More than 2,000 union members who work in Asarco’s copper mines, smelter and refinery have been in tough bargaining since their contract expired in June 2013. They are spread across five locations in Arizona and Texas and are represented by eight different unions. On Dec. 1, 2015, the company unlawfully implemented portions of their so-called “last, best and final offer”, making changes to workers' compensation and benefits without their agreement.
All members, regardless of union affiliation, should check this page regularly for accurate, up-to-date information on talks.
| Asarco in the News |
| Arizona Daily Star: Asarco's unions protest company's tactics -- Union miners rallied Tuesday afternoon at Asarco’s Tucson headquarters to protest what they say are unfair contract negotiating tactics by the copper-mining company. (Read Full Text Here) |
| Tucson News Now: Asarco miners rally for better pay, safer work conditions -- Workers from one of the top 20 employers in southern Arizona are fighting for better pay and safer work conditions. (Read Full Text Here) |
| Tucson News 4 KVOA: Asarco union workers rally for new contract at headquarters -- Several union workers at Asarco’s copper mines and processing facilities rallied at Asarco Headquarters on Tuesday, Dec. 1, to push the company to negotiate over new contracts. (Read Full Text Here) |
| Amarillo Globe News: Steelworkers union, company clash over pay, benefits -- The United Steelworkers Union and some of the Asarco workers it represents raised their voices Tuesday by holding a rally as labor negotiations continue to drag on more than two years after the last contract expired. (Read Full Text Here) |
| Tucson Weekly: Union Employees of Mining Company Asarco Rallying in Tucson Tomorrow to Pressure for a 'Fair Contract' -- Union employees at Asarco's copper mines and other facilities will rally at the company's headquarters in Tucson Tuesday afternoon to demand a "fair contract," according to a press release from the United Steelworkers, one of eight unions representing hundreds of thousands of mine workers. (Read Full Text Here) |
| Platts: Asarco to Implement Contract with Union Tuesday: United Steelworkers -- After nearly 30 months of unsuccessful labor negotiations, US copper producer Asarco plans on Tuesday to unilaterally implement its "last, best and final" contract offer to the United Steelworkers union, a union official said Monday. (Read Full Text Here) |
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USW News: United Steelworkers Stand with Los Mineros in the Struggle Against Grupo Mexico -- On March 19, United Steelworkers joined with Los Mineros workers to lend their support to Rio Sonora property owners. United Steelworkers District 12 Director Bob LaVenture, Sub-district Director Manuel Armenta and Labor Educator Erika Wills stood with almost 2,000 workers and their families at the Grupo Mexico Cananea Buenavista Mine. (Read Full Text Here)
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| USW News: USW Local 886 Shares Their 2014 Memories -- United Steelworkers Local 886 in Hayden, AZ celebrates a year of solidarity with recollections the days stood together. (Read Full Text Here) |
| USW News: Unions Fighting Inequality at Asarco Strike Major Blow -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the unions which represent more than 2,000 hourly workers at five Asarco locations in Arizona and Texas won a multimillion dollar arbitration award for hundreds of employees that the company has refused to pay collectively bargained quarterly bonuses. (Read Full Text Here) |
 USW News: Two Unions, Two Countries, Building Stronger Bonds -- Members of Los Mineros, which represents Grupo Mexico employees in Mexico, and USW members from the company’s five Asarco locations in the U.S. understand that the global mining conglomerate’s top management only cares about money and profit – to the detriment of its employees and the communities where we live and work. (Read Full Text Here) |
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Arizona Range News: Cananea Mine discharging wastes into San Pedro and Rio Sonora Basins -- An undetermined amount of what looks like sulfuric acid leaching solution from the Grupo Mexico Buenavista Cananea, Sonora mine has entered the north-flowing San Pedro River on the Sonoran side of the border. (Read Full Text Here) |
| Background Information | |
| Asarco Labor History Overview | Contract History |
| Links to Local Websites |
| USW Local 886 |
| USW Local 937 |
| USW Local 5613 |