Steelworkers president, in visit, calls for getting tough on trade

By Matt Glynn, The Buffalo News

Leo W. Gerard has served as president of the United Steelworkers since 2001, guiding the Pittsburgh-based union amid relentless pressure on U.S. manufacturing jobs.

Gerard, who grew up in Sudbury, Ont., is the featured speaker at tonight’s annual awards dinner of the Western New York Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, in Lancaster. About 500 people are expected to attend.

The steelworkers union represents about 850,000 people in North America in a variety of industries. Among the local plants with members are DuPont, Goodyear Dunlop, Republic Steel and Aurubis (formerly American Brass). The union’s District 4, which covers nine states and Puerto Rico, is based in Cheektowaga … more