USW Reaches Tentative Agreement with Honeywell

Three-Year Proposed Contract May End Lockout in Metropolis

Contact: Tony Montana – (412) 562-2592; tmontana@usw.org

PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union has reached a tentative agreement on a new, three-year contract with Honeywell Corp., covering about 150 members of Local 7-669 who were locked out of their jobs at the company’s Metropolis, Ill. chemical processing facility on Aug. 2, 2014.

“Once again, our brothers and sisters in Metropolis have proven that we are all stronger when we stand together,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “Their solidarity has been an inspiration and an example to Steelworkers across the country whose employers engage in similar union-busting tactics.”

At the request of the federal mediator who assisted in the negotiations, the union and the company will not discuss specifics of the proposed agreement publicly until the members of USW Local 7-669 have concluded the ratification process with their negotiating committee later this week.

USW District 7 Director Michael Millsap also praised the members of Local 7-669 for their solidarity in fighting for a fair contract for the past seven months after previously enduring a 14-month lockout that began in 2010.

“For the second contract in a row, Honeywell’s employees were forced onto picket lines despite our union’s best efforts to reach a fair agreement,” he said. “By now, they most certainly have earned the respect of Honeywell management and the entire labor movement.”

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

# # #

Press Inquiries

Media Contacts

Communications Director:
Jess Kamm at 412-562-2446

USW@WORK (USW magazine)
Editor R.J. Hufnagel

For industry specific inquiries,
Call USW Communications at 412-562-2442

Mailing Address

United Steelworkers
Communications Department
60 Blvd. of the Allies
Pittsburgh, PA 15222