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! 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. Please submit a nomination for a Jefferson Awards at usw.org/uswcares.

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 (December 19) – The United Steelworkers (USW) union’s bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement today on a new contract covering 18,000 workers at more than a dozen facilities across the United States.

The contract is subject to ratification from the members of 26 local unions at those facilities. That process is likely to take several weeks to complete. Details of the agreement will be announced following ratification.

“This has been a difficult year and a difficult round of bargaining, but I am proud of the way the brothers and sisters of the USW stood up and demanded fair treatment,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

Bargaining between the company and the union began in June, in the midst of a crisis for American steelmakers. Illegally low-priced imports from China and elsewhere, along with a decline in oil and gas drilling brought on by low fuel prices, resulted in overcapacity across the globe. That drove prices and demand for steel down and led U.S. Steel and other companies to idle plants and lay off workers at factories around the country.

U.S. Steel’s opening proposal contained demands for major cuts in pay and benefits, along with changes to work rules and other concessions that could have cost workers and their families thousands of dollars per year. After agreeing to an extension, the two sides continued to exchange proposals well past the previous contract’s Sept. 1 expiration date.

“Our members were determined throughout this process not to be made scapegoats for the problems of unfair trade a global overcapacity,” said USW International Vice President Tom Conway, who chairs the bargaining committee.

Mike Millsap, who serves as USW District 7 director and secretary of the bargaining committee, said the union would continue to work with employers and politicians to address the problem of unfair trade.

“As we move on from a difficult round of bargaining, we look forward to building on this collaborative relationship with the company to address the problems that have led to this crisis,” Millsap said.

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, representing workers in a range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, health care, security, hotels, and municipal governments.

# # #

They tell us they have had a lot of fun decorating this tree and it generates a lot of good feeling to everyone who drops into the local.

They did want to point out a special tree topper.  It’s Wally the Union Squirrel with his Fair Contract Now sign.

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/.

# # #

United Steelworkers Local 115 Women of Steel committee in Lafayette, IN., wanted to pay tribute to some of the people who couldn’t be home for Thanksgiving. They decided on sending a load of home-made cookies to some of our troops overseas.

They started their plan on November 6 using social media and contacts in three departments to get the word out and request donations at their Alcoa plant.  Thank you notes to the soldiers were placed in break rooms for local union members to sign.

The baking items were purchased and a group of women started making the cookies. Where they were done, Gretchen and Bill Roy vacuum packed all of them to keep them fresh.

While the cookies were baking, a local “soldiers guard” group was contacted to find out where any local area soldiers were stationed. It was determined that there were a group of soldiers from the Lafayette area stationed in Kuwait.

On November 16, over 500 cookies were packaged and mailed out with the assurance that they would be received by Thanksgiving.

The WOS committee wanted to send a special thank you to all the Local 115 members for their donations and to all the bakers and Gretchen and Bill Roy who vacuum packed the cookies.

Thank you also goes out to Amy Mueller and Kim Quillen in Tube Mill, Gretchen Roy in Ingot, Denise Wagner, Brandy Moore, Megan Cornell, Larry Lewis, Connie Lynn, in Extrusion who were instrumental at making sure this project was a success.

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!

USW Committed to Reaching Fair Deal

Click here to download a PDF of this update to distribute at your facility.

(October 16) – We know many of our brothers and sisters who work at U.S. Steel are frustrated with the extremely slow pace of our negotiations. We understand and share your frustration. We also know that this slow pace, this frustration and the unpredictable state of our industry have led to uneasiness and uncertainty in our workplaces and our communities.

We can’t predict the future, so we can’t tell you what is going to happen in the economy or how U.S. Steel is going to react, but we are committed to making sure that everyone is informed as this process unfolds. We are also committed to continuing to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract. For the latest information on your local plant, please talk to your local officers and CAT coordinators.

What We Know

Our industry is in the midst of a crisis. We did not cause this crisis; rather, it is the result of unfair trade and a drop in oil and gas prices. This led to a glut of steel imports, less demand and lower prices for our products, and global overcapacity.

This has meant layoffs or threats of layoffs at a number of U.S. Steel facilities. The company earlier this year announced it would shut down the blast furnace and other operations in Fairfield, Ala., months before a new electric arc furnace comes online. While the USW is working hard to save every possible job and ensure that workers are treated with dignity and respect, this is still an extremely difficult time for many USW members and their families.

Earlier this year, U.S. Steel temporarily idled its Keetac and Minntac plants, decisions affecting hundreds of USW members and families in the Minnesota Iron Range. While some workers have been called back at Minntac, Keetac remains idle. In addition, there have been warnings of additional layoffs at our steelmaking and finishing facilities in Ecorse, Mich., and Granite City, Ill.

We Are Not Alone

Employers all across the country are attempting to take advantage of this temporary crisis to gut contracts and force our brothers and sisters to accept deep cuts. USW members who work at ArcelorMittal and Cliffs Natural Resources are also facing demands for deep concessions. In August, specialty steelmaker ATI locked 2,200 USW members out of their jobs in an attempt to force them into accepting deep cuts.  

What We Can Do

Many of these decisions are the result of unfair trade, currency manipulation and other illegal practices by our trading partners, most notably China. The U.S. needs new and better laws and stronger, more timely enforcement to protect American manufacturing. Unfortunately, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive free-trade agreement headed for a vote in Congress, looks like it would only give us more of the same. You can find out more about the TPP by in this post on the USW Blog. Soon, we will be asking all USW members to contact their Senators and Representatives to demand trade policies that benefit American workers. Stay tuned for more information from your Rapid Response coordinators about that effort.

As always, stay strong, stay in touch with your officers and CAT coordinators, and keep working safely. Our unity and solidarity have made a huge difference so far, and we are counting on all of our sisters and brothers to stand together through this process.

In Solidarity,
Your 2015 U.S. Steel Bargaining Committee

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/.   #  #  #

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 

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.

In Pittsburgh at ATI and US Steel Headquarters - Photos by Steve Dietz

In Chicago at the ArcelorMittal Headquarters - Photos by Tasos Katopodis

Solidarity for Steel at Burns Harbor - Photos by Scott Marshall

In Pittsburgh at ATI and US Steel Headquarters - Photos by Ike Gittlen

To Download a Photo from Flickr

• Go to the album you wish to download a picture from,
• Click on the picture,
• Near the bottom right of the page, click on the icon that looks like an arrow pointing down  and a pop up box will appear.
• Click on the size of photo you wish to download. The larger the number, the higher the resolution.
• Save the file to your hard drive.

Thousands Rally in Week of Solidarity

Click here to download a PDF of this flyer to distribute at your facility.

(August 22) – Thousands of USW members and allies from community and labor groups rallied for fair contracts this week outside steel plant gates and at union halls across the country. The events, which included USW members from both U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal, generated massive media coverage on television and radio as well as from news outlets including the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, the Chicago Tribune, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and other publications.

Our largest solidarity event of the week took place in Gary, Ind., where more than 2,000 people from five USW locals marched through the streets chanting, holding “Fair Contract Now” signs and waving Steelworker flags.

A Huge Show of Strength

As our bargaining committee in Pittsburgh continued to make modest progress this week toward a fair settlement with U.S. Steel, this series of events in our communities and the support they generated were a sign to the companies that we have strong support not only from our brothers and sisters and their families, but also from members of the community who know how important steel jobs are to our economy as a whole.

“We recognize that this is a difficult time for the steel industry,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “But we also recognize that for generations, these have been good, middle-class jobs that have allowed workers to care for their families and support their communities. It is important that we make sure that remains true for our generation and for those who come after us.”

Sept. 1 Coming Soon

Our goal continues to be to reach a fair contract settlement in the next 10 days. However, in the event that we do not reach a settlement by Sept. 1, we are planning another series of solidarity events for that date at U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal headquarters, in Pittsburgh and Chicago, to show these companies that we will not allow them to force us into accepting unnecessary concessions. Click here for more details and information on bus sign-ups. 

Keep Up to Date

For the latest information on bargaining and solidarity events, talk to a CAT coordinator or visit usw.org/steel.

In Solidarity,

            Your 2015 U.S. Steel Bargaining Committee

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.

# # #

The Next Generation program was developed to give new and/or younger members in the union the training, the skills and the voice to continue the work started by USW leaders that came before this generation and to ensure a sustainable future for the labor movement.

For members who wish to become a part of this group, they are asked to contact President Tom Herendeen at (260) 432-6918.

The group, which swelled to as large as 50 people at some points during the week-long protest, work primarily in setting up and tearing down trade shows and other large-scale events.

Unlike many USW locals, Local 17U, which joined the USW as a part of the 1985 merger with the Upholsterers union, has a hiring hall and functions similarly to the building trades. They have about 180 card carrying members, but when work is plentiful, their ranks swell to as many as 350.

Because their work is often on short, discreet jobs, Local 17U members rely on big events like Lollapalooza. This job, which instead went minimum wage workers brought in from outside the Chicago area, would have employed 25 members for at least several weeks, said Local Union President Anthony DeGrado.

The protest outside Lollapalooza was directed primarily at Arena Americas, the North American division of an international equipment rental agency, whose Wisconsin office was responsible for staffing the event.

“I think we got their attention,” said DeGrado. “These guys are from out of state. If they’re coming here, they need to do the right thing.”

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.”

By Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Once again producers and workers making passenger vehicle and light truck tires in America are in danger.  China has targeted the market with millions of dumped and subsidized tire imports that are killing jobs and reducing wages.  They undermine the principles of free trade and free enterprise by ignoring the rules that they promised to uphold.  It’s time for our government to say: enough is enough.

Recently we asked the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to recognize the injury that the industry and its workers have experienced, along with the injury inflicted on the communities where they work and live.  Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Department of Commerce reaffirmed its view that Chinese tire makers have been dumping and subsidizing sales into our market, with rates ranging from 30 to 169 percent.  Commerce, after a careful investigation of the facts, actually increased the preliminary amount of subsidies and dumping that they had calculated shortly after the cases were filed.  Still, China has decided to build up the size and scope of its industry and ship its unfairly-priced tires here to keep its companies producing and workers employed … more

Look below the picture to see the answers.

1. Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil, made by Local Union 155 in District 8.

2. Vanity Fair napkins, made by many Steelworker locals across the U.S. who work for Georgia-Pacific.

3. Chinet paper plates, made by many Steelworker locals across the U.S. who work for Huhtamaki.

4. Morton Salt, made by Local Union 12606 in District 11.

5. Pyrex, made by Local Union 1304 in District 4.

6. Cucto knife, made by Local Union 5429 in District 4.

7. Solo Cup, made by Local Union 2-169 in District 2.

8. Corelle plate, made by Local Union 1304 in District 4.

*Bonus points to those who also noticed the Chinet cups in the upper left corner, made by Steelworker locals across the U.S. who work for Huhtamaki.

Click here to download the application.

Responsibilities include:

• Each elected member will serve a one-year term.
• YWAC requires a significant, regular, and ongoing commitment, including monthly phone calls and an in-person meeting twice a year.
• Foster and develop young worker networks across the country at the national, state and local level.
• Assist in mentoring and leadership training for young workers and AFL-CIO Young Worker Groups.
• Advise the AFL-CIO on national young worker program development and provide guidance to the State Fed/CLC Advisory Committee on youth engagement.
• Attend and participate in YWAC meetings twice a year and monthly teleconference calls.
• Serve on subcommittees as requested by the Secretary-Treasurer, or as determined by the YWAC itself.

Nominees must be members of a nationally affiliated AFL-CIO union or Working America and meet the following basic requirements:

• Candidates should have experience in young worker outreach, programming, or activism within their union, community, or organization. (Experience will vary.)
• Candidates should have demonstrated leadership in some form.
• YWAC representatives should be 35 or under at the time of election.
• Travel costs to YWAC meetings, the AFL-CIO NextUp Summit, and the Quadrennial Convention will be covered by the elected member’s State Fed, CLC, or affiliate.

Click here for more information on how to apply and where to send your application.

PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union fully supports antidumping and countervailing duty petitions filed concurrently with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) by six U.S. steelmakers.

The petitions detail how a flood of subsidized and unfairly traded corrosion-resistant steel imports from China, India, Italy, South Korea and Taiwan has damaged the domestic industry by undercutting the prices of U.S. producers over the past three years.

USW International President Leo W. Gerard called on the Commerce Department and USITC to act swiftly and decisively in defense of American workers whose jobs are unfairly threatened as a result of the illegal tactics employed by our trade partners.

“By any metric, USW members are the most productive and efficient steelmaking workforce on the planet,” Gerard said. “We cannot allow these family supporting, community sustaining jobs to disappear because our competitors continue unfairly dumping their subsidized products on our shores.”

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.

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

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 USW International Vice President and Basic Steel Industry Conference Secretary Tom Conway.

“For decades, American workers have paid the price of failed trade policies and inconsistent enforcement of flawed trade agreements,” Conway said. “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 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/.