Members of the USW 3M Council, who met in Niagara Falls, N.Y., on Oct. 8-9, continued strategizing around 3M’s announcement last January that it would freeze U.S. pension plans for nonunion employees at the end of 2028.
USW Collective Bargaining, Research and Benefits Director Chad Apaliski expects 3M will try to make changes to members’ pensions, shifting to a 401K structure instead. “Luckily, we have time,” Apaliski told the council, urging them to start planning ways to organize as a united front against the potential push. “This pension issue is unique in that it involves every one of our shops in one way or another.”
USW International Secretary-Treasurer John Shinn, who oversees bargaining in the chemical sector, urged the locals within the council to utilize USW resources to educate, communicate and build solidarity amongst their membership around the pension issue.
“We need to walk out of here understanding that we need to be united, and we need to engage our members,” said Shinn. “There is never a better time to utilize our strategies and resources at HQ in Pittsburgh to be proactive.”
Health and Safety Issues Key
Secretary-Treasurer Shinn began the conversation on health and safety by presenting statistics from the USW’s Health, Safety and Environment Department, noting that seven fatalities and 82 injuries have occurred to USW members in the chemical sector over the last 10 years. Of the injuries reported to the USW, more than half were due to exposure to toxic chemicals.
Shinn said some sites in the chemical sector lack any substantial health and safety language.
“Management says they want to talk about safety, but when it comes down to spending money, they won’t do it,” said Jay Zyduck, a council representative from USW Local 2-0666 in Wausau, Wisc.
Members of the council cited accidents like fires, loss of fingers and chemical splashes that could have been prevented with better health and safety training and stricter safety practices.
“The company is always going to blame the worker when an accident happens, and we need to hold them accountable,” said Heath Ver Bockel, USW staff in District 7 who services the 3M workers in Wausau.
Representatives from the various 3M locals shared ways their unions have improved practices around chemical safety at their sites. Each local union represented in the council had regular health and safety meetings that met quarterly or even monthly. A major point of discussion was how members at the sites have advocated for “stop work authority” so workers are empowered to stop work when conditions are unsafe.
“Your industry is dangerous,” said Shinn. “Stop work authority is important to not only us, but to the community.”
Shinn to Step Down
Shinn informed the council he’d be stepping down as secretary-treasurer at the end of this year, but will continue to work into next year as a special assistant to the president until he wraps up ongoing projects – including chairing the chemical sector – and helps train the next generation of the union’s leadership.
“I’m impressed with the council and what we’ve been able to accomplish,” said Shinn. “I take a lot of pride in the work we’ve been doing.”
The 3M Council plans to meet again under new leadership in Spring 2025. Stay tuned for announcements regarding a date and location.