USW Honors Black History Month

Contact: Amanda Green (412) 562-2398 February 2, 2016, agreen@usw.org

(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers (USW) released the following statement today in recognition of February being Black History Month:

Black History Month honors the many contributions that African-Americans have made to the United States. We also take this time to honor the contributions that African-American workers have made to this country’s labor movement and to our Union.

African-American workers fought for dignity and respect in the workplace, but they also had another battle – the fight for racial equality. These struggles continue as we see African-Americans disproportionately impacted by unemployment, low-wage jobs, voter disenfranchisement and suppression, and mass incarceration.

While we are proud of the wages and benefits that we obtain for our members, we also recognize that these advances can lose significance if a member is prevented from casting a vote to support a policy that promotes collective bargaining. Although our African-American brothers and sisters confront these issues outside of the workplace, such occurrences hurt their ability to fully participate in society. 

We honor the legacy of African-American workers this month by restating our commitment to the fight for racial equality. We firmly believe that an injury to one is an injury to all, and in this spirit, we stand as one with our African-American brothers and sisters in the fight for justice.

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. For more information: www.usw.org.

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

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Call USW Communications at 412-562-2442

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