Ohio AFL-CIO Welcomes Journey for Justice Roundtable Discussion

NEWS ADVISORY

Contacts: Michael Moore, BCTGM, 651-303-9865;
              Tony Montana, USW, 412-562-2592

PITTSBURGH—The United Steelworkers (USW) and Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) today said that workers from American Crystal Sugar Company (PINK:ASCS) and Cooper Tire and Rubber Company (NYSE:CTB) will conclude their 1,000-mile Journey for Justice at the Columbus office of the Ohio AFL-CIO on Monday, February 27, 2012, with a workers’ retrospective and roundtable discussion.

The Journey for Justice had originally intended to wrap with a rally at Cooper’s corporate headquarters in Findlay. However, because the USW has reached tentative agreement on a contract to end the lockout pending ratification by the members of Local 207L, plans for a rally at the plant have changed.

Workers will reflect on their six-day, six-state tour of the Midwest and discuss with AFL-CIO President Tim Burga and state leaders of other AFL-CIO affiliated unions the recent wave of corporate attacks on employees. Thousands of workers at Crystal Sugar, Caterpillar, Rio Tinto Alcan, HealthBridge and elsewhere are still locked-out as employers attempt to drive wages and benefits down.

The USW represents about 850,000 workers in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glass making to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber and other manufacturing environments to the public sector, service and health care industries, while the BCTGM represents approximately 100,000 workers in bakeries, candy, cereal, sugar, grain mills, tobacco plants, food processing and manufacturing facilities and other occupations related to these industries.

ATTN: Editors, Assignment Desks – Photo Opportunity, Interviews

Who:     Members of the USW and BCTGM who have been locked out by Cooper Tire and American
            Crystal Sugar, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga and other AFL-CIO affiliated union
            leaders and activists
What:     Roundtable Discussion and Journey for Justice Retrospective
When:    Monday, Feb., 27, 2012 – 12 noon
Where:   Ohio AFL-CIO – 395 E Broad St # 300, Columbus, OH

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