SPRING CITY LIGHTS THE WAY 4 STRIKE AT ASARCO 8 NEW CONTRACTS AT BFGOODRICH AND ALCOA 14, 19 WOMEN ON THE RISE 22
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SPRING CITY LIGHTS THE WAY 4 STRIKE AT ASARCO 8 NEW CONTRACTS AT BFGOODRICH AND ALCOA 14, 19 WOMEN ON THE RISE 22
“I’M HONORED THAT HCL WORKERS CHOSE TO JOIN OUR UNION AND OUR FIGHT ON BEHALF OF ALL WORKING
PEOPLE. THEY DESERVE TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. TOGETHER, WE’LL MAKE SURE THEY ARE.”
INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT THOMAS M. CONWAY, SEPT 25, 2019, ON THE DECISION BY
PITTSBURGH TECHNOLOGY WORKERS AT GOOGLE CONTRACTOR HCL TO JOIN THE USW
CURRENT
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
THOMAS M. CONWAY
International President
JOHN SHINN
Int’l. Secretary-Treasurer
DAVID R. McCALL
Int’l. Vice President
(Administration)
FRED REDMOND
Int’l. Vice President
(Human affairs)
KEN NEUMANN
Nat’l. Dir. for Canada
LEEANN FOSTER
Int’l. Vice President
UNION LIGHTING ALCOA CONTRACT HEALTH AND SAFETY
ROXANNE BROWN
Local 132 members at Spring City USW members at Alcoa over- USW members attending a health,
Vice President at Large
Electrical Manufacturing produce whelmingly ratified a four-year safety and environment conference
ornate cast iron lamp posts for master agreement covering about honored Local 10-1 for averting
DIRECTORS big cities, small towns, college 1,600 production and maintenance a tragedy when their refinery in
DONNIE BLATT campuses and theme parks. workers at five U.S. locations. Philadelphia was rocked by fire and
District 1 04 14 explosions.
MICHAEL BOLTON
26
District 2
STEPHEN HUNT FEATURES
District 3
SPEAKING OUT TRADE WATCH NEWS BRIEFS
DEL VITALE USW members, retirees and their The U.S. Commerce Department Several dozen USW members attend-
District 4 families are invited to “speak out.” is investigating several foreign ed the union’s first Veterans of Steel
ALAIN CROTEAU Letters should be short and to the countries accused of skirting or cir- Council meeting in October. Members
District 5 point. We reserve the right to edit cumventing duties meant to protect of Local 13-1 in Texas ratified a new
MARTY WARREN for length. the jobs of American paper workers contract with a subsidiary of Dow
District 6 03 from unfair foreign competition. Chemical. Union Plus, the benefit
32 program, awarded scholarships to
MIKE MILLSAP
District 7
four students whose parents are USW
members.
ERNEST R. “BILLY” THOMPSON COVER 33
District 8
Foundry worker Aneudi Manzanet COMMUNICATIONS STAFF
DANIEL FLIPPO JIM McKAY JESS KAMM BROOMELL AARON HUDSON AND GREG COLE
Photo by Steve Dietz.
District 9 Editor Director of Communications Graphic Designers
04
CHELSEY ENGEL, LYNNE HANCOCK, R.J. HUFNAGEL,
BOBBY “MAC” MCAULIFFE
TONY MONTANA, JOE SMYDO, BARBARA WHITE STACK
District 10
EMIL RAMIREZ USW@Work (ISSN 1931-6658) is published four times a year by the United Steelworkers EMAIL: editor@usw.org
District 11 AFL-CIO•CLC 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Subscriptions to non-members: $12 for one MAIL: USW@Work
year; $20 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Pittsburgh, Pa., and additional mailing offices. 60 Blvd of the Allies
ROBERT LAVENTURE Pittsburgh, PA 15222
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: USW@Work, USW Membership Department,
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Volume 14/4
RUBEN GARZA Copyright 2019 by United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO•CLC. All rights reserved. No part of this Fall 2019
District 13 publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the United Steelworkers.
2 U S W @ W o r k • F a ll 20 19
SPEAKING OUT
Soul of a Union Man
I was glad to see Brother Gerard’s “Soul of a Union Man” That means the EEOC will know for the first time which
reprinted in the summer issue. Leo grew up understanding in corporations are the worst offenders – the corporations that
his bones the challenges of working people and writes beauti- pay women and minorities less than they pay white men for
fully about that past. the same j obs.
One of Leo’s legacies, the BlueGreen Alliance, can play a Although the information won’t be available to the public,
maj or role in the U.S. response to the climate crisis onslaught. it will help the EEOC enforce federal laws barring such
I hope to see ongoing coverage of our union’s work with the discrimination. It would be great if the EEOC could get equal
BGA in the coming months. pay, for example, for the U.S. women’s national soccer team.
At a time when union membership is declining, it’s good
J ana P e llusch, se cre t ary SO A R C hapt e r 1 3 - P C 3
that the federal government will step in and enforce equi-
P asad e na, T e x as
ty. T he value of union membership is that equity already is
enforced with labor agreements. All people who work in
Getting Involved certain categories of j obs – whether they are men, women,
I was thrilled reading the last edition of USW@Work and white, black, Hispanic, Asian or whatever – receive the same
seeing younger folks getting involved with the union and hav- pay and benefits because it is guaranteed in their labor union’s
ing mentors to guide them along the way. It’s important for contract with the employer.
the next generation of workers to know labor’s history and to T hat’s part of the union advantage.
keep fighting for what’s right, as Kenneth Lewis of Newport
News, Va., said in the new organizer training story. L ind a D e ane , L ocal 9 0 0
L iv e rm ore F alls, M aine
X av ie r C ollie r, L ocal 8 0 1 , N e x t G e n C om m it t e e
E v ad ale , T e x as
A March to Remember
Workers in Marietta, Ohio, will never forget Leo Gerard.
Support Health Care Workers As a staff representative, I was assigned the task of nego-
We are proud to be members of a union that puts a priority tiating a first contract for 77 workers at a small plant that
on issues of workplace safety. Health care occupations may produced magnet material. The company refused to recognize
not be the ones most people think of when we talk about the union, and in March 1997, the USW began a strike for
unsafe work environments, but the truth is that there is an recognition.
epidemic of violence in hospital j obs like ours. The company hired a giant law firm, Jones Day, to
T he USW has been extremely active in pushing for represent it. It was quite clear what intentions were. But the
solutions to this problem, and we are hoping that the readers resolve of the USW and in particular, then Secretary-T rea-
of USW@Work will keep up this fight. We’ve been urging surer Gerard, to win the struggle could not be matched by the
members of Congress to support the Workplace Violence company and its expensive lawyers.
P revention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act We won that strike after 23 months with an outstanding
(H.R. 1 309/ S. 85 1 ). first contract and the reinstatement of 19 striking workers who
Under this bill, OSHA would create a national standard were unfairly discharged. Leo attended many of our rallies.
requiring health care and social service employers to develop His gutsy fearlessness was contagious to all of us.
and implement violence-prevention plans. One of our biggest rallies was attended by thousands of
We ask that all USW members contact their representa- USW members and retirees. Leo and AFL-CIO P resident
tives in Congress and urge them to support this bill. You can Richard T rumka were the main speakers. Leo was determined to
find your representatives and their contact information at march two miles through downtown Marietta to the plant gates.
www.house.gov/ representatives. As we set off with Leo leading the march, a half dozen
Every member of this union, and every American worker, local police officers jumped out in front. One officer yelled at
deserves to come home each day safe and healthy. T ogether, Leo, “Where’s your permit? You can’t march without a per-
we can make it happen. mit.” Never missing a step, Leo shouted back at him, “Right
R ose A lw ine , pre sid e nt , L ocal 1 5 8 behind me.” What a leader, what a union!
Malinda Sholler, financial secretary, Local 158 G ary C ochran, re t ire d D ist rict 1 st af f
M onongahe la, P a. N e w M at am oras, O hio
Equal Pay
On Sept. 30, the federal government began requiring
EMAIL: editor@usw.org USW active, retired members and their
employers with more than 1 00 workers to report to the federal MAIL: USW@Work families are invited to “speak out.” Letters
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) how 60 Blvd of the Allies should be short and to the point. We
much they pay employees of different races, genders and Pittsburgh, PA 15222 reserve the right to edit for length.
ethnicities.
•
Aneudi Manzanet
Photos by Steve Dietz
Foundry Workers Create can’t get done at an automated found-
ry,” said Local Recording Secretary Jon
ments of transportation using federal
highway funds.
Vintage-Style Lamp Posts Bowers, a computer-controlled machine Company President Alan Brink is
operator. proud that there have been no layoffs in
U
SW members mix muscle and Fixture parts and patterns used in the past 20 years.
artistry with old and new tech- production are made on computerized “Three years ago, we were involved in
nologies at Spring City Elec- machinery, but much of the work of getting legislation that requires company
trical Manufacturing to create ornate building sand molds, pouring iron or of origin markings on all imported lamp
cast-iron and aluminum lamp posts for aluminum, and grinding and painting posts,” Brink said, noting that he appre-
major cities, small towns, college cam- the finished products is done the way ciates union work after having been a
puses and theme parks. it was 100 years ago, partly because the member of the United Paperworkers,
Intricately detailed lamp posts, lumi- finished products are too large for auto- now part of the USW, while working
naires and accessories made at Spring mation. during college.
City’s 19th century foundry by members “This is all very old-school style arti- Like many foundries, Spring City is
of Local 132 grace the grounds of the san type work from molding to grinding loud and gritty. Yet it seems to be a sat-
U.S. Capitol, Universal Studios, Dis- and our machine shop,” Bowers said, isfying place to work where many union
ney World Florida, and the streets and his voice rising to be heard above the members are second-generation and
sidewalks of New York, Boston, Phila- din of foundry work and the beeping of most are proud of their craft and what
delphia, and Washington, D.C., among forklifts. “It’s all done very meticulously they make.
other places. by hand. It’s very intense physical labor.” Today the company employs 110-plus
Located on South Main Street in workers, more than 80 of whom belong
Spring City, Pa., 30 miles northwest Buy America important to Local 132, which came to the USW
of Philadelphia, the company traces The “Buy America” provision on steel through the 2017 merger with the Glass,
its history back 175 years. It occupies and iron in the federal highway laws Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied
a complex of buildings on eight acres is very important to the continuing Workers Industrial Union (GMP).
where a foundry was first built in 1843, survival of Spring City because many of Now a council within the USW, the
nearly a generation before the Civil War the streetscape projects that the compa- GMP is transitioning into the USW with
began in 1861. “What we do here you ny supplies are funded by state depart- the goal of full integration by January
•
Tim Manley Jr.
2021, said GMP Council Vice President
Bennett Sallemi, who has worked with the
local for 17 years.
Being a union company is often helpful
to marketing efforts. “If you can walk a
local government official through our
plant and they see the people making the
product and know that those people have
good wages and benefits, they almost
always buy from us,” said Chris Rosfelder,
vice president of sales and marketing.
Constructing sand molds
Spring City’s lamp posts are made
in large sand molds assembled on
the factory floor. Molds construct-
ed during the day are filled with
molten metal over the night shift
to take advantage of lower electric Tremaine Jeffcoat
power rates.
While most of the company’s
products look like antiques, their
lighting is modern and can be
retrofitted onto older poles. Al-
most all of its new fixtures, made
in house, include green LEDs,
or light-emitting diodes.
•
The first step in manufacturing a lamp worked around the flask at a jogger’s left over from the mold is removed from
post is to fashion a full-scale replica or pace, stopping only briefly to acknowl- the pole. Air-powered grinders are used
pattern of the final product, exact in edge that his hard work catches up with to define detail and smooth the exterior
every way, using aluminum, wood or him physically at the end of his shift. of the castings.
plastic. The company has some 6,000 Michael Warrick, 35, uses a plasma
patterns warehoused on the property, Internal cores torch to cut away excess material in-
allowing for a wide range of designs. Since a solid cast-iron lamp post cluding flashing at the seams and gates,
New patterns and light fixture parts would be too heavy to move, workers where the hot metal enters the mold,
are made on computer numerical con- insert a core that is smaller than the before the pole moves to the next step.
trol (CNC) machines from computer-as- pattern, leaving a void on all sides. “It’s hard work and it’s good work.
sisted drafting (CAD) drawings. When molten cast iron is poured into It keeps me in shape,” Warrick said. “I
One of Spring City’s most recogniz- the finished mold, it takes the shape of like to do a good job. I like to do quality
able products is the Bishop’s Crook lamp the pattern. The core ensures hollow but work. It’s artwork, good art.”
post, named for the fanciful staff that uniformly thick walls.
bishops carried. Decorated with a gar- Ahkeen Ford-Bey, a 10-year veteran Art in grinding
land that wraps around the staff, it has molder, was finishing smaller sand- Farther down the line, Chris Hohl
been used in New York for more than a packed molds for parts and drilling literally puts his back to the job. Leaning
century. Keen-eyed Spring City workers holes in them to allow for drainage. his body toward a grinding wheel with
often spot it on TV and in movies. a large casting in both hands, he
Hanging in the company’s office deftly turns the piece until it is
Photo Courtesy of Spring City Electrical
building is a photograph from Sept. smooth and gleaming. He tosses it
11, 2001, with the World Trade into a pile of finished parts, wipes
Center in rubble and a Bishop’s his brow, and picks up another.
Crook lamp post made from duc- “There’s an art to cutting this
tile iron still standing. stuff,” said Hohl, 61, stopping to
talk shop.
Making patterns in sand “Oh, yes, I’m very tired when I
The pattern is cut in half verti- go home, but I’ve done this since
cally on the shop floor. One half I was 17 so I’m used to it. You can
is laid flat side down on a “pattern see how fast and how nice I can
board.” A flask, or solid steel fence, go through these,” he said before
is locked around the pattern and returning to the grinder. “I’ve got
filled with green or wet sand that is plenty of work to do here, so I
tightly compacted to ensure detail better get back to it.”
survives. The finishing department crew
The flask is then flipped and the works to ensure the quality of the
pattern board removed. The other product is up to par before it is
half of the pattern is then placed sent to the paint room and ulti-
onto the first half with workers mately the customer, said Justin
making sure the two are perfectly “We all can’t sit at a desk,” he said as he Pfeiffer, the department’s lead man.
aligned. A second flask is placed on top worked. “It is good work,” Pfeiffer said. “We all
of the first one. Sand is again tightly Using chemically treated sand that work well together. Everything comes
compacted around the pattern. hardens, Alex Roseo, 22, was assembling out the way it’s supposed to and every-
The two flasks are then separated and cores, smoothing them and making sure one does a good job.”
laid open-face on the floor. The pat- no holes were present that would allow The Spring City foundry has survived
tern halves are removed, revealing an molten metal to escape. “It’s not that for 175 years by utilizing a skilled work
impression in the sand that has all the difficult, but it keeps you busy,” he said. force, changing products and going
details of a finished product. At night, iron is melted in an electric high-tech when necessary while nurtur-
On the September day when furnace, turning from red hot to white ing and preserving vintage artisan skills.
USW@Work visited the plant, veteran hot to molten before it is poured into It’s a pattern for success.
foundry worker Wayne Hunter was the mold and allowed to slowly cool.
using a pneumatic tool similar to a The flasks are then separated and the For more information on Spring City
jackhammer to compress sand in a flask core is removed. Electrical, visit www.springcity.com. Search
big enough for a 16-foot light pole. He Finishing and painting are next. Sand youtube.com for factory tour videos.
•
- Michael Warrick
Alex Roseo
Aneudi Manzanet Tim Manley, Jr.
Wayne Hunter
Robert Manley Michael Needling
Albert Dever
U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9 7
Nearly 2,000 Workers Strike ASARCO
A
fter a decade of no wage years,” LaVenture said. “These workers At issue is a master agreement
increases, a coalition of nearly deserve a contract that reflects their covering workers from all ASARCO
2,000 union workers led by the contributions.” locations and bargaining units with
USW struck copper producer ASARCO, The last time wages rose for hourly local supplemental agreements for each
a Grupo Mexico subsidiary, in mid-Oc- employees was Sept. 30, 2009. In work site.
tober over unfair labor practices. 2010, wages were frozen under a one- Strike votes were held after the
“We cannot allow ASARCO man- year extension. In 2011, wages were USW, acting on behalf of its members
agers – even when directed by Grupo again frozen, benefits were cut and the and the other coalition unions, provided
executives in Mexico City – to pick and pension plan was closed to new hires. management with a 48-hour notice of
choose which U.S. labor laws and stan- LaVenture said ASARCO’s most intent to terminate a contract extension
dards apply to them, and the company recent four-year contract proposal that had been in place since Dec. 1,
can’t expect to roll back generations of insulted union members by including 2018. The strike began in Arizona at
collective bargaining progress without no wage increase for nearly two-thirds 11 p.m. local time Oct. 13 and at 1 a.m.
a fight,” said District 12 Director Rob- of workers, freezing the existing pen- Oct. 14 in Texas.
ert LaVenture.” sion plan, and more than doubling the LaVenture said that the USW is
Strike votes were held on Friday, out-of-pocket contributions individual willing to resume bargaining and
Oct. 11, after union members rejected a workers already pay for health care. ready to meet as long as necessary to
“last and final” offer from the company negotiate a fair contract, and urged
that included no wage increases for a Coalition unions his management counterparts to make
majority of the union work force and a In addition to the USW, the union resolving the labor dispute an urgent
freeze of the existing pension plan. coalition includes Boilermakers, the priority.
LaVenture said workers who sac- International Association of Machin- “Management has tested these em-
rificed to sustain the company during ists, Teamsters, the United Association ployees for years, and we’ve met their
past downturns earned and deserve (UA), the International Union of Oper- challenges each step along the way,”
a fair contract with better and more ating Engineers, and the International LaVenture said. “When we march
secure earnings, benefits and pensions, Brotherhood of Electrical Workers together for fairness and justice at
but ASARCO proposed the exact (IBEW). ASARCO, we are delivering a unified
opposite. The strike involves workers at four message that the company’s attacks on
“Working 12-hour shifts in an open- locations in Arizona – the Mission our livelihoods must end and that we
pit mine, smelter or refinery is difficult Complex, the Silver Bell Mine, the are standing up for respect and dignity
and dangerous, and ASARCO employ- Hayden Complex and the Ray Mine – from this employer.”
ees have not had a wage increase in 10 and a refinery in Amarillo, Texas.
8 U S W @ Wo r k Fall 2019
T
he U.S. Supreme Court declined from newer employees bonuses based court to hear its case for overturning
to review lower-court rulings re- on copper prices. the district court ruling that was twice
quiring copper producer ASAR- District 12 Director Robert LaVen- affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals
CO, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, ture said the company’s attempt to for the Ninth Circuit.
to pay millions of dollars in disputed divide the union membership by with- LaVenture said the union is gratified
copper price bonuses to a coalition of holding the bonus payments backfired, with the Supreme Court’s decision, but
union workers in Arizona and Texas led uniting rather than dividing workers in warned that the struggle for j ustice with
by the USW. the two states. ASARCO and Grupo Mexico will likely
The decision, issued on Oct. 7, “Although ASARCO has delayed continue.
means ASARCO has exhausted all of and postponed paying the millions T he union will work hard to make
its appeals and must comply with an of dollars it owes for years, we nev- sure the company finally pays what
arbitrator’s order to pay the bonuses to er stopped fighting to ensure justice it owes to eligible current and former
hundreds of employees hired after June for these workers and their families,” employees, LaVenture said, promising
30, 201 1 . LaVenture said. “The company’s con- to provide updates to workers when a
Eight international unions represent- stant attempts to undermine our con- payment timetable becomes available.
ing more than 2,000 hourly workers at tracts have truly united us in solidarity.” “Management has proven it is will-
five ASARCO mines and processing ASARCO owes more than $1 0 mil- ing to go great lengths to avoid paying
facilities have been fighting to enforce lion in copper price payments to about employees, but the company has finally
the award since December 2014, when 750 current and former employees. The run out of room to run from this obliga-
Arbitrator Michael Rappaport deter- company filed a petition for a Supreme tion,” he said.
mined the company wrongly withheld Court ruling last May, asking the high
ASARCO
exhausts
COURT APPEALS
on copper
bonus
U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9 9
Contract Tech workers in high-tech fields connect and
communicate with each other about their
Carnegie Library
Workers in Pittsburgh
Workers at google working conditions, as well as provid-
Choose the USW
ing support in organizing and collective
bargaining. Join USW
T C
It is believed that this is the first or one
ech workers at Google contractor of the first times that white-collar workers heers, hugs and applause
HCL Technologies in Pittsburgh sought to unionize at Google, the search greeted the announcement that
voted overwhelmingly in Sep- engine giant. Tech workers by and large 321 full- and part-time librar-
tember to join an affiliate of the United have been reluctant to organize and have ians and related staff at the Carnegie
Steelworkers that was formed to help and a reputation of being paid well with good Library of Pittsburgh overwhelmingly
protect technical workers. benefits and flexible workplaces. voted in August to become new mem-
“I’m honored that HCL workers HCL, founded in India in 1976, em- bers of the USW.
chose to join our union and our fight on ploys 143,000 workers in 44 countries and Librarians, library assistants, clerks
behalf of all working people,” said Inter- boasts annual revenues of $8.9 billion. It and IT professionals who work for the
national President Thomas M. Conway. resorted to anti-union tactics during the library at 19 branches and a support
“They deserve to have their voices heard. Pittsburgh campaign, hiring Eric Vanetti center launched their organizing cam-
Together, we’ll make sure they are.” of Vantage Point Alliance, self-described paign last June and can now begin the
The HCL employees, who work experts in union avoidance. The firm process of bargaining a first contract.
alongside Google employees at the gained notoriety in defeating a union cam- “We are honored to welcome
search engine company’s office hub paign at Fuyao Glass in Moraine, Ohio, these vital community builders into
in Pittsburgh, voted 49 to 24 despite a that was documented in the film “Ameri- our growing union,” International
company-led anti-union campaign, which can Factory.” President Thomas M. Conway said.
included mandatory captive audience “We have vast experience after nego- “This is a big step toward making the
meetings and the use of a controversial tiating fair contracts for many thousands library more fair and equitable for the
anti-union consultant. of members who work for multinational workers that keep it thriving.”
“Over the past few months, manage- corporations,” Conway said in a statement The Carnegie Libraries in Pitts-
ment has implied – and in some cases criticizing HCL’s anti-union stance. “But burgh, founded in 1895, were the first
outright told us – that it’s better to just be in its drive to avoid bargaining in good of 2,500 libraries across the country
quiet than fight for what’s right,” HCL faith with its funded by industrialist and union-bust-
worker Johanne employees in er Andrew Carnegie.
Rokholt said America, HCL, The vote count, conducted at the
after the vote like Fuyao, is library’s main branch on Aug. 14, was
count. “Today resorting to the 173 for the union and 106 against.
we proved that same tactics Some 321 employees were eligible to
we are not will- employers have vote. A small number of ballots were
ing to do that.” used for 100 challenged.
Contract years.”
workers like Library’s third union
Conway The USW is the third union to
those at HCL said captive
are part of a sec- represent Carnegie Library workers
audience meet- in Western Pennsylvania. The Team-
ond-tier shadow ings – like those
work force at From Left to Right: Stefan Sidelnick, Andrea Savatt, Johanne Rokholt, Joshua sters represent drivers and the Service
Borden, Ben Gwin, Mary Zuzack, Renata Nelson, Isabel Mills HCL coerced Employees union represents environ-
Google of tens employees into
of thousands of temps, vendors and con- mental service workers.
attending – typically begin with managers The United Library Workers of the
tractors, referred to as TVCs. They make talking about how they prefer solving
up over half of Google’s total staff and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh began
conflicts “within the family” and with- the campaign with hopes of gaining a
report receiving less pay and benefits than out a union to advocate on the workers’
permanent Google employees. voice on issues that affect the library,
behalf. Generally, the company’s behav- the communities they serve and their
“We deserve more respect, dignity ior evolves into bullying individuals or
and democracy in our relationship with own working conditions. Organizers
groups of workers if support for the union expressed a desire for a more inclusive
our employer,” said HCL worker Joshua persists.
Borden. “We fought for a seat at the table, and democratic work environment and
“We are a modern, international union a say in decisions about pay, benefits,
and today we won. We look forward to with strategic partnerships around the
bargaining a contract that reflects our hiring and promotions.
world and members in every sector of the The new unit joins a growing
important contributions.” economy, including a variety of profes- number of white-collar Steelworkers.
Technical professionals sional workers, from pharmacy techni- About 340 adjunct faculty members
The organizing effort began earlier cians to university professors,” Conway at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University
this year through the Pittsburgh Associa- said. “We are proud of the respectful and were bargaining a second contract
tion of Technical Professionals, a project productive relationships the USW has with the school, and the union also
sponsored by the USW aimed at helping established with employers and various represents about 430 adjuncts at Rob-
Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania industry groups through almost 80 years.” ert Morris University, about 15 miles
northwest of Pittsburgh.
10 U S W @ Wo r k Fall 2019New Vote Ordered extensive anti-union campaign by the
university, which included paying hun-
for Pitt Grad dreds of thousands of dollars to Ballard
Spahr, a Philadelphia-based law firm
Student workers that specializes in “union avoidance.”
G
The final tally showed 675 workers
raduate students at the Univer- voting for the union and 712 no votes.
sity of Pittsburgh are ramping “Graduate students have known for
up their campaign to become a long time that we needed to join to-
part of the USW after a state labor gether in a union,” said Olivia Enders,
official ordered a new election for the a graduate student employee in the
group due to the university’s unfair Department of Instruction and Learning
labor practices that affected their first in Pitt’s School of Education. “The re-
vote in April. cent unexpected increase in the already
A Pennsylvania Labor Relations steep health care costs for our families
Board (PLRB) officer ruled in Sep- is just one more example of our need
tember that the university violated the for a collective voice.”
students’ rights in its effort to affect the If successful, the new unit would
outcome of the graduate students’ vote include about 2,000 teaching assistants,
in April to join the Academic Workers teaching fellows, graduate assistants
Association of the USW. Pitt appealed and graduate student researchers.
the ruling on Oct. 8. The grad students’ campaign is just
In his decision, Hearing Examiner one part of the USW’s effort to orga-
Stephen Helmerich said Pitt committed
“coercive acts” to convince graduates
nize higher education workers.
Settlement at
to vote against the union, and those acts Faculty blasts chancellor
“potentially affected a large enough In January, Pitt’s faculty also filed
for a union election, citing the univer-
point Park
A
pool of eligible voters for the effect on
the election to be manifest due to the sity administration’s failure to focus re- djunct instructors at Pittsburgh’s
extreme narrowness of the result.” sources on the school’s core mission of Point Park University reached
The teaching and a tentative agreement on a new
ruling stated research. The contract in September.
that Pitt’s university has The three-year contract includes
anti-union ac- also waged wage increases each semester through
tions included a legal battle spring 2022, along with other contrac-
intimidation to resist that tual improvements. This is the second
and misin- unionization contract for the Point Park adjuncts, fol-
formation, effort. lowing a three-year agreement reached
including This sum- in June 2016.
creating the mer, mem- The new contract settlement came
impression bers of the after several high-profile public events
through Pitt faculty in support of the instructors, including
emails that it From Left to Right: Geneveive Newman, Rahul Amruthapuri, George Borg, condemned the distribution of educational leaflets to
was keeping
Kim Garrett, Donald Joseph
university students and family members when they
specific track of who voted. Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s refusal arrived on campus on Aug. 19.
“Sadly, the university has done ev- to fully comply with a PLRB subpoe- “The faculty owes a debt of gratitude
erything it could since day one to stand na requesting information regarding to the wonderful students and families of
in the way of its own graduate students the list of faculty eligible to be in a Point Park, as well as the full-time fac-
having a voice, including engaging in potential bargaining unit that the Pitt ulty for their unwavering support,” said
unlawful conduct,” said International administration provided to the PLRB Damon Di Cicco, president of Local
President Thomas M. Conway said. earlier this year. 1088 and an adjunct faculty member.
“This time around, Pitt must allow “Given the depths to which Chan- Adjunct faculty members teach
these workers to exercise their rights cellor Gallagher has already sunk in roughly half of the classes at the univer-
under the law and allow the democratic order to thwart our efforts to form a sity. The full-time faculty is also union-
process to proceed without obstruc- union on campus, it’s unsurprising ized, represented by the Communica-
tion,” he said. that the administration is pursuing this tions Workers of America (CWA).
Pitt grad employees filed for a course of action,” said William Scott, “This contract represents a victory
union election in December 2017, seek- an associate professor in the English for the faculty, but more importantly for
ing a voice in decisions that affect their department. “It’s clear that he knows quality education,” said Local 1088 Vice
working conditions, as well as greater a majority of faculty members want a President Sharon Brady.
transparency and increased protections union and is willing to do anything to
against discrimination and harassment. keep us from voting.”
The April 2019 election followed an
U S W @ Wo r k Fall 2019 11Members
Mobilize FOR Civil, Human Rights
E
Elise
Bryant lise Bryant, president of the Coalition of
Union Women, kicked off the 201 9 USW
Civil and Human Rights Conference in
Minneapolis by leading 5 00 attendees in song.
Their collective refrain – “Ain’t No Stopping Us
Now, Forward as One” – set the tone for the rest
of the meeting.
District 11 Director Emil Ramirez then spoke
to the audience on the importance of educating
and mobilizing members to fight for the soul of
our country together.
Int’l Vice President “We are a better nation than what we are
Fred Redmond witnessing today,” he said.
T he conference featured
dozens of inspirational lead-
ers and speakers including
Minnesota Attorney General
Keith Ellison, Robin Wil-
liams of the United Food
and Commercial Workers
(UFCW), British Columbia’s
Minister of Labour Harry
Bains, and Valerie Castile,
mother of P hilando Castile,
who was shot and killed by a
Minnesota policeman in 2016.
After her son’s tragic
slaying, Castile moved to
keep her son’s legacy alive
by starting the P hilando
Castile Relief Foundation.
“It would have been so
easy for me to withdraw,”
she told a panel discussion.
“But I love my son and I
Photos by
love my community. I had
Steve Dietz to do something.”
Mayson Sabrina Int’l President Doug
Fulk Liu Thomas M. Ward
Conway
12 U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9Lively, moving plenaries were resistance,” he said. “We are a nation of Fulk eventually came out as trans and
punctuated by workshops that focused immigrants.” now serves as the District 6 trans liaison.
on immigrants’ rights, Islamophobia, In a video address, retired Interna- “I’ve been able to educate other people,
LGBT Q + equality, the Black Lives Mat- tional P resident Leo W. Gerard reiterat- and the union has been able to educate me
ter movement, and more. ed the union’s responsibility to call out as well,” Fulk said in a video showcased
Health care worker Marketa A. An- the crisis and fight to make it right. at the conference. “It’s an exciting position
derson, a Local 9439 member in Minneso- “T here’s a violation of human and because I get to help people.”
ta, attended a class on workplace violence, civil rights staring us right in the face,” Fulk, a member of Local 2699-09,
which has increased by 30 percent since he said. “T he best thing we can do is was instrumental in creating a handbook
201 2 and accounted for 1 8,400 inj uries and mobilize our membership and educate for Canadian members on how to deal
458 fatalities in 2017 alone, according to our membership and tell them this isn’t with gender transitioning in the work-
the National Safety Council. the kind of union we are. place. With other committee members,
T o Anderson and others, much of the “T his union stands for j ustice for ev- he also conducted two workshops that fo-
problem stems from understaffing and erybody. Everyone is welcome into our cused on the anniversary of the Stonewall
lack of training. Management, of course, union as they should be in our society.” riots in New York, anti-discrimination
has different ideas. contract language and tips on how to be
“We’re told it’s j ust part of the j ob,” allies to the community.
said Anderson, a home health aide. “I am so proud of the amazing
Thomas “Tas” Starks of Local 560 welcome that our first-ever LGBT
in Gwinner, N.D., a first-time attendee, Advisory Committee received,” Fulk
found value in the workshops, especially said. “I can’t wait to see what we will
the seminar on Islamophobia. accomplish before our next civil rights
“We are working on building soli- conference.”
darity with some of our Muslim brothers “This committee symbolizes the
and sisters … I gained a lot of insight,” expansion and diversity of our union,”
said Starks, a shear operator at Bobcat Redmond said. “We must move forward
Co., the maker of compact loaders and and help uplift our most vulnerable, and
excavators. that includes the LGBT Q + community.
Starks is passionate about civil rights T he movement will only grow stronger
and was emboldened by the atmosphere by being inclusive to all and reaching
and education. “I learned a lot, but mostly International Vice President at Large out to traditionally underrepresented
it affirmed much of what I already knew, Roxanne Brown, the International Exec- activists.”
making me feel less crazy, which encour- utive Board’s first black woman, spoke Redmond closed the conference by
ages me to get out more and organize to the conference about unity and the honoring the legendary William “Bill”
more,” he said. bigger picture her appointment paints. Lucy, a prominent labor leader who
A large group of revved-up activists “It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s was vital in organizing the 1968 Mem-
marched to the Minneapolis City Hall an opportunity for all of us to lead this phis sanitation strike. T he strike caught
in support of comprehensive reform of union. It’s about what I represent for the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King,
the broken U.S. immigration system, and the present and future of this union. It’s who was shot and killed in the T ennes-
legislation to prevent wage theft. about what you represent.” see city while supporting workers.
“Everywhere we go we want to make T he union took another leap forward Redmond also reminded the attend-
it perfectly clear that the United Steel- by introducing attending members of ees of the earnestness required in the
workers stand in solidarity with our broth- the LGBT Q + Advisory Committee. T he many fights the movement must take on
ers and sisters at the southern border and committee is working to advise the USW moving forward.
we will not be quiet until j ustice prevails,” on how to improve working conditions “We’re living in a time that Dr.
International Vice President Fred Red- for the LGBT Q + community. King referred to as the fierce urgency
mond said to a storm of cheers and chants. Mayson Fulk, a production worker at of now,’” said Redmond.
International P resident T homas M. Leggett and P latt Automotive in London, “We need to vigorously, and with
Conway also addressed the border crisis, Ontario, has been active in the labor a vicious sense of completion, make
calling on the labor movement to stand movement since he j oined the Steelwork- sure that we take action now. We need
with immigrants and their families as ers in Canada after leaving the United to move outside of our comfort zone so
ICE raids terrorize communities. States, where harassment-free employ- we as a union and as a movement can
“We’ve got to be a part of that ment was becoming impossible for him. make real change.”
E.J. Guillermo
Jenkins Perez
U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9 13MEMBERS RATIFY
AT BFGOODRICH
M
embers voted by petitiveness of their facilities.”
a wide margin in T he USW’s previous
August to ratify a three-year agreement with BF-
new three-year contract with Goodrich expired on July 27.
BFGoodrich that covers about T he two sides began talks for
2,5 00 workers at facilities in a new contract this spring. T he
T uscaloosa, Ala., and Fort new agreement runs through
Wayne, Ind. July 30, 2022.
T he new collective bar-
gaining agreement includes Solidarity key
annual wage increases and Kevin Johnsen, the new
bonuses, maintains quality, af- chairman of the USW’s
fordable health care coverage, Rubber/ P lastic Industry
and strengthens retirement Council, said the agreement
benefits. was a testament to the strength
“T he hard-working mem- and solidarity of the union’s
bers at these locations, along membership.
with tire workers across the “It was only by standing
industry, have faced a number up with one voice and con-
of challenges in recent years, fronting these challenges
first and foremost the threats together that we could reach a
of foreign competition and fair and equitable agreement,”
unfair trade,” International Johnsen said.
P resident T homas M. Conway Overall, the USW rep-
said. resents more than 1 8,000
“T hey should be proud workers in the tire industry
that they were able to reach at companies including BF-
an agreement that maintains Goodrich, Goodyear, Bridge-
family-supporting j obs while stone-Firestone, T itan, Cooper,
ensuring the long-term com- Sumitomo and Uniroyal.
T
he USW represents offering voluntary buyouts to
more than 7,000 work- some workers at the Gadsden
ers at Goodyear plants plant. Eligible employees were
in Topeka, Kan.; Fayetteville, required to submit applications
N.C.; Danville, Va.; Gadsden, for buyouts by Nov. 1, Good-
Ala.; and Akron, Ohio. year said.
Although the USW’s Goodyear also announced
RESTRUCTURING AT contract with Goodyear runs
through July 2022, the compa-
earlier in the summer that it
would invest $1 80 million to
ny is implementing a restruc- expand capacity at the Fayette-
turing plan that has already ville, N.C., facility to increase
resulted in layoffs and changes production of larger-rim pas-
to work schedules at the Dan- senger tires and to “modernize
ville and Gadsden plants. and improve operations and
IN DANVILLE AND GADSDEN In September, the Akron, efficiency.”
Ohio-based company began
14 U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9KUMHO WORKERS
Second Election at Georgia Tire Plant
Successful After Company’s
Illegal Union Busting
W
orkers at the Kumho Tire fac- an order in May for a new vote at the “Too often companies try to bully
tory in Macon, Ga., voted in Kumho factory after finding that com- and intimidate workers who simply
September for USW represen- pany officials violated workers’ rights want to exercise their right to bargain
tation, nearly two years after an initial during the first election in October collectively,” said International Pres-
vote was marred by the company’s 2017. ident Thomas M. Conway. “That is
numerous violations of workers’ rights. Following that initial vote, which re- simply a losing strategy. Rather than
While some legal hurdles remain sulted in a narrow defeat for the union, fighting their own workers, employers
before the election results are official, the USW filed charges with the National should work with them to build a better
the initial vote count showed 141 votes Labor Relations Board (NLRB) accus- future for everyone.”
for the union and 137 against, with 13 ing the company of illegal conduct in its In addition to its violations of work-
challenged ballots still to be resolved. effort to suppress the union. ers’ rights, Kumho has also been fined
About 325 workers would be in the In his ruling, Administrative Law for numerous health and safety hazards
USW bargaining unit at Kumho. Judge Arthur J. Amchan wrote that the following an inspection by the Occupa-
“Kumho spent thousands upon company’s illegal conduct was “perva- tional Safety and Health Administration
thousands of dollars and used every trick sive” and that it warranted not only a (OSHA).
in the book to fight its own workers, in- new election, but the “extraordinary” OSHA said a recent inspection
cluding suspending a union activist who remedy of requiring company officials showed that workers were at risk for
was eight months pregnant. Still, soli- to read a notice to employees outlining falls, burns and amputations as well
darity prevailed,” said District 9 Director all of Kumho’s violations. as chemical and electroshock hazards.
Daniel Flippo. “We look forward to Kumho’s violations, Amchan said, The agency fined Kumho more than
resolving these challenges as quickly as included illegally interrogating employ- $507,000 and put the company into a
possible so that these workers can finally ees, threatening to fire union supporters, “Severe Violator Enforcement Program”
have the chance to sit down with the threatening plant closure, and creating for “willful, repeated, or failure-to-
company and bargain a fair contract.” an impression of surveillance, among abate” violations.
An administrative law judge issued other threats to workers.
U S W @ Wo r k Fall 2019 15T
here’s nothing like the sights
and sounds of squealing tires
and racing engines to build authorization vote in the run up to last
union solidarity. year’s contentious contract bargaining
A Saturday at the drag races is one of with U.S. Steel Corp. nament, a chili cook-off, an afternoon
the events Local 1066 in Gary, Ind., used “I’ve never seen our hall so full or watching the Chicago Bears and an
this year to get its members and their everyone so united as when we took that annual Christmas carnival.
families to meet outside of work and strike authorization vote,” said Local
build the unity and solidarity that can 1066 President Mark Lash. “A fight and Amazing feedback
make a good union powerful. hard times bring our members together.” “We started holding these events to
“This is great. This is really great,” Lash and the local’s Executive Board promote solidarity. Let’s work together,
retiree Bill Burt said on Sept. 14 as he decided, “we’re not letting this go away,” let’s be what the union is meant to be,”
took his beaming granddaughter for her he said. “We’re going to do everything in said T.J. Piccirilli, the event coordinator.
first ride on a regulation drag strip in our power to keep people energized and “We’ve had such amazing feedback.”
northwest Indiana. working together.” Many of the local’s members enjoy
The idea for regular away-from-work That led to a series of weekend events cars, so the events committee set up a
events came after Local 1066 attracted a including a summer day at a local water drag race day in September. Racing and
huge crowd to its union hall for a strike park, a barbecue and bean bag tour- a car show, plus food and activities for
16 U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9Kyle McCormack,
Local 1014
T.J. Piccirilli,
Local 1066
Dan Hessling and David Nathan Hoyt,
son of Dave Hoyt, Local 1066
Dave Swisher,
Local 1066
Sharntell Smith,
Local 1066
Photos by Steve Dietz
We’re family
the kids, attracted some 300 members “In the plant, all I know is someone is never alone when you’re with the USW,
and family to a local track sanctioned by a crane man. Out here I see a father. I see with the solidarity of the union.”
the International Hot Rod Association. a mother, the children. I see aunts and Maybe, just maybe, Local 1066 started
The event also attracted hundreds of uncles. Out here we’re a family,” said local something that will last.
other enthusiasts from Volkswagen clubs Financial Secretary Duane “Vern” Joyner. “In 20 years from now, hopefully,
to drag racers who run on corn ethanol. Sitting in a lawn chair in front of his it will be our kids planning this same
What are the benefits? “Getting to muscle car, Local 1010 retiree Ken Adair union event,” Joyner said. “Tying the
know each other outside of work, getting said he came to the track for the soli- community into what we do, it’s a win-
to know each other’s wives, husbands darity. “I was a member for 35 years,” win for all of us.”
and kids – things that really make you he said. “There are a lot of things in life
want to stick together with that person that you have to go through; sometimes Visit http://usw.to/usw1066 to see a
you’re working with,” Lash said. you have to do it by yourself. But you’re USW video on the drag race day.
•USW V
ictoria Whipple supported the the House and 39 Democrats and one
United Steelworkers during an Independent in the Senate, would help
organizing campaign at Kumho to level the playing field for workers.
Tire in Macon, Ga., and it landed her a “The PRO Act will help restore the
two-week unpaid suspension. balance of power between employers
It was the worst possible time. Whipple and their workers and hopefully begin
URGES
was eight months pregnant, and she’d to address the epidemic problem of
been putting in overtime to make extra income inequality,” Conway said.
money before the baby’s birth. She and Conway urged representatives of all
CONGRESS her husband, Tavaris Taylor, have seven
other kids ranging in age from 10 to 1.
political parties to co-sponsor the PRO
Act and rally their peers in support,
TO PASS
None of that mattered to Kumho, especially if they plan to seek union
which suspended Whipple on Sept. 6, votes, volunteers or endorsements.
the day workers wrapped up an election “Steelworkers across the country
PRO ACT in which they voted 141 to 137 to join
the USW. Thirteen challenged ballots
were unresolved at press time.
The retaliation against Whipple
will know which of their elected public
servants voted to support their union,
good jobs, access to quality, affordable
health care and retirement with secu-
rity and dignity,” he said. “As always,
Restore Rights
shows why workers need unions, espe-
cially at Kumho, which waged a bitter we will educate and encourage our
for American fight against the USW’s organizing
campaign. It also shows the need for the
members to let their representatives
know where they stand as constituents
Workers Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO)
Act, which the USW is urging Congress
throughout the process.”
No real penalties now
to pass.
The PRO Act (H.R. 2474, S. 1306) Although retaliating against workers
would fine employers up to $50,000 for for union organizing is a violation of
retaliating against workers during orga- federal labor law, employers don’t face
nizing campaigns. It would require the any real penalties right now. So they feel
National Labor Relations Board to go to free to suspend, fire or harass anybody
court to seek reinstatement of workers they want.
who are fired or face serious financial The PRO Act would prohibit
harm because of retaliation, and it would employers from holding mandatory
give workers the right to file lawsuits anti-union presentations like the “town
and seek damages on their own. hall” meetings Kumho forced Whipple
and her co-workers to attend before a
Comprehensive legislation union election.
International President Thomas M. And if an organizing campaign fails
Conway called the PRO Act the most because of an employer’s illegal inter-
Victoria Whipple
comprehensive labor bill undertaken ference, as happened with the USW’s
by Congress in many years. The bill re- 2017 effort to organize workers at Kum-
ceived its final markup by the Commit- ho, the employer would have to bargain
tee on Education and Labor Sept. 25. with the union anyway.
“Despite being more productive The bill also would provide protec-
than ever, American workers are further tions once workers voted for representa-
behind than they have been in genera- tion. If, for example, a company dragged
tions,” Conway said. “CEOs with the its feet during bargaining for a first
help of corporate lobbyists have been contract, a regular ploy to lower worker
trying to hobble unions for decades morale, mediation and arbitration could
with right-to-work and other anti-work- be used to speed the process along. And
er laws. Yet organizing remains the the PRO Act would prohibit employers
only viable means to rebuild a strong from hiring permanent replacements for
American middle class and ensure striking workers.
workers receive an honest day’s pay for After decades of steadily eroding
an honest day’s work.” labor rights, employers now hold most
For decades, corporations have been of the cards. That’s wrong. The PRO
exploiting weaknesses and loopholes Act would help workers stand up to the
in labor law. The PRO Act, which so corporations that are using every dirty
far has the support of 208 Democrats in trick in the book to hold them down.
1 U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9USW MEMBERS RATIFY
NEW ALCOA CONTRACT
Pact Covers 1,600 at Five U.S. Locations
U
SW members at Alcoa overwhelmingly ratified a The bargaining committee praised the support, strength
four-year master agreement that improves wages and and solidarity of the membership as instrumental in get-
maintains quality health care coverage for about 1,600 ting the agreement. Also important to the settlement were
production and maintenance workers at five U.S. facilities. membership actions and demonstrations, including building
The contract, which runs through May 15, 2023, is the volunteer communication action teams (CAT) to distribute
first since Alcoa split into two companies in November 2016. information to rank-and-file members and take back ideas and
Alcoa retained smelting and refining operations and spun off input to the committee.
downstream products into a new company, Arconic. General wages increase by 3 percent this year, 3.25 per-
“This is a challenging time for these workers, with un- cent in 2020, and 3 percent in 2021 and 2022. The settlement
fair trade and declining prices taking their toll on the U.S. includes a $1,750 ratification bonus and a lump sum bonus
aluminum industry,” said International President Thomas M. of $600 in lieu of retroactively applying the 2019 increase
Conway. “Thanks to their strength and solidarity, they were because of payroll system limitations.
able to achieve a fair agreement, one that makes sure they
can continue to care for their families and also positions the Pension plans
company for future success.” There were no changes in pension plans covering current
Bargaining went beyond the expiration of the previous employees. The company demanded that pension plans be
contract in May. Workers voted to authorize the USW bar- closed to employees hired after ratification, a change that the
gaining committee to call a strike if necessary, but stayed on union resisted for months.
the job while talks continued under the terms and conditions Rather than risk a potentially long and divisive strike over
of the expired previous agreement. the defined benefit plan for new hires, the bargaining com-
“Our members have earned and deserve fair wages, ben- mittee made the difficult decision to bargain the best possible
efits and working conditions,” said District 7 Director Mike defined contribution plan for new hires.
Millsap, who chaired the union’s bargaining committee. He Alcoa began bargaining by demanding substantial increas-
said the gains, both economic and non-economic, were hard es in employee health care contributions, but the solidarity
fought. and actions of the membership forced the company to back
“These hard-working union members contribute a tremen- down. There were no increases in deductibles, out-of-pocket
dous amount to the company’s success, and they stood up and maximums or coinsurance. Premiums remain at the current
demanded a contract that recognized those contributions,” levels until 2022 with small weekly contributions of $2 to $4
Millsap said. “This agreement is a victory for the workers and in the final two years.
for the company.” As previously reported, USW members at Arconic voted
The ratification was announced on Sept. 19 after voting in July to ratify a three-year agreement covering more than
that week. The contract covers Local 104 at Alcoa’s Warrick, 3,000 members at four U.S. facilities: Local 309 in Alcoa,
Ind., facility; Local 420-A at Massena, N.Y.; Local 5073 at Tenn.; Local 105 in Davenport, Iowa; and 420A in Massena,
Gum Springs, Ark.; Local 4370 at Point Comfort, Texas; and Iowa.
Local 310A in Wenatchee, Wash. In both instances, negotiations ended in a completely
Conway said the union went to the bargaining table different tone than when they began last spring when the
months earlier to negotiate in good faith for a contract, but companies demanded excessive and unnecessary concessions.
“management made us fight for it every step of the way.” The Arconic contract included annual wage increases. It
Talks were particularly challenging because they were the maintained or improved existing benefits, such as supplemen-
first since the old Alcoa was split in two. Adding to the diffi- tal unemployment, health insurance and retirement provisions
culties were declining aluminum prices, signs of slowness in for current active employees. The contract also included a
the economy and manufacturing, and the company’s unjustifi- ratification bonus of $1,750.
able insistence that it get its way on certain items.
U S W @ Wo r k • F a l l 2 0 1 9 19You can also read
