Pittsburgh (Dec. 23) – The United Steelworkers (USW) confirmed another preliminary determination announced late Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce (USDOC) following antidumping (AD) duty investigations for imports of corrosion-resistant steel products from China, India, Italy and Korea.

“The egregious high volume of illegal, corrosion-resistant steel dumped in the U.S. market from China was found to be so substantial that all producers in China will have a maximum duty rate that should take them out of our market,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

According to the government’s determination, the rate applied to China imports will be 255.80 percent. The remaining countries in the trade case investigation will have single-digit AD margins on corrosion-resistant imports: India (6.64-6.92 percent); Korea (2.99-3.51 percent); and Italy (0.0-3.11 percent). Taiwan received no antidumping margin whatsoever.

“We are gratified the whopping duty on China dumping will be another needed lesson for their job-stealing violations.” He added that this Commerce Dept. prelim finding is the second enforcement action in the past week against illegal imports of flat-rolled steel products that follows subsidy duties placed on cold-rolled imports from China,” Gerard said.

Other steel trade cases in the U.S. government pipeline are due for investigative outcomes on dumping for hot-rolled in January and cold-rolled in February.

“Multiple steel producing countries are taking more than one-third of our domestic market when American steelworkers should be sharing in an improved economy.” Gerard declared.

“Instead, thousands of USW-represented steelworkers and iron ore miners are currently on layoff status at American idled facilities. Tens of thousands more are threatened by the steel imports tonnage still flooding into the country – especially from China.”

The preliminary order announced late yesterday on coated steel products will result in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) being instructed to require cash deposits based on the duty rates for steel imports from China and three other countries.

Tom Conway, USW International Vice President, who is currently leading negotiations with several domestic steel companies, said: “The duty rates will also be applied retroactively by the USDOC, where ‘critical circumstance’ was found for certain exporters from China, Korea and Taiwan.”

The export violators will be required by U.S. Customs to impose provisional measures retroactively on steel flat products for up to 90 days prior to the effective date of the federal order.

Global overcapacity in steel and continued abuse of the system by foreign companies and their governments requires a major overhaul of U.S. trade policy and enforcement, said Conway.

“For decades, American workers have paid the price of failed trade policies and inconsistent enforcement of flawed trade agreements,” he added. “Congress and the administration need to take responsibility for changing the system that has cost more than a million manufacturing jobs and shuttered thousands of factories, mainly in industries that employ USW members.”

The USW represents some 35,000 workers who produce corrosion-resistant steel at facilities owned by U.S. Steel, ArcelorMittal and AK Steel, which are among the petitioners seeking relief. The U.S. trade case was filed in June.

Impacted U.S. Steel facilities include operations in Clairton, Pa., Fairfield, Ala., and Gary, Ind. ArcelorMittal production incudes operations in Cleveland, Ohio, East Chicago, Ind., and Weirton, W Va., while affected AK Steel plants include operations in Ashland, Ky. and Mansfield, Ohio.

Final determination orders for corrosion-resistant steel are due next May by the USDOC and in June from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC). Corrosion-resistant steel products are typically used in the manufacture of trucks, automobiles, appliances, agricultural equipment and industrial equipment.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

# # #

(PITTSBURGH) – The United Steelworkers (USW) today applauded the successful efforts of USW Local 689 to incorporate language in the omnibus funding measure passed by Congress to maintain decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activities at the Department of Energy (DOE) former uranium enrichment site in Piketon, Ohio.

Since the plant ceased enriching uranium in 2001, more than 800 men and women of USW Local 689 have been performing the needed cleanup of this nuclear legacy so the site can be reindustrialized and used for economic development.

"Our union worked with the Ohio delegation and the administration to avoid layoffs at the Piketon site in the fall through a temporary solution included in the continuing resolution Congress passed in September,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.  “I applaud Local Union 689 for their tireless work on this spending package to prevent the loss of over 500 USW jobs at Piketon.”  

"This was a significant effort for Local 689," said USW International Vice President Carol Landry. "Had this funding not been secured, our members at Piketon would have faced the devastation of pending layoffs a week before Christmas."

"The leadership shown by Local 689 and its president Herman Potter during this effort should be commended," said USW District 1 Director Dave McCall. "This facility is located in a county in Ohio with the state's second highest unemployment rate. This funding prevents the loss of hundreds of highly skilled, family-supporting jobs."

"We are very happy with this outcome," said USW Local 689 President Herman Potter. "However, we will continue to call on Congress and the administration to provide the stable, long-term funding needed to ensure safe operations and continued progress toward the future reindustrialization of the site."

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.  For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

#  #  #

United Steelworkers Local 1123 Women of Steel Committee organized a collection drive for our brothers and sisters on indefinite lay-off from their local. The donation pick-up event was held at Local Golden Lodge in Canton, OH., on Dec 12. Pizza was served to all that attended. Below is a list of relief drive items that were collected.

* 745 lbs. of Canned Goods
* 850 Dry/Boxed Goods
* 272 Personal Care Products
* 374 Paper Goods (Toilet Paper, Tissues, Paper Towels)
* 66 Gift Cards valued at $25
* 33 Holiday Craft Items   (Made by Carrie Holland)

The remaining items, after the event, were donated to USW Local 1046 whose members have locked out from Allegheny Technologies in Louisville, OH., since August 15, 2015.

Congratulations for a successful event and thank you goes out to holiday helpers:  Katrina Fitzgerald, Trish Hostetler, Carrie Holland, Lisa Talbott, Penny Shearer, Carol Maney, Elsie Fox, Cathy Mottice, Karen Bezon, Natalie Stock, Sheryl Kennedy, Bob Harper, Scott DeArment, Adam Holland, Shawn Lindner, Alana Gustafson, Apryl Leigh, Mike Kemp, Keith Strobelt, Curtis Green, Jeff Spurrier, Joey Shearer and Andy Schneider.

This project is just one of so many that the USW's amazing members do every day to give back to our communities. If you or your local is doing good things, we want to hear about it! Please submit a nomination for a Jefferson Awards at usw.org/uswcares. Click Here to share articles, videos and photos with us and don’t forget to use the #USWCares hashtag and give a shoutout to @Steelworkers when you post your stories on social media.

To view photos on a mobile device, Click Here.

Contacts: Wayne Ranick: (412) 562-2444, wranick@usw.org
              Gary Hubbard: (202) 256-8125, ghubbard@usw.org

Pittsburgh (Dec. 10) – The International Executive Board of the United Steelworkers (USW) today adopted a formal resolution urging rejection of the proposed 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal by both the U.S. Congress and the Canadian federal government.

USW President Leo W. Gerard said the resolution is intended for wide distribution to the union membership in both the U.S. and Canada, setting forth the basis of a fully-engaged TPP rejection campaign in each country. 

“The USW is the largest industrial union in North America representing 1.2 million active and retired members who would all be impacted by TPP,” Gerard said. “These workers with family-supportive jobs are employed in virtually every tradable sector: mining, metals, glass, rubber, paper and forestry, automotive and aerospace products.”

Upon release of the USW policy statement, he said it exposes the TPP as bad trade policy with no real enforcement, misplaced priorities and that working families had already suffered far too long from previous free trade deals.

The USW resolution highlighted the union had an earnest expectation workers’ needs in any trade deal would be met. “When negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership began, our union engaged with the negotiators and policymakers with the hope of forging a new approach.”

The statement said the USW sought a trade agreement for the U.S. and Canada “that would lift wages up, rather than pushing them down, one that would reduce our nations’ accumulated trade deficits that continue to mount, one that would promote domestic manufacturing and employment rather than more outsourcing and offshoring, one that would begin to reverse the widening gap of income inequality.”

Citing in detail issues ignored that hurt American and Canadian workers, the USW resolution found the TPP didn’t address currency manipulation, accepted overcapacity in global manufacturing, had insufficient rules for State-Owned Enterprises, provided weak rules of origin for autos and auto parts, plus showed a failure to ensure worker rights standards are implemented.

“The TPP fails to meet the promise that it would be a high-standards, 21^st Century trade agreement in the area of workers’ rights, representing not only a missed opportunity, but also limiting the ability of workers to share in the very prosperity that they will be working so hard to create for multinational firms through their labor.”  

It added, “TPP countries would be required to adopt and maintain laws to provide for a minimum wage, but that wage may be only pennies an hour to be acceptable under the TPP.”

Saying the USW provided comprehensive proposals during the TPP negotiations about how to improve the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of U.S. trade laws, the resolution declared: “The negotiators agreed to TPP trade rules that are far from sufficient, leaving the USW with little confidence that even those rules will be enforced.”

The resolution concluded:

“The TPP will only continue the failed trade policies of the past that have valued corporate profits, wherever obtained, over the interests of job and opportunity creation here at home. The USW will put every effort into defeating the TPP.”

The USW International Executive Board resolution rejecting the TPP can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

A detailed report by the statutorily-created U.S. Labor Advisory Committee (LAC) on the TPP that Gerard served on was also publicly released Dec. 4 by the 19-named representatives of working Americans. Among the LAC signatories were: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, UAW President Dennis Williams, Machinists President R. Thomas Buffenbarger and James Hoffa, General President of the Teamsters.

The TPP countries are: United States, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

An op-ed by Gerard, Hoffa and Williams critical of the TPP following release of the LAC report was published in the Huffington Post as: It's Time to Take a Stand for Workers on TPP.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.  For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

# # #

Local 1123 President Bob Harper said, “The local union and the Veterans Council each donated $300 and, with an additional $128 in donations, we purchased and packaged the meals. Local grocer Fisher Foods sold the food items to the group at a discounted rate.”

Twenty-five meals were distributed from the Golden Lodge Union Hall in Canton and an additional 15 meals were available at the SAM center in Massillon. Recipients also received a $25 gift card.

Melissa Seibert, executive director of SAM said “All of our clients are so grateful. These individuals were selected from our existing database. We are getting hugs. We have people crying.”

“It was just an idea to bless the veterans in our community,” said Bryan Bowman, president of the recently formed Serving Area Military and Veterans (SAM) organization. “We are just thanking them for their service.”

This project is just one of so many USW's amazing members do every day to give back to our communities. If you or your local are doing good things in your community, we want to hear about them. Click Here to share video and photos with us and don’t forget to use the #USWCares hashtag when you post your stories on social media. If you or your local is doing this kind of work, please submit a nomination for a Jefferson Awards at usw.org/uswcares. Don't forget to shout out @Steelworkers!

Below from left; Scott Jacob (USW), Ty Foster (USW), Curtis Green (USW), Melissa Seibert (SAM), Scott Mathie (USW), Cheryl Hanlon (Fishers Foods), Bob Harper (USW), Bryan Bowman (SAM) and John Lamielle (Fishers Foods).

On Sunday, November 22, Women of Steel (WOS) members from United Steelworkers Local 1123 volunteered their time to serve food to the less fortunate in the community at the Salvation Army in Canton, OH.  We were joined by Sue Snyder and Theresa Ali-Ai from USW Local 9187, also located in Canton. 

Our decision to volunteer for this project was based on the wonderful services the Salvation Army provided to one of our WOS sisters who benefitted greatly during tough times. We decided to lend a hand during the holiday season and extend our gratitude to them for playing an instrumental part in our sister’s childhood and the lives of many others within our community. 

This experience was very humbling and heartbreaking at the same time.  It reminded us that, throughout our lives we face our own struggles and hardships but there are so many others that face much greater daily challenges than we can ever fathom. 

Click Here to view photos on mobile devices.

It was very challenging for most of us to embrace the struggles that many of the guests were facing alone, with their families, or with random street companions. 

It was unsettling to talk to war veterans, to listen to their sacrifices to protect us and then to hear about the hardships and issues they face now. 

It was very profound to watch a mother share part of her meal with her daughters so that they could have just a little more to get through to the next meal. 

There were so many moments of sharing and contributing that humbled each one of us. 

We may have helped them by serving warm meals to fill their bellies, but it was all of them that warmed our hearts and taught us to be thankful for what we often take for granted each and every day.

Those that volunteered; Trish Hostetler, Katrina Fitzgerald, Carrie Holland, Lisa Talbott, Carol Maney, Karen Bezon, Elsie Fox, and Cathy Mottice.  

This project is just one of so many USW's amazing members do every day to give back to our communities. If you or your local are doing good things in your community, we want to hear about them. Click Here to share video and photos with us and don’t forget to use the #USWCares hashtag when you post your stories on social media. If you or your local is doing this kind of work, please submit a nomination for a Jefferson Awards at usw.org/uswcares. Don't forget to shout out @Steelworkers!

This year members of USW Locals 1046 and 2324-05 have been locked out by their plants for 4-8 months and it’s anticipated there will be approximately eighty (80) school age children.

This unique program was started over 10 years ago and has always been a success thanks to the generosity of District 1 Locals.

Click Here for a copy of the Request Letter

Click Here for the Holiday Presents For A Child Project form

(Pittsburgh) – Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (ATI) conducted its third quarter earnings conference call with its investors and analysts on Oct. 20. ATI unlawfully locked out 2,200 skilled and dedicated employees represented by the USW on August 15. Even though it concedes that it lost $145 million in the third quarter, ATI claimed that during the illegal lockout, while its mills are being operated by salaried and temporary workers, “these facilities are meeting and in many cases exceeding output, quality, and safety expectations.” These comments seem inconsistent with production levels we are witnessing at the facilities.

“ATI is trying to paint a rosy picture,” said USW Vice President Tom Conway, “but all indications suggest a company that is limping along without its skilled work force. The earnings report is again bleak, and reports from the picket line suggest that the ‘expectations’ the facilities are meeting must have been low for the company to be exceeding them. If the company wants to again return to profitability, it must abandon this ill-advised lockout, so its dedicated workers can return to their jobs and provide the needed expertise.”

Picketers see reduced output

Significantly, ATI has not disclosed detailed production data since the beginning of the illegal lockout.  Picketers at each location who are monitoring the facilities 24-hours a day are reporting shipments of finished products leaving the facilities at a fraction of normal levels. These observations suggest that the company may be filling customer orders with metal stockpiled before the August 15 start of the lockout. It is unclear how long those reserves will last.

As for its quality management system, ATI locked out its skilled workers who are familiar with the facilities, replacing them with temporary replacement workers. Ambulances have been sighted numerous times at the locked out facilities including those in Brackenridge and Midland Pa., Louisville, Ohio, and New Bedford, Mass.

A chemical spill at the company’s facility in Vandergrift, Pa., also prompted an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

ATI rebuffs money-saving offer

ATI reported a net loss of $145 million for the third quarter and $16.4 million for the second quarter. The USW understands that the market is challenging. The union put forward proposals that would save ATI significant sums over the term of the contract and offered to stay on the job while negotiations continued. Instead of continuing to negotiate, ATI’s management team has consistently rebuffed the offer.

ATI has reportedly dedicated tens of millions of dollars to contingency plans related to the illegal lockout and is offering inexperienced replacement workers as much as $150,000 per year—well beyond what ATI pays USW members.

Furthermore, if the union’s unfair labor practice charges are upheld, and the lockout is found to be unlawful, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) could order ATI to compensate 2,200 workers for the time they were locked out of their jobs. 

It is time for the company to stop compounding losses, end the lockout and bargain a fair contract.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors, including 2,200 members at 12 ATI locations. For more information: www.usw.org and www.usw.org/act/campaigns/ati-bargaining.

Ed speaks with laid off workers who are feeling the effects in their pocketbooks. He is also joined by State Rep. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain, and John Nichols from the Nation to discuss what can be done to correct this issue.

American refinery jobs and our country’s security is at risk if the House of Representatives votes to lift the Crude Oil Export Ban on Friday. Call your Representative right now and tell them to put working people before corporate profit and keep the Crude Oil Export Ban.

Contact:  Gary Hubbard, 202-256-8125, ghubbard@usw.org

Pittsburgh (Oct. 5) – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), issued the following statement as negotiations on the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)are coming to closure.

“Since negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) started, the cleared advisors of the United Steelworkers (USW) have devoted substantial resources and time to working with the trade negotiators responsible for developing and advancing U.S. interests in the trade talks.  

“Because the USW is the largest industrial union in North America, we see the real-life effects of trade policy every day.  That is why we are paying close attention to the provisions that have the potential to harm the majority of our membership. 

“From what we know, the draft TPP threatens the future of production and employment.   It compromises the so-called 21^st century standards that were supposed to form the foundation for this agreement. It will deal a critical blow to workers and their standard of living in the United States. 

“Although the final text has not been made available and will contain some new bells and whistles; from what we have seen and know, at its core the hastily concluded TPP deal will simply continue today’s outdated, disastrous approach to trade.

“This TPP deal shouldn’t even be submitted to Congress and, if it is, it should be quickly rejected.

“You only have to look at the consistently dismal job numbers in manufacturing to understand what every manufacturing worker already knows. We have been on the losing end of trade deals. 

“Once again, it appears that misguided foreign policy and global corporate interests have trumped sound economics and the opportunity to get things right.  Our negotiators are trying to beat the clock to close a deal so they can rush it through Congress before next year’s elections. 

“TPP is sold as a way for the United States to write the rules of trade before China does.   In many areas, the agreement fails this objective and the language on rules of origin will put a smile on the faces of China’s leaders.   China didn’t get to write the rules in their favor because our American negotiators did it for them. 

“The rule of origin on autos governs how much of a vehicle’s content must be produced by the twelve TPP countries to get the preferential treatment the TPP will provide.   In this quickly concluded deal on rules of origin, Chinese-produced auto parts could account for more than a majority of a car’s parts and still get sweetheart treatment.  While China is not as yet a party to the twelve-nation TPP, the TPP is designed so that other countries can join.

“In many other areas critical to workers, U.S. negotiators refused to take the advice that was provided to them time and time again by the representatives of working people.   But while supporters tout the deal, those promises will fall on deaf ears.   Workers across this country have had to fight to get our trade rules enforced in the face of inadequate enforcement and constant cheating by our trading partners.  

“Even the best rules, which were not included in TPP, if unenforced, are essentially worthless.  How trade rules are implemented, how we monitor imports, obtain market access for our exports and how we enforce our rules are all critical to any deal’s success.

“So far, there has been no progress or willingness of the Administration to even discuss specific steps that could be taken.

“TPP may be the final blow to manufacturing in America.  Our producers and workers are under siege from other nations’ massive overproduction, foreign currency devaluation, our own lack of long-term infrastructure investment and the strong dollar. 

“Therefore, trade policy is not the only issue that determines what the economic prospects will be for working people. But, trade is the critical link to the world economy and global pressures are being felt in virtually every occupation and in every workplace.” 

# # #

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.  For more information: http://www.usw.org/.   #  #  #

On September 20, United Steelworker members from Local 1123 in Canton, OH united with locked out brothers and sisters from Local 1046 in Louisville, OH.  We were joined by many friends and family from locals in Akron and Wooster, OH.

Some of notable people in attendance included Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga; Hall of Fame Labor Council President  Dan Sciury;  Sarah Lowry representing for Ohio Senator, Sherrod Brown;  Sub District 2 Representatives Dennis Brommer and Joe Sterling; District 5 Representatives David Mclean, Ramona Arnold, Ron Wardrup, USW Local 1123 WOS Coordinator Teresa Hartley.

Participants handed out informational flyers, over 100 pounds of candy and almost 3,000 American flags that were donated by the Veterans Council of Stark County.  The decorations seen on the Local 1123 parade truck were handmade by Carrie Holland. Pictures were provided by Karen Clapper.

Mobile users can view the photos here.

Lynne Hancock, USW Communications, (o) 412-562-2442; (c) 615-828-6169; lhancock@usw.org
Roy Houseman, USW Legislative office, (o) 202-778-3312; (c) 202-288-3573; rhouseman@usw.org

Pittsburgh—The United Steelworkers Union (USW) joins the majority of Americans who do not want Congress to lift the crude oil export ban and jeopardize America’s energy security, affordable gasoline prices and booming refining sector.

“In 1975 Congress passed the crude oil export ban because America’s dependence on the Mideast for crude oil allowed Saudi Arabia to hold oil supplies hostage in retaliation for the United States’ support of Israel in the 1973 Arab-Israeli war,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

“Members of Congress want to place our country in that precarious position again by lifting the crude oil export ban. Exporting crude makes no sense when our country is not energy self-sufficient, importing 44 percent of the crude that is refined in the United States.

“As Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz stated in a House Energy and Power Subcommittee hearing, for every barrel of oil the U.S. would export, an additional barrel would have to be imported.

“Does Congress want the United States to be dependent on Mideast oil producers who have the power to deny oil supplies based on political whims?”

OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) strongly controls world oil prices by oversupplying or withdrawing oil supplies from the market. As a result of the crude oil export ban, U.S. refineries have access to domestic crude, which is cheaper than oil sourced overseas. This caused a loss of market share for OPEC nations like Saudi Arabia, which flooded the world market with oil in an attempt to lower oil prices and make it unprofitable for U.S. producers to drill for oil.

The oversupply of crude in the world market impacted the international, or Brent, crude oil price, and it is this price that determines the price of oil products like gasoline. U.S. consumers are enjoying the lowest price gasoline in years because of the crude oil export ban. If this ban is lifted, U.S. crude oil prices would be subject to the market actions of OPEC nations and world political, economic and weather events that cause the price of crude to soar and gasoline prices to rise.

Job loss in the U.S. refining sector and all the jobs dependent on it would result from the lifting of the crude oil export ban. The ban has allowed U.S. refineries to compete against foreign competitors with lower labor, environmental and safety standards. Lift the ban and the cost of crude oil rises for U.S. refineries, thrusting them into direct competition with refineries in China and India. The end result is the shutdown of refineries and loss of U.S. jobs.

“Our refineries in Philadelphia and Trainer, Pa., almost shut down in 2011 because they could not afford the oil sourced overseas and compete with oil product imports from foreign refineries that did not have to adhere to environmental standards, safety regulations and family-supporting wages and benefits,” said USW International Vice President Gary Beevers.

“The USW, along with business leaders and elected officials, saved those refineries because of the U.S. crude oil export ban. U.S. oil production grew, and these refineries could source this low-cost supply and compete internationally. As a result, over 36,000 direct and indirect jobs and $566 million in tax revenue were saved,” Beevers added.

The majority of Americans want U.S. crude oil to be used for U.S. refineries and not exported overseas. A Hart Research public opinion poll in December of 2014 revealed that a vast majority (82 percent) of voters, regardless of political affiliation, oppose allowing oil and gas companies to export more U.S. oil and gas to foreign nations. This result is bolstered by other polls.

“These polls also revealed that voters are unlikely to support representatives and senators for re-election if they lift the U.S. crude oil export ban,” Gerard said.

To date, more than 100,000 letters have been sent to Congress, urging representatives and senators to not lift the ban.

“The people have spoken, and now it is time for Congress to listen to their constituents,” Gerard said.

The USW is the largest private-sector union in North America, representing 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, energy, chemicals, transportation, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments.

1. Gasoline prices will go up for Americans if the export ban is lifted.
   Lifting the crude oil export ban will raise crude prices to the global level, as a recent study found U.S. gasoline has been substantially discounted because of domestic crude oil being kept in America.
   
   

   via GIPHY 
   *http://crudecoalition.org/further-proof-exports-will-raise-prices-on-americans/  

2. Oil prices are significantly controlled by an international cartel called Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
   OPEC has used crude as an economic weapon. They started the oil embargo causing lines at gas stations in the 1970’s and when OPEC chose to maintain production levels of crude oil, prices fell by 60%. Lifting the crude oil export ban will put OPEC in the driver’s seat for U.S. oil security.

   via GIPHY
   *http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/330.htm 

3. The oil export ban is fostering U.S. investment in domestic manufacturing.
   Recent articles highlight that the U.S. chemical industry is investing $15 billion in new manufacturing facilities. Lifting the crude oil export ban threatens those jobs as companies search for low cost labor and environmental standards.
   
   

   via GIPHY 
   *http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-30/how-cheap-oil-is-fueling-a-surge-in-new-factories 

4. U.S. refinery jobs will be in jeopardy if the export ban is lifted.
   Refinery jobs with good union benefits would be sent overseas as crude oil goes to China and other countries where refineries don’t have the same pollution controls ours do.

   
   via GIPHY
   *http://www.usw.org/members/forms/crude-oil-export-ban

5. The U.S. will be more reliant of foreign crude oil.
   The U.S. is still not self-sufficient in oil production. Every barrel of oil we send overseas will mean another barrel of oil being brought in from overseas.
   
   

   via GIPHY
   *https://alliedprogress.org/research/fact-sheet-we-cant-afford-to-repeal-the-crude-oil-export-ban/ 

6. The fatality and injury rate in the US oil and gas industry is already unacceptably high – lifting the export ban will put more workers at risk unless safety regulations are improved.
   Between 2003 and 2013 almost 1,200 workers were killed on the job. Data is limited but during the past five years reported fatality rates in oil and gas extraction are five to seven times the national fatality rate.

   
   

   via GIPHY 
   *http://www.aflcio.org/Issues/Job-Safety/Death-on-the-Job-Report  

7. Lifting the crude oil export ban will increase carbon pollution and have an effect on climate change.
   Lifting the ban will result in more than 515 million metric tons of carbon pollution per year. That is the equivalent annual emissions of 108 million passenger cars.
   
   

   via GIPHY
   *https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2015/08/21/119756/the-environmental-impacts-of-exporting-more-american-crude-oil/ 

8. The companies that stand to benefit the most from lifting the crude oil export ban are large integrated oil companies who are already the most profitable in the world.
   Should we really give a break to companies whose total revenue in 2014 was $421.1 billion (Shell), $192.3 billion (Chevron) and $369.4 billion (Exxon)?
   
   

   via GIPHY 
   *http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/04/22/10-most-profitable-companies-in-oil.aspx  

9. The oil and gas extraction industry often buys cheap foreign made steel.
   When oil prices where highest the U.S. steel industry had to file a trade case on the steel pipe that goes into fracking wells because of dumped illegal imports.
   
   

   via GIPHY
   *http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/22/us-usa-trade-steel-idUSKBN0GM1HD20140822 

10. Lifting the crude oil export ban will put another 4,500 railcars per day on our already congested freight rail system.
    Farmers and manufacturers who rely on our national freight rail network will be left in the cold. For example, rail congestion cost North Dakota farmers more than $160 million last year.
    
    

    via GIPHY
    *http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/14/us-usa-farms-railroads-analysis-idUSBREA4D0QE20140514 

Free refreshments were served in the hall with information tables set up for Women of Steel, Rapid Response, Blue Green Coalition, Health/Safety and Grievance committees.  Raffle tickets were sold for handmade prizes that included WOS and USW art boards painted by Carrie Holland; WOS and USW cornhole boards and giant outdoor Jenga made by Katrina Fitzgerald; and beanbags made by Karen Clapper.

Outside the hall, a stage was set and prepared with handmade stage decorations made by Carrie Holland.

Enormous labor support was received from the area politicians and labor leaders. They included:

• Northeast Ohio Rep for Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown Sarah Lowry
• Canton Ohio Mayor William J. Healy
• District 1 Sub District 2 Representative Dennis Brommer
• USW President Local 1123 Bob Harper
• USW Vice President Local 1046 Mike Baumgardner
• President of Central Hall of Fame Labor Council Daniel Sciury
• Councilman at Large Tom Harmon
• Ward 5 Councilman Kevin Fisher
• Ward 7 Councilman John Mariol
• USW Local 1123 Women of Steel Co-Chair Katrina Fitzgerald
• USW Local 1123 Rapid Response Chair Keith Strobelt

For entertainment, a "Soak Station" which was constructed in a week by Shawn Lindner, Katrina Fitzgerald, Adam Holland and EJ Clapper, received much of the attention as seen in the photos below.

Pictures from AdMark Solutions & Consulting LLC

To view photos on mobile devices, CLICK HERE.

One of CLUWs “Spread the Word” campaign partners, HealthyWomen, will work with CLUW to compile the aggregate survey results and implement an action plan, which will be presented at the CLUW Convention in November.

The short survey (which is going out via “Survey Monkey”) is called Getting to Know You and Your Health Needs: Audience Survey for Women.  You can access it here.

As an incentive to fill out the survey, HealthyWomen will be holding a drawing for a $100 gift card that every woman completing the survey can enter to win.

“This is a struggle for fairness and justice at ATI, U.S. Steel, ArcelorMittal – all of us together,” said District 1 Director Dave McCall. “This is a fight, not just about our actives [active members], a fight not just about our retirees but it is a fight about something else – it’s about our future.”

Over 2,000 activists, retirees, their families, friends and supporters showed up for a two-hour rally in Pittsburgh, where the speeches began at the United Steelworkers headquarters on the Boulevard of the Allies, and continued after marches to the Downtown headquarters of ATI and U.S. Steel.

November 5-6 in Columbus, OH

November 9-10 in North Canton, OH

November 11-12 in Cleveland, OH

November 16-17 in Toledo, OH

For more information and registration forms, CLICK HERE

During the parade, members handed out over 50 pounds of candy and 200 American flags courtesy of the veterans group in Canton, Ohio.

The 1123 hard hat was given a special fiberglass coating by Carrie Holland due to rain damage from a previous parade in July. The members chose the motto “Together Everyone Achieves More” or TEAM because they thought it was a great way to support football and to connect our union with the community.

Those in the parade were, Shawn Lindner, Katrina Fitzgerald, Carol Maney, Carrie Holland, Adam Holland Sr, President Bob Harper and Jeff Spurrier.

Pictures are courtesy of AdMark Solutions & Consulting LLC

IMPOSES PRELIMINARY TARIFFS TO RESTORE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) commended the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) for its preliminary dumping duty determinations against certain uncoated paper imports from China, Brazil, Portugal, Australia and Indonesia.

If confirmed by the process, tariffs will be imposed on imports of certain uncoated paper to offset the impact of the unfair advantage caused by the dumped products. The determination placed dumping margins on uncoated paper ranging to 193.30 percent. For Australia the rate is 40.65 percent; for Brazil, 33.09 percent to 42.42 percent; for China, 97.48 percent to 193.30 percent; for Indonesia, 0 percent to 51.75 percent; and for Portugal, 29.53 percent.

“The dumping margins will help offset unfair and predatory trade practices facing the industry,” said United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard. “Time after time, our competitors have targeted this sector and dumped and subsidized sales into our market. Since 2011, eight mills that manufacture this product have shut down as a result of dumped and subsidized imports. Some 2,500 jobs were lost. This has devastated working families and their communities.

“While these trade cases are vital to helping level the playing field, we also need new trade policies, actively enforced by the government, that do not require injury before relief is provided. Workers are sick and tired of Washington sitting on its hands while China and other countries cheat and target our market.”

As a result of the DOC’s actions, importers of the covered uncoated paper from the subject countries will be required to immediately post a bond or deposit cash in an amount equal to the announced margins pending final resolution of the cases later this year.

“Every exporter from every country will now be facing cash deposit requirements of about 30 percent to over 300 percent so we should see substantial relief in the market,” said USW International Vice President Jon Geenen.

The petitions cover all uncoated paper in sheets, including cut-size and folio, weighing between 40 and 150 gsm, and having a GE brightness level of 85 or higher.

The decision was a result of unfair trade cases filed by the USW and four companies on January 21, 2015 with the (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission. They alleged that certain uncoated paper from the five countries had been dumped into the United States, resulting in injury to the domestic industry and its employees. The petitions also alleged that China and Indonesia subsidized the sale of these products and should be subject to countervailing duties. The four manufacturers are Domtar Corporation, Finch Paper, LLC, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) and P.H. Glatfelter Company.

The decision by the DOC supports the allegations in the petitions that claim that imports from these five countries were dumped. Dumping occurs when a foreign producer sells into the U.S. market for less than the price that a producer charges in its home market or when its U.S. prices are below the cost to make the product.

Today’s decision follows the Commerce Department’s determination on June 22, 2015 that Chinese and Indonesian coated paper producers benefitted from a variety of subsidies and the International Trade Commission’s earlier preliminary decision finding that the domestic industry had been materially injured by imports of the subject paper. Those two countries were the only ones where subsidies were alleged. Commerce found then that China is subsidizing their producers by 5.82 to 126.42 percent, and Indonesia is doing the same, at levels ranging from 43.19 to 131.12 percent.

“Our trade laws are designed to restore fair market conditions,” said Geenen. “China and other countries have been dumping products into our market to steal our jobs. We won’t tolerate unfair foreign trade practices that hurt our families and the businesses in our communities. We will never let up the fight for our members’ jobs. Today’s decisions validate our charges and ensure that our members, who work hard and play by the rules, will continue to earn a decent living.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.

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The crowd included workers at ATI from locals in Leechburg, Brackenridge, Washington, Midland and Latrobe, Pa. A number of Boilermakers, Iron Workers, Healthcare Workers and Public Sector Workers were standing in solidarity with their brothers and sisters at ATI as well.

Prior to the march to ATI headquarters, USW locals and officers gathered in the courtyard outside USW headquarters, where the crowd heard from a number of speakers, including USW International Vice President Thomas Conway.

“If this company wants to fight, we’re going to show them an old school labor fight,” Conway said to the crowd, which was cheering and holding various signs showing solidarity. “If you’re going to pick a fight with a union, [USW is] the last union you should pick a fight with because we know how to do this.”

For the Steelworkers at ATI, a fair contract is more than just fairness for the employees themselves, but for their families. ATI has proposed a contract that hikes up the premiums of the workers’ insurance, causing potential financial burden, especially for families with children or any individuals who have been diagnosed with illness, disease or disorder.

“I’m not going to be intimidated,” Karl Brendle, member of Local 1138 announced to his brothers and sisters. “It is time that ATI chooses workers and families over corporate greed.”

Hundreds of Steelworkers then took to the streets, marching to ATI Headquarters in PPG Place. On the march along Boulevard of the Allies, a number of supporters were taking pictures and cheering in solidarity. Several local news stations and newspaper reporters were covering the rally, where chants of “What do we want? A fair contract! When do we want it? Now!,” “Stand up! Fight back!,” and “We are ONE!” were shouted by the Steelworkers.

The Steelworkers even saw solidarity from a bus driver who was waiting for the crowd to pass at the intersection of Boulevard of the Allies and Stanwix Street, as she honked several times and waved from the driver’s seat.

Louis A. Bonnoni, President of Local 1138 – 3 & 4 took an unpaid day off to support the Steelworkers battling for a fair contract with ATI, even though he works for Akers National Roll Company in Avonmore, Pa.

“This [rally] means the world to me. Unions help people have fairer jobs, support and healthcare,” Bonnoni said. “USW has taught me to grow in solidarity and support other unions.”

On July 26, USW Local 1123 added a Steelworker presence to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Community Parade in Canton, OH. The Sunday parade was the first event of the two-week Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival.

Members made most of the decorations to offset their costs. A store in Louisville, OH, Beatty's Sport Store, donated two football helmets and two shoulder pads which members painted in the USW colors and added USW logos.

The uniforms were printed with “United” on the front and “Steelworker” on the back.  The player’s jerseys were numbered 11 for the quarterback and 23 for the receiver to represent our Local 1123. 

Those that helped and are seen in the photos are:  Katrina Fitzgerald. Carrie Holland, Lisa Talbott, Shawn Lindner, Adam Holland Sr.

The Community Parade began 1980 with the growth of the Grand Parade — set this year for Aug. 8, the morning of the enshrinement.

On July 19, the United Steelworkers Women of Steel from Golden Lodge, Local 1123 in Canton, OH conducted their 1^st Annual Car Wash Fundraiser for Domestic Violence Project.

Domestic Violence Project, Inc., a private, non-profit organization established in 1978, provides safe shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, prevention and educational services for victims, their children and the community. To find out more about this project, Click Here.

Union members donated use of their personal hoses, buckets, towels, and etc. to reduce the event’s expenses. AdMark Solutions & Consulting LLC donated professional/creative guidance and photography. Union brothers and sisters and their families volunteered their time, efforts and energy to conduct the fundraiser.

Committee Members included: Co-chair Katrina Fitzgerald, Co-chair Trish Hostetler, Carrie Holland, Penny Shearer, Lisa Talbott, Carol Maney and Arnett Simmons

Local 1123 Women of Steel did a great job and they even had some help from District 1 Director Dave McCall who stopped by to visit.

This project is just one of so many USW's amazing members do every day to give back to our communities. If you or your local are doing good things in your community, we want to hear about them. Let us know and share video and photos at www.usw.org/uswcares and use the #USWCares hashtag when you post your stories on social media. Don't forget to shout out @Steelworkers!