Members of USW Local 235A spent this past weekend at the local union hall making sure the children of Sherwin Alumina workers are well prepared as they head back to school.
With some help from the District 13 office, the local union purchased school supplies for family members of locked-out Sherwin employees. The event provided supplies for 170 schoolchildren and generated local news coverage in Corpus Christi.
“We believe it is our duty to provide our children with the tools that they need to become our future leaders,” said USW Local 235A Vice President Rey Hererra. “Even though we have been locked out of our jobs for 10 months, we still have a responsibility to do the best we can for our children.”
Sherwin has kept 450 members of Local 235A locked out since October, despite our repeated offers to return to work and continue bargaining. The company continues to demand deep cuts in our pay and benefits, even though its corporate parent, Glencore, recorded a $2.3 billion net profit in 2014.
Also last week, Vice President Hererra, who grew up and lives in Mathis, took it upon himself to donate $300 in school supplies to Mathis Elementary School.
“This is what Steelworkers do. We are proud to stand up and support our hard-working brothers and sisters and their families until we can reach a fair contract,” said USW District 13 Director Ruben Garza. “Sherwin must end this senseless lockout and allow our hard-working members to return to their jobs.”