12 4:22 PM ark Borosky learned that the camper trailer factory where he worked for 34 years was closing as his wifeM Dottie was being wheeled into an operating room for spinal surgery. “I was numb,” Borosky, 53, recalled of that day in January 2011. “My wife just went in for surgery and I didn’t have a job. I wasn’t even thinking at that mo- ment that I didn’t have health insurance either.” It took a few days for Borosky to find out that FTCA Inc., which manufactured the iconic Coleman pop-up camper in Somerset, Pa., had failed to pay health care premiums, sticking him with more than $63,000 in surgery bills. In fact, FTCA, which was owned by Blackstreet Capital, a private equity firm with hundreds of millions of dollars under management, claimed there was no money left to pay any of the 150 or so employees any of the benefits owed to them under their USW contract. “I’ve heard of plants shutting down, but I never realized some could just skip town without any legal consequences,’’ said Eugene Nicklow, former president of Local 2632. Union wins settlement FTCA abruptly closed the factory without issuing a 60-day plant clos- ing notice required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifica- tion (WARN) Act. It canceled health insurance and refused to pay severance, accrued vacation time or make good on outstanding 401(k) retirement contribu- tions. Eventually, Borosky and other rep- resented employees at the factory were made whole financially thanks to the USW and its legal department’s dogged pursuit of FTCA, Blackstreet and other affiliated companies, through the Na- tional Labor Relations Board (NLRB). “If it wasn’t for the union and the NLRB, I don’t know where we would be,” said Borosky, whose settlement included medical bills, vacation pay and other items. The settlement agreement announced by the NLRB required keeping the total amount recovered confidential. But the agency did say that Blackstreet and FTCA LLC, the direct parent company of FTCA Inc., reimbursed employees for Coleman campers under back pay and medical expenses incurred construction before plant closed. Photos by Andrew Yourish

22 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 22 1/30/12 4:22 PM as a result of losing insurance coverage. the employer at the plant, owned the “It was just a bunch of rich and In return, the USW withdrew the labor equipment and another entity owned the powerful people taking advantage of board charges. real estate. FTCA LLC owned the oper- the working man,” Nicklow said. About 100 of 150 employees ating and real estate companies. And, at The loss of promised health insur- received something in the settlement. the top, Blackstreet owned a controlling ance was particularly harmful and A few, including Borosky, had very stake in the intermediate companies. unsettling for many employees. One large health care bills that were paid. “It was a big shell game,’’ Nicklow former employee stopped going to the Everyone received payment for the said. doctor for his heart problems because three months of health care insurance The union amended its charge to the insurance lapsed. He died shortly that they were owed plus any back due include Blackstreet and related corpo- afterwards. wages. rate entities, alleging that they acted The jilted workers didn’t even as a single employer with interrelated have the opportunity to continue group Got all we could get operations, common management and health benefits at their expense under “We got all of the money we could ownership and centralized control of COBRA because the plan had been get out of them,’’ Nicklow said. “If it labor relations. canceled. wasn’t for us being in an organized Although FTCA was said to be shop and having the union back us, they broke, Blackstreet certainly wasn’t. Fighting for health insurance could have walked away without pay- On its website, the private equity firm Over the years, Nicklow said USW ing any medical bills, without making claims it has $200 million in investment members gave up raises in contract good on any vacation pay.” money under management. It also says negotiations to retain a good health It turns out that employees weren’t Blackstreet has invested in 19 compa- insurance program for an aging work the only ones hurt in the closure. Ven- nies with over 8,000 employees and force that had shrunk over time. At dors, many of whom were local parts combined sales exceeding $11 billion. its peak, somewhere around 1995, the suppliers, were left high and dry. There are very few NLRB cases in- plant employed 775 people. “They stuck vendors, dealers and volving single employer claims against Layoffs had wiped out younger customers with unpaid bills,” Nicklow private equity firms, which typically ac- members from the bargaining unit, said. quire a controlling or substantial posi- leaving older workers who had the most Shortly after the closure, FTCA’s tion in an operating company and even- experience and seniority and the most property and equipment were sold at an tually look to maximize that investment need for health insurance. auction, ostensibly leaving no money through a sale or other methods. Jeffrey Kimmel, who was building available to pay the many parties that “What we did, with David Jury’s prototypes for the next season’s trailers FTCA owed. help, was to present testimony to the when the plant closed, praised the USW Last February, about two weeks NLRB that we believed showed that for its help and called on politicians to after the shutdown. USW Associate day-to-day operations were run by change the bankruptcy and other laws General Counsel David Jury filed a Blackstreet,” Nicklow said. to protect other workers from what hap- charge with the NLRB alleging that To the USW members working at pened at FTCA. the company illegally made unilateral the plant, it appeared that someone out- “Thank God we’re union,’’ he said. changes to the negotiated benefits, side of Somerset was pulling the strings refused to bargain with the union over The parties settled the case follow- the effects of the closure and failed to ing an exhaustive NLRB investigation. I’ve heard of plants furnish relevant information concerning the shutdown. Well-connected firm “shutting down, but I After some investigation, evidence Blackstreet is well-connected with pointed to the role that Blackstreet, the members from Washington’s power never realized some private equity firm, played in the day- elite and both political parties. Its board to-day operations of the Somerset plant, of advisors includes James A. Baker could just skip town including the decision to shut it down. IV, whose father was a former Treasury Blackstreet acquired the company, Secretary and White House Chief of without any legal formerly Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Staff. Another well-connected Repub- consequences. in 2008 and renamed it FTCA. Fleet- lican member of the board is Kenneth wood had purchased the plant in 1989 Duberstein, President Reagan’s chief of Eugene Nicklow from the original owner, The Coleman staff in 1988 and 1989. ” Company, and for many years produced Thomas (Mack) McLarty III, Presi- Coleman brand trailers under license. dent Clinton’s chief of staff from 1993 The union organized at the facility in through 1994, is also on the board, as 1967. is Thomas Hale Boggs There appeared to be a spider’s web Jr., chairman of Patton of interrelated companies involved in Boggs, a prominent ownership of the trailer manufacturer Washington law and under Blackstreet’s control. FTCA Inc., lobbying firm.

Sign photo by Summerset Daily American USW@Work • Winter 2012 23

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 23 1/30/12 4:22 PM orelle, the durable glass din- of Local 1034 in Corning. “It’s a true no lost time injuries and the project was nerware made in America by testament to the employees, the facility completed last year ahead of schedule. Steelworkers, is so popular in and the community. It should make us “It was pretty incredible, just the China, India and South Korea feel very good.” process of putting it in,” Walker said of Cthat the sole manufacturing plant where The big investment boosted total the tank installation. “The whole factory it is produced could not meet demand employment by more than 50 people should be pretty proud of themselves.” there and in the United States without to 510 with more jobs possible. It also Located at One Steuben Street in significant expansion. solidifies Corelle’s presence in Corning, Corning, the plant has been in con- So World Kitchen, the company that the only location in the world where it tinuous production since Corelle was owns the Corelle brand, spent $50 mil- is made. introduced in 1970 by Corning Glass lion to add a massive glass-melting tank Works. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 at its plant in Corning, N.Y., increasing Complicated project days a week. production capacity by 50 percent. The melting tank, the plant’s third, World Kitchen calls the plant a one- The experienced USW-represented took more than 14 months to build. The of-a-kind production facility. The late work force is among the reasons why construction project was complicated by Corning Glass researcher Jim Giffen, the company decided to invest in capac- the new tank’s placement between two who invented centrifugal casting, engi- ity and jobs at home while others have existing tanks while they remained in neered the machines and processes used turned to manufacturing in lower-wage full operation. in making the first Corelle. Asian locales near expanding markets. Local 1034 production workers kept Molten glass heated to 2,640 degrees “It’s a pretty complicated process. the process going uninterrupted while Fahrenheit emerges from the melting It takes a skilled work force and they’ve hundreds of construction workers in- tanks in a continuous ribbon, or sand- got it here,’’ said Greg Walker, president stalled the tank, which measures nearly wich, of three layers made from two 12 feet tall and 21 feet wide. There were

Photos courtesy of World Kitchen

24 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 24 1/30/12 4:22 PM types of glass. The tri-layer glass com- brands in North America and world- are light, stackable and oven, micro- posite is trademarked under the name wide,” World Kitchen President and wave and dishwasher safe. Designs that Vitrelle. CEO Joseph Mallof said at a ribbon appeal to Asian customers are applied cutting ceremony last October. to the New York-made dinnerware at a We melt it, form it, paint it Corelle can be found in more than decorating plant in Malaysia. Union members handle the product a third of all homes in North America According to Mark Campbell, the from beginning to end. Designs and and is available in more than 30 coun- plant’s director, more than 3.2 billion colors are applied in a final decorating tries worldwide. Some 40 percent of the pieces of Corelle dinnerware have been process that uses unique enamels that plant’s production is sold internationally. produced at the plant since the product’s become a permanent part of the glass. Business in the key international introduction in 1970. “We do it all,” Walker said. “We markets of China, India and South Walker, the local union president, melt it. We form it. We paint it. We pack Korea grew by more than 30 percent in said the employees have a good relation- it. We ship it.” 2010, Mallof said in his remarks. ship with the company and do what they The new tank, like the other two must to keep the plant, which was built in the plant, operates as a furnace and Popular in South Korea in 1938, operating in the winter when can produce up to 45 million pieces Corelle is especially popular in it’s cold and in the summer when it’s of Corelle a year when running at full South Korea, where three out of four hot. capacity. households (78 percent) already own “We just make it work. We do what “With our increased capacity, we’re some of the dinnerware and nearly we have to do to get the job done,” he poised not only for continued double- everyone (98 percent) is familiar with said. “I think we both realize separately digit global growth, but also to increase the brand. we’ll fail but together we just might be our introductions of new and innova- Frugal Korean households buy able to survive.” tive products to drive expansion of the Corelle because the dishes rarely break,

New glass-melting tank Photo by Jason Cox/The Leader Corning, N.Y.

Corelle products on display in Asia.

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 25 1/30/12 4:22 PM hen the Occupy Wall Street movement came to Pittsburgh, International President Leo W. Gerard carried the union’s flag into the crowd of marchers to show support. W“We’ve got to stand together, never give up, never give back,” Gerard told the protestors as they gathered in the city’s Market Square following a peaceful October march through downtown. “Stand up, fight back!” The USW supported the Occupy Wall Street movement from the beginning for its peaceful protest of the economic and social injustice created by corporate greed and the bar- ons of finance. Whatever you may think of its tactics, the movement’s participants made progress in changing the nation’s political debate by highlighting America’s income inequality and the pressing need for good-paying jobs. Their frequent chant, “We are the 99 percent” struck a chord among middle-class Americans. It referred to a study by Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz showing America’s richest one percent control 40 percent of U.S. wealth.

We’ve got to stand “together, never give up, never give back. Stand up, fight back! Leo W. Gerard ”

International President Leo W. Gerard addresses Occupy Wall Street rally in Pittsburgh. Photos by Martha Rial

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 26 1/30/12 4:22 PM Photo courtesy of Karen Gorrell Although economists declared the Great Recession over in 2009, that proclamation has not matched the reality many Americans continue to face in 2012. Millions remain out of work or unable to find full-time jobs. The home fore- closure crisis drags on and home prices remain wobbly. Last September, when the Occupy movement was find- ing its legs, Gerard said the union was standing in solidar- ity with the protestors who “are speaking out for many in our world. “We are fed up with the corporate greed, corruption and arrogance that inflicted pain on far too many for far too long,’’ he said. “Our union has been standing up and fighting these cap- tains of finance who promote Wall Street over Main Street. We know firsthand the devastation caused by a global economy where workers, their families, the environment and our futures are sacrificed so that a privileged few can make more money on everyone’s labor but their own.” Reminder of colossal crisis As winter came and Occupy encampments were shut down or threatened with shutdown in cities across the country, the USW again made public its support. group of Century Aluminum retirees in Raven- Speaking specifically about an attempt to evict Pitts- swood, W.Va., have set up a campsite outside the burgh demonstrators from an inner-city park, International idled plant to protest the company’s elimination of Vice President Fred Redmond called the encampment a their health care benefits. “center for free expression” and a reminder of the “colossal AWith intentions to “Occupy Century Aluminum,” the crisis still facing our country and the global economy. retirees and supporters pitched tents at the plant’s entrance on “While Wall Street rings in the New Year with record Dec. 18 and remained there through the Christmas holidays profits, too many families on Main Street live in fear of into January. job losses, home foreclosures and cuts to health care and The camp is modeled after the Occupy Wall Street move- essential social services,” he said. ment that has focused national attention on corporate greed. “We should not deny First Amendment rights to those The Century Aluminum retirees, however, are considerably that represent that 99 percent, especially when those who older – some aged 75 and 80 – than most Occupy Wall Street created this economic crisis were never held accountable,” protestors and have the specific goal of winning back their Redmond added. benefits. “We know exactly what we want,’’ said protestor Karen ” Gorrell, whose husband worked at the plant. “We are the 99 percent and we can tell our story.” The protest coincided with rumors in the community that Century is interested in reopening the plant and restarting alu- minum pot lines that were idled in 2009 during the recession. Benefits began in 1959 Retirees from the plant began receiving medical insur- ance benefits in 1959 from Kaiser Aluminum. Those benefits continued through different owners until Century terminated them in 2010. Century announced its plan to terminate the benefits in October 2009. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, benefits were totally eliminated for Medicare-eligible retirees and premiums were raised significantly for pre-Medicare retirees. Remaining benefits were eliminated last year. About 500 families were affected. The USW and retirees are pursuing a class action suit seeking restoration of the benefits. In the meantime, retirees have taken their concerns to the public. The move to occupy the plant is the latest in a string of protests that included traveling to California to confront Century’s executives at its annual shareholders meeting.

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 27 1/30/12 4:22 PM Editor’s Note: The following is a report by Nick Gaitaud, a member of Local 7150 in Albany, Ore., and the USW’s representative on the AFL-CIO’s Young Workers Advisory Council. he Young Workers Advisory action to demand a fair contract for Ve- check delegate credentials. The confer- Council is led by AFL-CIO rizon workers with a local chapter of the ence kicked off with the introduction Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler United Food and Commercial Workers. of Kurston Cook, the AFL-CIO’s new and consists of young mem- Young workers marched from the young workers program coordinator. Tbers from 18 national and international Minneapolis Hilton where the confer- The summit featured many work- unions including the USW. ence was held to a downtown Verizon shops, more actions and caucus meetings The council’s agenda is to connect store to pass out leaflets. Our chants for affiliate unions. There were several working people under the age of 35 to urging Verizon to keep their promises to unions in attendance but our union stood the labor movement and to educate, workers caught the attention of employ- out because the USW’s young members engage and mentor them to become the ees, customers and businesses through- were joined by top leaders including labor leaders of the future. out the mall. International Vice Presidents Fred As part of that mission, the advisory We also drew the attention of the Redmond and Carol Landry. council helped to plan the second annual Minneapolis police, who offered sug- International President Leo W. AFL-CIO Next Up Young Workers Sum- gestions, took a leaflet to read, and with Gerard had a scheduling conflict and mit, which was held in Minnesota last a handshake allowed us to continue our sent a message to us via video. He Sept. 29 to Oct. 2. protest. USW members led the group in even surprised us by calling into one More than 800 young workers, chants as we returned to the conference. of the Steelworkers’ morning meet- organizers and students from around the Afterwards, the room was buzz- ings to take our questions and hear our world, including 50 steelworkers from ing with energy and excitement. Many ideas. the United States and Canada, converged younger members had never taken part This commitment from our union on Minneapolis for the summit. in an action of that size. Many had was not only noticed by others, but it The agenda was packed. We started never felt the power that occurs when showed us younger members that our off with a community service project – hundreds of union activists join forces. leadership is truly dedicated to the mis- packing school supplies with Tubman, There could not have been a better way sion of developing the next generation a Minneapolis-based nonprofit orga- to kick start a wonderful enlightening of leaders. It is why I am so proud to be nization that helps struggling women, four days. part of the best union in the world, the children and families. USW members volunteered to staff leader in the union movement, my ex- The USW delegates then led an the Sergeant-at-Arms Committee and tended family, the United Steelworkers.

USW delegates lead an action demanding a fair contract for Verizon workers. Photo courtesy of the AFL-CIO

28 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 28 1/30/12 4:22 PM We were blessed with a strong, powerfully engaging, amazing lineup of leaders including U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, the AFL-CIO’s Shuler and Lisa Jordan, the USW’s director of he United Steelworkers is now offering free websites to qualifying education. locals in the United States and Canada. The sites are available to The summit also featured member-led, locals signed up to SteelWeb, an internal union website that is used participant-driven workshops called “The to maintain membership information, order office supplies, research Unconference.” There were a total of 33 ses- Tarbitration cases and more. sions with a third of them presented by USW More information about signing up to SteelWeb or modifying an existing members. Go USW! SteelWeb account to apply for a local union website can be found online at We wrapped up the weekend with an eve- www.usw.org/localweb. ning social and fundraiser where Local 6500 Local union leaders with questions about this new service can contact the member and rapper Mike “O.B.” O’Brien USW New Media Department at 412-562-2450. headlined the show. Locals that submit a completed and approved application can choose After the summit, one thing was clear: our from a variety of pre-designed USW young members left Next Up feeling ener- templates, enjoy free hosting, ready-made gized, excited, and ready to take on the world. content, have access to on-the-phone train- ing and learn how to keep the site updated with little effort. LaborWeb for USW is very simple and with a little training, any local can get an up-to-date, well-branded website up and running to help keep our members informed. Be patient when applying To maintain integrity, all applica- tions must be signed by local officers with the local union seal affixed, and then verified by the International Union before being reviewed for ap- proval. You cannot begin building a website until this process is com- pleted. Please be sure to review all application instructions and complete the necessary paperwork to help speed up the process. If you are a webmaster who is not a local union officer, you should work with your local’s leadership during this process. We strongly suggest locals assign a webmaster or web- masters who join the United Steelworkers Press Association (USPA), which is also free and offers invaluable training and other resources for local union communicators. More information about USPA can be found online at: www.usw.org/resources/uspa.

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 29 1/30/12 4:22 PM uilt in the Depression, the first San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge put many Ameri- can steel and iron workers to Bwork at a time when the U.S. economy desperately needed the jobs. A steel structure is readied for the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge at Yet today, when America is again Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries desperate for work, a $6.3 billion re- Co. in Shanghai, China. (Imaginechina via AP images) placement bridge now under construc- tion has created jobs for thousands of workers in China, where decking, massive suspension cables and a tower standing 500 feet above the bay were fabricated. To stop American workers from getting a raw deal like that again, the USW is supporting legislation to ensure that all future bridges and simi- lar transportation and infrastructure projects financed by U.S. taxpayers will be made in America, not China or anywhere else. The Invest in American Jobs Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Nick Rahall, a West Virginia Democrat who is the ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infra- structure. Outsourcing goes too far “It is bad enough to see America sit on the sidelines as China, India, and our other international competitors leave us in the dust as they plow full speed ahead with massive infrastructure investments Construction work on the East in their own countries,” Rahall said. Span of the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge. “But actively outsourcing manufac- (AP Photo by Ben Margot) turing jobs that American companies and skilled American workers can and should be doing just goes too far.” The union is also supporting a companion Senate bill introduced at year’s end by Democratic U.S. Senators Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. “All of us here share the same goal – to grow manufacturing in America,’’ International Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson said in support of the bill. “Right now creating good jobs matters more than ever before, as the American people continue to face high unemployment levels with millions of Americans out of work or underem- ployed.” Johnson joined Casey at a bridge construction site in Pittsburgh to an- nounce the Senate version of the legisla- tion. He also joined ranking Democrats 30 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 30 1/30/12 4:22 PM and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz campaign to organize car wash contract that was agreed to by the pre- Shuler at an introduction ceremony for workers in Southern California vious owner and ratified last Novem- the House version in Washington, D.C. Ahas led to three USW contracts ber. The Bonus agreement was ratified “We are still in a jobs crisis and we – the first in the nation for the indus- last October. need to use our taxpayer dollars wisely try – and a $1 million settlement to “I’m so happy we have a union and to create as many jobs in America as workers at eight other car washes who a contract,’’ said Oliverio Gomez, who possible, including good manufacturing were underpaid, denied breaks and has worked at Bonus for nine years. jobs,” Johnson said. “That’s a goal the other benefits. “Now we get to take our breaks. If American public strongly supports be- Employees of the Vermont Car we’re thirsty we can drink water and cause people know manufacturing is the Wash, the Navas Carwash and the they respect the schedule, and all of best engine for economic growth.” Bonus Car Wash, all located in met- the hours we work are in our pay- ropolitan Los Angeles, are the new- check. But the biggest difference is we est members of Local 675, based in finally get respect as workers.” Right now creating Carson, Calif. Also in January, the California “We are proud to welcome car Attorney General’s office announced “good jobs matters more wash workers into the United Steel- a $1 million settlement to a civil suit workers and applaud them for this it had filed against eight other car than ever before, as victory in their struggle for fair wages, washes. safe working conditions and respect,” About $800,000 of the settlement the American people said David Campbell, the local’s finan- will be split among past and present cial secretary. workers. The car washes must also continue to face high The contracts are the first to come pay $50,000 in back payroll taxes and from the efforts of CLEAN, the Com- $100,000 in civil penalties plus other unemployment levels munity Labor Environmental Action costs. Network, which was founded in 2008 State investigators interviewed with millions of to eliminate workplace abuses in the more than 80 workers and found the unregulated car wash industry in Los car washes routinely denied them Angeles. minimum wage and overtime, failed to Americans out of work Vermont employees ratified an pay wages owed to those who quit or agreement in January. The owner of were terminated, denied rest and meal or underemployed. Navas, the successor company to BJ breaks and created false records of Stan Johnson ” Car Wash, in January signed a union time worked. The Invest in American Jobs Act strengthens Buy America preferences for investments in highway, bridge, public transit, rail and aviation infrastructure and equipment to ensure that steel, iron and manufactured goods used in these projects are produced in the United States. The legislation would also apply Buy America to other transportation and infrastructure investments including rail infrastructure grants, loans and loan guarantees as well as Clean Water State Revolving Fund grants. Congress needs to make sure that American companies and workers ben- efit from the money spent, Rahall said.

“At a time when more than 25 mil- Car wash workers at the lion Americans are unable to find jobs, 2011USW Convention in Las Vegas. are only working part-time, or have al- Photo by Ike Gittlen together given up hope of finding a job, it is appalling, offensive, and downright wrong to send our taxpayer dollars to China when they should be invested in U.S. companies here at home rebuilding America,” Rahall said. “This legislation will put a stop to this practice, help turn our economy around, and start to rebuild a major sector of our economy.” USW@Work • Winter 2012 31

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 31 1/30/12 4:22 PM State of the Union To move toward a country where everyone For union members, the main point of does their fair share, Obama called for the end President Obama’s State of the Union address of what was supposed to be a temporary tax was something so basic, so obvious, that it was break for the rich. If the 1 percent don’t equi- almost odd to hear it explained at length with tably participate in civic life, in paying for the analogies. nation’s essentials, then, Obama said, everyone Obama began and ended his speech with else – the elderly on fixed incomes, struggling the point that Americans are all in this together, young people, the poor living hand-to-mouth and the nation is better when Americans all – must take up the slack to prevent increasing work together. Every unionist knows more is deficits. That is not equitable. gained through teamwork. Every unionist has He asked the nation’s corporations to serve experienced the security of having a brother or as part of the American team as well, echo- sister at his back. ing but altering the words of the late John F. By choosing Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels Kennedy: “Ask yourselves what you can do to reply to the State of the Union, Republicans to bring jobs back to your country, and your emphasized their completely opposite, you- country will do everything we can to help you are-on-your-own, selfish vision of America. succeed.” Daniels was budget director when former Tax breaks for jobs in America President Bush gave the top 1 percent the The president asked Congress to end tax massive tax cut that enabled them to escape breaks given to corporations that send jobs paying their fair share to support America. And overseas and to create new tax breaks for he pushed to kill teamwork in Indiana, backing corporations that bring jobs back to America or Right-to-Work (for less) legislation to wound create jobs here. private sector unions. In addition, to help corporations and small On the January night of the president’s businesses succeed in America, Obama an- address, the two political parties outlined their nounced establishment of a Trade Enforce- election year positions. Obama called for ment Unit to investigate unfair trade practices, Americans to participate in citizenship as they noting that when the playing field is level, would in teamwork, all for one and one for all. American workers are the most productive in Daniels called for a completely unregulated the world and can beat any competitors. economy, including Wall Street, and for more He cited as an example the trade case the tax cuts for the rich. United Steelworkers filed to protect members Defining issue of the times from unfairly traded tires from China. After the The president said the defining issue of the USW won the case, Obama imposed tariffs on times is sustaining the basic American promise tires imported from China. “Over a thousand “that if you worked hard, you could do well Americans are working today because we enough to raise a family, own a home, send stopped a surge in Chinese tires. But we need your kids to college, and put a little away for to do more... It’s not right when foreign manu- retirement.” facturers have a leg up on ours only because This, he said, can only be accomplished they’re heavily subsidized,” the president said. if citizens work together and equitably share By contrast, Gov. Daniels held up Apple as responsibility. He used as an analogy the ac- a corporate example. “The great Steve Jobs – complishments of the nation’s soldiers: what a fitting name he had – created more of “When you’re marching into battle, you them than all those stimulus dollars.” look out for the person next to you, or the But Apple created 700,000 jobs in China, mission fails. When you’re in the thick of the and only 43,000 in the United States. fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one Obama returned to the unity image familiar nation, leaving no one behind.” to unionists as he ended his speech: The value of leaving no one behind raises a “Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded question for the nation. Obama posed it: “We that our destiny is stitched together like those can either settle for a country where a shrink- fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one ing number of people do really well, while built this country on their own. This nation is more Americans barely get by. Or we can great because we built it together. This nation build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot, is great because we worked as a team. This everyone does their fair share and everyone nation is great because we get each other’s plays by the same rules.” backs.”

32 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 32 1/30/12 4:22 PM International President Gerard Joins White House Jobs Forum nternational President Leo W. Gerard partici- pated in a Jan. 11 Insourcing American Jobs IForum held at the White House and hosted by President Obama. The forum brought busi- ness, labor and other leaders together to discuss ways to encourage investment and job creation in the United States. USW Marks 70th Anniversary he USW is making preparations to mark this year’s 70th anniversary of the founding conven- tion of the United Steelworkers of America. T The Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) formally transformed into the United Steelworkers of America at the convention, which was held in May 1942 in the Public Music Hall of the Cleveland Auditorium. The union’s name was formally introduced in a Constitution Committee report issued to the del- egates on May 19, 1942. The new union’s officers, including President Philip Murray, were elected on May 22, the last day of the convention. The anniversary plans include an International Executive Board meeting to be held in Cleveland, sessions on union history and a convening of young Philip Murray union leaders.

USW Fighting Anti-Worker Legislation he USW is working with other union members in Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere to fight back against anti-worker legislation being pushed by Republican Tgovernors and legislatures. In Indiana, for example, USW members are critically engaged in the fight against Right-to-Work (for less) legislation. On Jan. 4, the day the legislative session began in Indianapolis, some 700 USW members traveled by bus and car to join 2,000 other activists at the Statehouse. USW members and members of other unions continued to jam the hallways outside the House and Senate for weeks afterwards. Support actions included making calls, sending e-mails, writing letters to the editor and building community support. At press time, a Right-to-Work bill had passed the Republican-controlled House and the protests shifted to the USW protestors at the state Senate, which is also Republican Statehouse in Indianapolis. controlled. “Legislators need to focus on removing real barriers to economic recovery and job creation instead of partisan attacks designed to weaken the influence and growth of unions,” said District 7 Director Jim Robinson. “Our members and their families are educated and mobilized around this critical fight.” Health, Safety & Environment Conference he 2012 USW Health, Safety & Environment Conference will be held in Pittsburgh at the Westin Convention Center from March 5 to March 9. The conference will open with a union- Tonly session on Monday. Joint labor-management sessions will be held Tuesday through Friday. In addition to three plenary sessions, attendees can choose from among 80 workshops that will be available over seven sessions. More information and registration details are available online at www.usw.org/hseconference.

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 33 1/30/12 4:22 PM USW Supports College Athletes or 11 years, the USW has helped the nonprofit National College Players Association (NCPA) in its fight to secure basic protections for college Fathletes nationwide. That support continued on Dec. 5 when more than 700 USW members at- tended a seventh-annual fundraiser, An Evening with the Steelers, sponsored by the union in Pittsburgh to benefit the NCPA. Steeler players past and present signed autographs and posed for photos dur- ing the event. Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson welcomed guests and thanked sponsors. International Vice President Fred Redmond gave a fiery speech in support of college athletes’ rights and NCPA President Ramogi Huma, the organization’s Richard Trumka, Oralia Caso de Gómez and Leo W. Gerard Bill Burke/Page One Photo founder, thanked the USW for its support. The NCPA has exposed the NCAA and its schools for a number of injustices Mexican Miners including forcing college athletes to pay for sports-related medical expenses, re- voking scholarships of players who are permanently injured and unsafe workout Leader Honored conditions. he AFL-CIO awarded its 2011 George “Current and future college athletes owe the Steelworkers much gratitude for Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights helping to finally give them a voice and the means to change NCAA rules so that Award to exiled Mexican mine work- T they may have basic protections,” Huma said. ers union leader Napoleón Gómez Urrutia. “It was our goal from day one that the NCPA become the national voice for The annual award, named for the first the hundreds of thousands of college athletes across the U.S. who need a seat at two presidents of the AFL-CIO, recognizes the table when the deals are cut,” said Political Director Tim Waters, who helped outstanding examples of the international the NCPA organize. “I can safely say today that we have now reached this goal, struggle for human rights through trade and the NCPA is boldly demanding respect for athletes from all those who profit unions. off of their hard work.” Gómez Urrutia, head of the Mine, Metal and Steel Workers Union, also known as Los Mineros, fled Mexico for Canada in 2006 af- ter the Mexican government filed politically- motivated charges against him. He continues to lead his union from exile. The Los Mineros leader could not secure a travel visa so the award was presented to his wife, Oralia Caso de Gómez, by AFL- CIO President Richard Trumka and Interna- tional President Leo W. Gerard. “This is important recognition by the AFL-CIO for the inspiring struggle of Napoleón Gómez Urrutia to bring economic justice to Mexican working families with his heroic leadership,” Gerard said. Photos by James Hamrick U.S. and Canadian Union Members Join Forces Steelworkers: merican and Canadian union members who work for forest in- The Last of the Breed dustry giant Resolute Forest Products, formerly AbitibiBowater, hen Dennis Crider, Ahave joined forces to speak with one voice to the company. a member of Local Delegates from the USW and the Communications, Energy and 1010 in East Chicago, Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) met in Montreal in December and W retired as a mill mechanic, he pledged to coordinate activities and work together toward 2014 pattern decided to write a book about and master agreement negotiations with the company in both countries. his experiences. The result is At the two-day joint meeting, delegates shared information on cost Steelworkers: The Last of the reduction and job cut demands. In a statement adopted on Dec. 18, both Breed. unions demanded respect and fairness from Resolute. “I am not going to get rich off of this book,” he “We reject absolutely any form of contrived intimidation between said. “I just wanted to write a book about working workers and mills,” the statement said. “We insist that the company re- people and not some overpaid politician or movie spect our bargaining caucuses, our pattern agreements and end any form star.” of job blackmail between the local unions.” Crider, of Valparaiso, Ind., said his book is “97 The meeting drew delegates from 10 Canadian Resolute mills in percent all true.” Copies can be purchased online at Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. Four U.S. mills in Georgia, South publishamerica.com, amazon.com, and barnesand- Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama were represented. noble.com, he said. 34 USW@Work • Winter 2012

10555_Reg_Mag.indd 34 1/30/12 4:22 PM Rapid Response Holds English Named to ERISA Council Regional Conferences etired Secretary-Treasurer James D. English his year, for the first time, the USW’s has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Rapid Response program is holding RLabor’s 2012 Advisory Council on Employee regional conferences in Atlanta, Los Welfare and Pension Plans, also known as the ERISA T Advisory Council. Angeles, Philadelphia and Detroit. The conferences will focus heavily on Named to the post by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis skill-building workshops, networking and at year’s end, English is one of five new appointees to strengthening the USW’s ability to impact the 15-member council. Each member serves a stag- the legislative process and promote the gered three-year term. needs of members. The council was established with the 1974 pas- The Atlanta conference will be held at sage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act the Hyatt Regency Atlanta beginning Feb. (ERISA) to advise the Secretary on policy, enforcement Jim English 21; Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure, and regulatory matters. March 13; Philadelphia at the Sheraton As secretary-treasurer, English oversaw the union’s investments and finan- Philadelphia Downtown Hotel, April 2; and cial operations among other duties, and served as a trustee for single and multi- Detroit at the Detroit Marriott at Renais- employer pension plans. sance Center, May 9. “There is nobody more qualified than Jim when it comes to addressing how Go to www. usw.org for more best to secure health and retirement benefits for American workers,” Interna- information. tional President Leo W. Gerard said. “His appointment is great news for our members and millions of American workers.”

NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYEES COVERED BY A UNION SECURITY CLAUSE All USW represented employees covered by a union security clause have the right, under NLRB v. General Motors, 373 U.S. 734 (1963), to be and remain a nonmember subject only to the duty to pay the equivalent of union initiation fees and periodic dues. Further, only such non-member employees have the right, under Communications Workers v. Beck, 487 U.S. 735 (1988), to limit payment of union-security dues and initiation fees to certain moneys spent on activities germane to a union’s role as collective bargaining representa- tive. This latter statutory right is embodied in the USW’s Nonmember Objection Procedure.

The Procedure is available to any USW represented employee union elections or to be a candidate, no right to participate in union who is subject to a union security clause but who is a non-member meetings or activities, and no right to vote on contract ratification. and who objects to his or her union security fees being expended on Upon perfecting properly a notice of objection, the objector is nonrepresentational activities. Paragraph 1 of the Procedure states: entitled to an advance reduction of a portion of his or her union “1. Any individual, who is not a member of the United Steel- security obligation commensurate with expenditures unrelated to workers and who is required as a condition of employment to collective bargaining, as required by law. International Secretary- pay dues to the United Steelworkers pursuant to a union security Treasurer Stanley W. Johnson has determined, based upon expen- arrangement but objects to supporting ... political or ideological ex- ditures for the calendar year 2010, that the reduction percentage penditures by the United Steelworkers which are not necessarily or under the Procedure is 8.75% (18.32% if organizing expenditures reasonably incurred for the purpose of performing the duties of an were to be included). exclusive collective bargaining representative shall have the right There are court decisions holding that organizing activities are upon perfecting a notice of objection to obtain an advance reduc- non-representational activities. The USW does not agree with those tion of a portion of such individual’s dues obligation commensurate rulings. However, without intending to waive its position that its with expenditures unrelated to collective bargaining as required by organizing expenditures are not subject to objection and without law.” intending to waive its right to assert its position if there is a chal- An eligible employee who objects to the USW expending mon- lenge to the reduction percentage, the USW has deemed it expedi- ies for nonrepresentational activities such as charitable or political ent to apply the 18.32% figure to most current and future objectors. activities may choose to perfect a notice of objection under Para- Therefore, an objector will be charged 81.68% of the regular dues graph 2 of the Procedure, which states: amount. Each objector will be given a detailed breakdown between “2. To perfect a notice of objection, the individual must send representational and non-representational activities with a report by an individually signed notice to the International Secretary-Trea- an independent auditor. surer during the first thirty days following either the individual’s The Procedure contains an appeals system under which chal- initial date of hire into the USW represented unit or an anniversary lenges to the reduction percentage determination must be filed date of such hiring: provided, however, that if the individual lacked within 30 days of the Notice of Determination and are to be decid- knowledge of this Procedure, the individual shall have a 30 day ed by an impartial arbitrator appointed by the American Arbitration period commencing on the date the individual became aware of the Association. Disputed amounts are escrowed pending appeal. Procedure to perfect a notice of objection; and, provided, further, While a notice must be individually signed and timely mailed, that a member who resigns membership shall have the opportunity there is no form for a notice. Processing is faster, however, when to object within the 30 day period following resignation.1 the notice contains the objector’s name, address, local union num- Objectors are not USW members and have no right to vote in ber and employer.

1 Any right of a resignee to pay a reduced amount under this Procedure may or may not be superceded by the resignee’s check-off authorization.

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10555_Reg_Mag.indd 35 1/30/12 4:22 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@Work USW Membership Department, 3340 Perimeter Hill Drive, Nashville, TN 37211 Name ______New Address ______City ______State ______Zip ______

Baltimore, Md. Carson, Calif. Fayetteville, N.C.

Canton, Ohio

Ankeny, Iowa

Spokane, Wash. Roanoke, Va. New Brunswick, N.J.

On January 14, the USW coordinated an International Day of Action to protest Cooper Tire’s unfair and illegal lockout in Findlay, Ohio. Members of the USW, AFL-CIO and other supporters visited approximately 125 stores that sell Cooper tires throughout the United States. See story on page 12.

Albany, Ore. Tucson, Ariz. Portage, Mich. Henderson, Nev.

Akron, Ohio Frankfort, Ky. Granite City, Ill. Fresno, Calif.

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