United Steelworkers: District 13 News

USW District 13 Announces Phillip Murray Scholarship Winners

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0500

District 13 Director J.M. Mickey Breaux proudly announces the 2013 winners of the Phillip Murray Memorial Scholarships.

The Phillip Murray Scholarships are funded by the Education and Existence Fund of District 13. Local Unions within District 13 who voluntarily contribute to the fund on behalf of their members are eligible to have their children compete for the Scholarships.

The Scholarships pay for expenses for a first year student at an accredited College of their choice. The Winners receive $1500.00 explains Director Breaux.

This year’s winners are.

Arkansas

Bishna Hedstrom USW Local 1329
Ashley Denae James–USW Local 7893
Hannah Schwartz-USW Local 13-1327
Colton Tucker-USW Local 7893

Louisiana

Jacques Anton Petit – USW Local 447

Oklahoma

Kayley Eason-USW Local 391
Alternate-Tyler Eason-USW Local 391

Texas

Macy Lee Foreman-USW Local13-00423
Aaron K. Chumchal–USW Local 04370
Brittnee Paige Rawls–Local 00825
Kailey Rountree –Local 13-00423
Taryne Shea Betak–Local 04895
Breann Breithaupt–Local 04895
Jonathan Taylor–Local 04134
Elliott Miller–Local 05613

"Congratulations to all the winners and I thank all the locals within the Education and Existence Fund for making this all possible," said Director Breaux.

ALEC is NOT OK

Wed, 29 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is a corporate-driven organization that works behind closed doors to develop laws that serve their funders’ interests. The “model legislation” they produce is introduced by state-level lawmakers who assume the ideas as their own. The bills are predictably self-serving: limiting workers’ rights, restricting our ability to vote, undercutting safety on the job and more.

When ALEC held their spring task force meeting in Oklahoma City in early May, the Steelworkers were there to shed light on this distortion of democracy. Joining with other union members and progressive allies, nearly a thousand people marched and rallied saying “ALEC is NOT OK!”

USW Members Ratify Contracts at ExxonMobil Baytown Complex

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

United Steelworkers (USW) local 13-2001 members tonight ratified three separate agreements with ExxonMobil Baytown for the operations, maintenance and laboratory groups.

The three-year agreements expire May 15, 2016 and cover about 850 workers at the Baytown complex. They met the provisions of the National Oil Bargaining (NOB) policy, and the local 13-2001 bargaining committee recommended them for approval.

ExxonMobil agreed to bargain over the American Petroleum Institute's recommended practice on fatigue, RP 755, and to establish a limit on the number of consecutive days an employee can work. The company also agreed to a full-time union process safety representative position to address process safety concerns. These two issues had been in contention during negotiations ... more

The Arkansas AFL-CIO Executive Board passes a motion to recommend the endorsement of Bill Halter for Governor in 2014

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Contact: Alan Hughes, President, 501-375-9101 or 501-416-3664

Little Rock, Arkansas, May 14 - The Arkansas AFL-CIO Executive Board, at its meeting on Monday, May 13, 2013 in Little Rock, passed a motion to recommend the endorsement of Bill Halter for Governor in 2014. Their recommendation will be made to the full Arkansas AFL-CIO Convention to be held in April 2014. The committee felt that this is one of our top races for next year and thinks that he should receive the full endorsement of the convention.

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Don Davies Elected as Vice President of the Arkansas AFL-CIO

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Sub District 13 Director Don Davies was elected as Vice President of the Arkansas AFL-CIO at the 29th Arkansas AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention. This continues the United Steelworkers leadership role in the state.

The conference will run until Wednesday, May 8 at the Clarion Resort on the Lake, Hot Springs, AR.

Below, Sub Director Davies addresses the USW caucus during the convention on May 6.

Upcoming District 13 Council Meeting

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

District 13 will holding a Council Meeting on Friday, July 26 and Saturday July 27, 2013 at the USW Local 620 Hall located at 2416 South Darla Avenue in Gonzales, Louisiana.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

USW Local 13-857 Retirees meet to Start their SOAR Chapter

Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Retirees from United Steelworkers (USW) Local 13-857 in Ponca City, OK, met to discuss starting their SOAR chapter on Thursday. They agreed to contact other retirees and have another meeting sometime in the near future, (the weather was terrible on Thursday) In attendance at the meeting were the following: (l to r) Don Pierce, Retiree, Emmett Sheppard, District 13 SOAR Coordinator Michael Martin, Staff Jim Lefton, Assistant to the Director Rick Erpelding, Staff Andy Frye, District 13 Rapid Response Coordinator George Ivey, Retiree

Submitted by Andy Frye

USW Locals 227 and 6000 Honor Those Killed on the Job

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Submitted by Ben Lilienfeld

USW Locals 227 and 6000 hosted, for the first time, a Workers Memorial Day observance at their union hall in Pasadena, TX, on Friday, April 26, 2013. Combined, these two locals represent more than 2,000 workers in the oil and chemical industries up and down the Houston Ship Channel. The event honored USW members fatally injured at work in the past 12 months, with a special tribute to the workers killed over the years at the facilities represented by Locals 227 and 6000.

Speakers included OSHA Region VI Compliance Officer Mary Helen Solis, Kim Nibarger, USW EH&S Technician, Richard Shaw, Secretary-Treasurer, Harris County AFL-CIO, Retired District 13 Assistant to the Director and current Secretary-Treasurer, TX AFL-CIO, John Patrick, and a moving speech by Roby Plemons, he himself having suffered injuries in the 2000 explosion at Chevron Phillips Pasadena Plastics complex.

Members from other USW Locals nearby attended the event as well as several retirees.Local Union 227 President Cheryl Hartman, Secretary-Treasurer Jimmy Easter, and Local Union 6000 President Debbie McDonald deserve the credit for putting together an extraordinary event.

Click Here to read the event program.

USW Study Warns Public about Dangers of Hydrofluoric Acid Use in Refinery Alkylation Process to Produce Clean-Burning Gasoline

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

More than 26 million are at risk of a Hydrofluoric Acid Release

A United Steelworkers (USW) study released today—“A Risk Too Great, Hydrofluoric Acid in U.S. Refineries”—warns that refiners that use hydrofluoric acid (HF) in their alkylation process to make clean-burning gasoline do not have adequate safety systems in place and are not prepared to handle a release.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulate HF as a highly toxic chemical. Exposure to HF can cause deep severe burns and damage the eyes, skin, nose, throat and respiratory system. The fluoride ion enters the body through a burn or by the lungs and can cause internal damage throughout the body. At high enough exposures, HF can kill.

If released into the atmosphere, HF rapidly forms a dense vapor cloud that hovers near land and can travel long distances. HF releases from U.S. refineries range from three to 25 miles, depending on the amount stored. More than 26 million people live within this range, many in urban areas such as Philadelphia, Memphis, Salt Lake City and Houston that are impossible to evacuate quickly should there be a major HF release. No other chemical process puts as many people at risk ... more

USW Local 2001 Confirms Support for their Negotiating Committee

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

by Richard “Hoot” Landry

The United Steelworkers Local 2001 union negotiating committee has begun negotiations with ExxonMobil Baytown Facility in Channelview, TX. On April 5, the local held a Solidarity Day in support of the Clerical Group which has worked under an extended contract for over two years without reaching a new agreement.

In July 2012, President Ricky Brooks and Vice-President Mark Schubert were wrongly terminated. Their arbitration is still pending. This is the first time in the history of the local that the President and Vice-President of the local were not employees of the Baytown Complex.

The Committee has worked through many issues over the years but nothing like this and has overcome every issue they have been challenged with. With the support of the membership, the committee is stronger today than they have ever been. Some time ago, the membership instructed their leadership that they would no longer “take less than other oil workers in the National Oil Bargaining Program.”

Over the last 10 years, they have lost money, benefits, and critical contract language to protect their memberships, job security and safety. ExxonMobil Baytown Complex is the largest refinery in the world and 2nd in production.

Baytown, TX USW Local 2001 Negotiating Committee

USW Local 13-423 Members and Retirees Gather In Austin, TX

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Over 400 active and retired members and others gathered at USW Local 13 in Austin, TX, to fry fish and meet/greet members of the Texas Legislature on behalf of the Texas AFL-CIO.

What has become a tradition for USW Local 13-423 has paid many dividends for the USW members in Texas by feeding and introducing themselves to Legislators who stop by and enjoy a good meal all the while we are talking with members of the legislature about issues that affect USW members in Texas said Bobby Hollis, President of USW Local 13- 423.

USW 13-423 members past and present included in the pictures are Ruelle Parker, Glen Shepard, John Meyer and Marco Serna.

Others who stopped by to help with the meet and greet included:

Emmitt Shepard – Past President of the Texas AFL/CIO and retired member of USW Local 13-423
Gary Beevers - International Vice President over the Oil Sector and a member of USW Local 13-423.
Mickey Breaux – Director of District 13 and a member of USW Local 13-423
Jim Lefton – Assistant to the Director, District 13
Andy Frye – Rapid Response Coordinator, District 13

USW Members at Firestone Polymers in Orange, Texas, Return to Work Monday

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

United Steelworkers (USW) members from Local 13-836 are returning to work Monday, April 1 after Firestone Polymers accepted this afternoon their March 25 unconditional offer to return to work.

Negotiations will continue and Local 13-836 members will work under a contract extension of their 2008 agreement. The company or the union would have to give a written 7-day notice to terminate the extension agreement before any lockout or strike.

“We are confident we will be successful in obtaining a fair agreement that will benefit both our members and the company,” said USW Sub-District 1 Director Ben Lilienfeld, who is leading the union’s negotiating team. “Both sides’ have plenty of room to move in their proposals to address the workers’ health care and wage concerns ... more

USW Members from Local 13-836 Walk the Picket Line

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

USW members from Local 13-836 went on strike at noon March 18, 2013 at Firestone Polymers LLC in Orange, Texas.

Firestone Polymers wants to make major changes in its health care offerings by shifting more of the health care costs onto the employees.

The company has proposed a consumer-driven health care plan that has low premiums, but out-of-pocket deductibles that are six times higher than what the workers are paying today. Workers would pay more of their health care costs after the deductible is met.

Firestone Polymers also wants the union to give up its right to bargain over changes in the health care plans.

The other major issue concerns wages. Firestone Polymers is offering 2 percent wage increases for each year of the proposed three-year contract. Workers say this would not be enough to pay for their out-of-pocket medical costs.

“The union is prepared to return to the table at the earliest opportunity so the parties can address the open issues,” said Richard “Hoot” Landry, USW international staff representative. “Until then, we will remain united in our quest for a fair contract.”

USW Local 13-836 represents 130 hourly employees at the specialty rubber plant.

USW Local 13-836 Goes on Strike at Firestone Polymers LLC in Orange, Texas

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0500

United Steelworkers (USW) Union members from Local 13-836 went on strike at noon yesterday at Firestone Polymers LLC in Orange, Texas.

Both sides were able to resolve many issues, except for health care and wages. Firestone Polymers wants to make major changes in its health care offerings by shifting more of the health care costs onto the employees. It wants to change the existing PPO plan by tripling the cost of the out-of-pocket deductible for individual and family coverage and reducing the percentage it will pay of health care costs after the deductible is met.

The company has proposed a consumer-driven health care plan that has low premiums, but out-of-pocket deductibles that are six times higher than what the workers are paying today. Workers would pay more of their health care costs after the deductible is met ... more

District 13 Staff Rep. Gary Fuslier Passes

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0600

By Jim Lefton, District 13 Assistant to the Director

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of District 13 Staff Representative Gary Fuslier. Representative Fuslier passed away Friday, February 22, 2013 at his home in Sulphur, La., after a long battle with cancer.

Representative Fuslier serviced the areas of southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas, with his last assignment, before becoming ill, being the recently settled North American Salt contract. Representative Fuslier led the group through their strike and subsequent National Labor Relations Board charges, which are now at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Representative Fuslier's attention to detail resulted in USW Local 14425 being able to win the charges at all levels, and will eventually result in awards—worth at least a million dollars—for the strikers.

“Representative Fuslier will be missed by all,” said District 13 Director Mickey Breaux, who spoke at the memorial service held Sunday, March 3, 2013.

“Representative Fuslier was a true trade unionist as well as a good friend,” said USW International Vice President Gary Beevers, who worked with Representative Fuslier when he was a local union officer and them when he was a staff representative.

Representative Fuslier’s memorial service was held at USW Local 555 and was standing room only as speaker after speaker spoke of his kindness, his desire to make things better for people and his uncanny ability to tell a joke and make people laugh when times were tough.

He was and is what we all hope to be, a good human being Representative Fuslier leaves behind his wife, Debbie and two grown children who he was extremely proud of.

USW Says Problems EPA Found at ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge, Louisiana Refinery are Prevalent throughout Refining Sector

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The items highlighted in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) report on its July 2012 inspection of ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, La., refinery are the same issues the United Steelworkers (USW) union has raised for a number of years regarding the safe operation of the nation’s refineries.

The problems cited at the Baton Rouge refinery facility (BRRF) are universal. The lack of mechanical integrity in refinery equipment has been a contributing cause in many of the worst accidents this industry has experienced. Mechanical integrity was a factor in the recent Chevron refinery fire, for which CalOSHA fined the company nearly $1 million; the April 2010 Tesoro Anacortes refinery explosion, which killed seven people; and the infamous BP Texas City refinery explosion and fire where 15 people were killed.

At BRRF, ExxonMobil did not have all the information needed for the equipment used in its processes, particularly the piping. The company failed to inspect, for a number of years, over 1,500 lines of piping and did not have any record of previous inspections. It also failed to identify over 250 lines with less than minimum thickness. This can prove to be problematic when companies arbitrarily change the criteria for replacement or fail to follow replacement guidelines. Thin and corroded pipes also can lead to leaks, explosions and fires. The EPA took photos of corroded overhead piping at BRRF. (Click HERE to see the photos.) ... more

USW and Carey Salt Reach New Three-Year Agreement

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The United Steelworkers Union (USW) and its Local 14425 reached a new three-year agreement with Carey Salt, a subsidiary of Compass Minerals Inc., after a bitter three-year struggle to achieve a fair and equitable contract at the company’s salt mine here.

Compass Minerals is a mining and materials company headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., with operations in the U.S., Canada and the UK.

Local 14425 represents about 100 workers and its members ratified the agreement on Feb. 25, 2013.

The new agreement includes a 3 percent general wage increase in each year of the contract; increases in shift differential pay; upgrades in pay for several job classifications; and additional pay for doing work outside of the employee’s job duties. Workers also receive increases in life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability payments ... more

Steelworkers Union Endorses Halter for Arkansas Governor

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The United Steelworkers (USW) today announced their support for former Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the state’s 2014 gubernatorial race.

“I am proud to announce that my Union, the United Steelworkers, is endorsing Bill Halter’s campaign to be the next Governor of Arkansas,” said USW District 13 Director Mickey Breaux. “Bill has stood up time and again for the working people of Arkansas. He was against the Wall Street bailout in large part because there was no accountability written into it. He has always maintained that our trade agreements be fair to American workers, not just free for global corporations.

“He has continuously fought for better education opportunities for all Arkansans,” Breaux said. “Our Union does not make a habit of endorsing a candidate this early - that only happens when the person earns it, and Bill has certainly done just that ... more

SOAR Chapters Building in Arkansas

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

On February 12, current District 13 SOAR Executive Board member Jack Golden held a meeting in Fort Smith, AR, with our retirees from the locals in the area to help them set up a SOAR chapter. Even though the weather was poor, 20 retirees representing Locals 370, 13-656 and 7893 attended the event.

Golden talked about the need for involvement from everyone on the issues facing us today. The retirees scheduled a meeting for February 27 to invite other interested retirees and kick off this SOAR Chapter.

United Steelworker (USW) Assistant to the Director Jim Lefton said there was a need for active and retired members to get involved in dealing with the issues our union is facing. He thanked the retirees for their hard fought struggles to protect the United Steelworkers and the benefits that all hold dear. He encouraged our current members to continue the fight so that we can leave a strong union for those coming behind us just as these retirees have done for us.

District 13 Rapid Response Coordinator Andy Frye talked about the Rapid Response program and the need to work together on legislative issues such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and how we must hold our elected officials accountable.

Arkansas State SOAR Coordinator Dan Henry echoed the need to be involved to build a strong SOAR Chapter. The members pledged to do what they can to help and a thank you was given to USW Local 7893 for hosting this meeting.

On February 13, the speakers traveled to USW Local Union 369 Union Hall in Crossett, AR to hold meetings with retirees from Locals 369 and 589. About 30 retirees received the message and then were treated by the officers of the local with grilled hamburgers and hot dogs.

President of the SOAR Chapter in Ashdown AR, Charles Henderson, made the trip let the members know he do whatever was needed to get their SOAR Chapter started. An outreach program was set up along with a future scheduled meeting. Thank you was given to local 369. Photos below were taken at this event.

Everyone is looking forward to two new SOAR Chapters in Arkansas with more to come!

Unions prepare for Mexico Days of Action

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0600

The IndustriALL Global Union is mobilizing internationally for trade union rights in Mexico during the week of February 18-24, 2013.

The date marks the terrible Pasta de Conchos mine accident in 2006 that killed 65 miners. The refusal of the Mexican government and employer Grupo Mexico to recover the bodies of 63 miners who remain entombed is widely known to be an effort to cover up the real causes of the disaster and the inadequacy of rescue efforts.

In the Mexican capital, national unions will march with international and North American trade unionists on 19 February and further actions are planned throughout the country during the week.

During the Days of Action IndustriALL affiliated trade unions, together with transport workers and others, will revisit the Mexican Ambassador to their country and push for action on:

The outstanding ILO complaint no. 2694 on Protection Contracts
Pasta de Conchos justice
Rejecting the recent regressive labour law reforms

IndustriALL Global Union appreciates and thanks our USW members for their support in this week-long event.

Click below for an information letter: In English In French In Spanish

Video: Comprehensive immigration reform might be shot in the arm organized labor needs

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0600

What would immigration reform mean for the labor movement? Ed Schultz asks Leo Gerard of the United Steelworkers if labor will help push immigration reform across the line. (The Ed Show)

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

USW Local 9059 Conducts its First Toys for Tots Drive

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

United Steelworkers (USW) Local 9059, Operating out of NRG Energy's Big Cajun II Power-Plant held it’s first Toys for Tots drive at their annual Christmas Party on December 15. Local 9059 has about 175 members and is located in New Roads, LA.

Paul Johnson Jr. (to the right of his father in the hat), is the newly appointed Rapid Response Coordinator for Local 9059 and he is promoting the Toys for Tots drive to help less fortunate children and raise awareness in the community of the good things that come from good quality union jobs.

Paul and committee members wanted send a special thank you to all who contributed this year for this wonderful cause. “Many more children will have a smile on Christmas day because of you.”

District 13 Members and Staff Support Palermo Workers

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

District 13 members and staff joined together at one of the Houston, TX area Costco stores in support of workers at the Palermo’s Pizza factory in Milwaukee, WI that have been on strike for safer working conditions, decent wages, and a voice at work since June of this year.

Rather than bargaining with workers, Palermo’s management has responded by firing more than 70 leaders of the strike. Costco is Palermo’s largest customer. Rather than taking a stand for workers’ rights and encouraging Palermo’s to resolve the dispute, Costco continues to sell Palermo’s pizza under its Kirkland brand.

With chants such as “No Justice, No Piece… of Pizza”, the activists handed out several hundred fliers educating shoppers about the workers at Palermo Pizza fight for a “Slice of Justice”. Shoppers were also encouraged to speak with Costco store management to ask them to follow their own supplier code of conduct.

Assistant to the Director, Jim Lefton said “Costco is a pro-worker company that pays fair wages with benefits and respects workers’ rights, we are just asking them to make sure their suppliers do the same”.

A special thanks to USW Locals 227 & 6000 for participating.

District 13 Council announces Council meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

The District 13 Council will hold its meeting February 28 - March 2, 2013 at the Hard Rock Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The District 13 Executive Board will meet February 28, 2012 at 2 PM with the General Session for Delegates set to begin March 1, 2013 at 9 AM.

Click Here for more information.

Women of Steel: Honoring Our Past - Protecting Our Future"

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0600

United Steelworkers International Women’s Conference

As our Union continues in its proud tradition of leading the way on major issues affecting workers around the world and in the countries where our members live and work, International President Leo W. Gerard announced the next USW International Women’s Conference, “Women of Steel: Honoring Our Past - Protecting Our Future.” This Conference will focus on skills enhancement, global solidarity and strengthening the labor movement, all of which contribute to your local union’s capacity to better serve the membership, influence politics and legislation, and strengthen the labor movement as a whole.

The 2013 USW International Women’s Conference will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown beginning at noon on Sunday, March 10 and will conclude on Wednesday, March 13.

Click Here for more information