Emil Ramirez, Director for USW District 11, joined a small group of taconite miners from the shutdown mines on Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range for a private jobs crisis leadership summit yesterday at the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College 

Click Here to read more on the USW Message at Iron Range Jobs Summit.

Contacts:  John Rebrovich, 218-744-2757; 320-761-4885; Jrebrovich@usw.org

Virginia, MN (Dec. 23) – Emil Ramirez, Director for USW District 11, joined a small group of taconite miners from the shutdown mines on Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range for a private jobs crisis leadership summit yesterday at the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. The event was hosted by Gov. Mark Dayton. 

Strong statements were delivered for the urgency of federal, state and local government authorities to provide more immediate relief against the global onslaught of steel imports that have shut down half of the region’s steel sector mining jobs. Currently, more than 2,000 iron ore miners are on layoff.

Among those gathered at the two-hour private session were U.S. President Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Minnesota’s U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, U.S. Rep. Rich Nolan, plus state legislative leaders, steel industry executives and laid-off USW-represented iron ore miners.

USW Director Ramirez sounded a consistent theme: “We are at war with China’s illegal steel imports flooding into our market. During some months last year, China dumped more than 100,000 tons of cold-rolled sheet into our market and that was not the only product or country stealing our jobs here on Northern Minnesota’s Iron Range.”

He related that although American steel producers and the USW are having some modest success in getting enforcement duties on dumped and subsidized steel imports from China, there’s a tsunami of steel products from all steel producing countries threatening steel sector jobs.

“This is just one battle in what is expected to be a protracted war, unless swift, concerted government action is taken both here and internationally,” Ramirez declared.

“We appreciate Gov. Dayton’s assembling of concerned political leaders and policy makers from Minnesota’s congressional delegation and state legislatures, but we need immediate relief for our iron ore mining families who have been on lay-off since this past spring.”  

Dan Hill, a USW Local 6860 miner, spoke directly to White House Chief of Staff McDonough, saying he was among the 400 workers laid-off at United Taconite since May due to the lack of demand for the plant’s iron ore pellets. Hill says he wants the industry salvaged not just for him, but for his seven-year-old son, Riley, who told his dad recently that he wants to be a miner when he grows up.

“I told him (McDonough) to make sure our kids have a future up here. That we’re not the last generation of miners.”

Tom Conway, USW International Vice President, who is currently leading negotiations with several domestic steel companies in Pittsburgh, said: “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.”

“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 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/.

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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/.

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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/.

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The King’s Harvest Pet Rescue in Davenport, IA is thankful for groups like United Steelworkers Local 105 Women of Steel (WOS) committee.  This first-year, no-kill shelter is still finding it a struggle to meet commitments but with more donations like the one they received from the Steelworker women, the financial picture will get better.

On October 30, Local 105 WOS committee set up a pop-up tent at 5 am outside their ALCOA plant and for 14 hours they collected over two carloads of pet food and supplies and $1,300 in donations.

“It was overwhelming,” said WOS Co-chair Amber St. Clair. “The support of the members and workers made this project a tremendous success.”

St. Clair was pleased the committee was helping a shelter like King’s Harvest that adopts, fosters and rescues animals from “death row” kill shelters.

WOS Co-chair Jane Bailey told a local news reporter that a lot of people at ALCOA are animal lovers and it showed in their generous donations.

Local 105 Women of Steel thanks all of those people who donated to this worthy charity and reminds them to watch for another possible donation day in the spring.

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! 

The Mission of Hope Creek Nursing Home is to provide quality care in a homelike setting that allows the resident to be his/her own person with the encouragement to reach their maximum potential.

The Committee would like to thank the members of USW Local 105 for their generous donations.

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. Let us know and share video and photos at www.usw.org/uswcares and use the #USWCares hashtag when you post your stories on social media. Don't forget to shout out @Steelworkers!

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.” 

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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/.   #  #  #

Contract Talks Proceeding Slowly

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

Over the past week, our USW bargaining committee met with Cliffs’ representatives at the top table and responded to the company’s comprehensive contract proposal. 

Our bargaining committee presented the company with proposals that covered economics, benefits and pensions on Sept. 19 and continued discussions about those proposals on Sept. 25. We are beginning to see some progress and top table talks will continue through the weekend. 

Meanwhile, each local has continued to meet with company HR representatives to negotiate local issues. So far there has been minimal progress on those issues.

On Sunday, Sept. 20, bargaining committee members from all four locals, along with District 2 and 11 staff members, traveled to Brackenridge, Pa., where we proudly stood with our brothers and sisters from USW Local 1196 who are locked out of their jobs at ATI. We visited all five picket sites in the area, as well as the union hall. The solidarity that our negotiating committee members felt that day was phenomenal. It provided an example to all of us of what it is going to take to win this fight.

Remember, we are fighting the same fight that our brothers and sisters from ATI, U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal are fighting: for affordable health care for active workers and retirees, secure pensions, strong contract language and other important issues.

Stay strong, work safe, and watch for additional updates on negotiations early next week.

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.

(Minneapolis) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today announced their endorsement of Angie Craig of the Democratic Farm Labor Party for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District.   

“Although our union does not usually endorse candidates in primary elections, we’ve made an exception for Angie Craig,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez. “She’s fighting to build a better future for all Minnesotans – and we stand ready to join her in the battle to rebuild the middle class.   

“Craig understands that while we live in a global economy, the rights of Minnesota’s workers must come first. She supports the right of workers to collectively bargain for safer working conditions, good wages and affordable healthcare. 

“Craig has also pledged to strongly oppose any effort to undercut vital programs like Social Security and Medicare. She understands that these programs are not entitlements and that workers deserve to receive the benefits they earned while working when they retire.”

The USW represents more than 1,300 workers in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District and nearly 20,000 across the state. USW members are employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number in public sector and service.

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Heading to the Bargaining Table with Cliffs

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

Bargaining with Cliffs Natural Resources is set to start the week of September 9^th and your 2015 Cliffs Natural Resources Bargaining Committee is preparing to head to the bargaining table.  The USW has sent the company an information request asking for key information that we need to engage in meaningful bargaining with the company.  Cliffs has provided us with some information and we are still waiting on some additional documents. 

Your bargaining committee met in person in Ishpeming, MI on August 18^th to begin crafting our bargaining agenda and develop company-wide proposals to take to bargaining in September. 

The committee will travel to Pittsburgh for bargaining on September 8^th and hold union-only meetings on September 9^th.  Formal talks with the company should then begin on September 10^th or 11^th. 

With a lockout ongoing at ATI and tough bargaining continuing at US Steel and ArcelorMittal, the stakes couldn’t be higher as we prepare to head to the bargaining table. Across our industry, we’re seeing our employers attempting to use the temporary downturn in our markets as a justification for implementing deep and permanent cuts in our contracts. 

Now, more than ever, we need to show Cliffs management that we’re strong and united in support of our bargaining committee.  On August 20, thousands of Steelworkers from across the iron range mobilized in Virginia, MN for a historic show of solidarity, sending a strong message to let Cliffs and the other employers know that we’re united.  As bargaining gets underway, continue to watch for opportunities to show your support and solidarity for our union as we work to bargain a fair contract that maintains good, stable, family-sustaining jobs in the mining industry. 

Throughout the process we’ll continue to provide regular updates from the bargaining table in Pittsburgh via handbill and text message. To sign up to receive text messages from your bargaining committee text the word Cliffs to 47486 (message and data rates may apply, you can stop receiving messages any time by replying ‘stop’). 

Stay strong, stay safe, stay united and together we can win a fair contract!

Hundreds of United Steelworkers, wearing navy blue T-shirts, walked and rallied in the Mesabi Iron Range city of Virginia, Minnesota on August 20. The event was conducted to raise the support of union members and citizens for those members who are in negotiations with U.S. Steel, Arcelor-Mittal and Cliffs Natural Resources who are demanding concessions.

After listening to supportive speeches from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, Rep. Rick Nolan, State lawmakers and Local Union Officers in front of the Miners Memorial Building, the crowd moved on to Olcott Park to continue the rally.

Photos by “Matt Herberg Photography”

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – District 11 of the United Steelworkers (USW) union, covering nine Midwestern states including Minnesota, announced today its endorsement of Steelworker and Koochiching County  Commissioner Rob Ecklund for state representative.

“As a union leader and public servant, Rob Ecklund has shown through his service to his co-workers and his community over many years that he is driven by a deep commitment to improve the lives of working people. That is exactly what Minnesota needs in the legislature,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez in explaining the endorsement.

Ecklund, who is also a Marine Corps veteran, is seeking the nomination of the DFL for the Minnesota legislative seat in District 3A left vacant by the untimely death of State Rep. David Dill in August. The massive district includes Cook, Lake and Koochiching counties in north east Minnesota. Ecklund has served as a commissioner since 2010.

In announcing his run, Ecklund pledged that if elected, he would concentrate on protecting jobs, community values, outdoor activities and the quality of life in Northern Minnesota. He said, “My life experiences of being a veteran, husband, father, county commissioner, mill worker and an avid hunter and fisherman have shaped who I am as a public servant.”

Ecklund has worked at Boise Paper in International Falls for 26 years and served as president of the USW local union there. “As a former local union president, Rob Ecklund is well aware of the struggles of hard working, middle class people and will focus his legislative agenda on their best interests,” said John Rebrovich, assistant to the director of USW District 11.

Ecklund has worked on issues including economic development, transportation and clean water. He often coordinated efforts with the late David Dill, who he regarded as a friend. They allied on projects including expanding airport services and improving roads, bridges and water treatment.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries, including metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

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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.

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Challenging Bargaining at US Steel, ArcelorMittal Offers Preview of Negotiations at Cliffs

This is the time to mobilize and show management we’re ready to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract

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.

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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.

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