Local 897

The USW was established May 22, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio, through the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) by a convention of representatives from the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, after almost six years of divisive struggles to create a new union of steelworkers. The founder and first president of the USW, Philip Murray, led the union through its first organizing drives and dangerous first decade, when the workers of USW went on strike several times to win the right to bargain collectively with steel companies. Through collective bargaining they secured higher wages and paid vacations.

 

shop floor moves

Rapid Response News

Rapid Response, our union’s nonpartisan grassroots activist program, provides an opportunity for every USW member to weigh in on legislation concerning labor and work-related issues. By joining together, we encourage government actions that will positively impact our families, contracts and communities. Learn more!

Rapid Response News

Union Plus Benefits

Did you know your USW membership entitles you to discounts on wireless, car rentals, movie tickets, car insurance and more? Visit the Union Plus website to view current discounts and programs.

Union Plus Benefits
Rally

What is a Union?

A union is a group of people working together to advance their interests in the workplace through collective action and collective bargaining.

Bargaining Basis

Bargaining Basics

Information on what it means to collectively bargain and how your involvement can help win fair contracts.

The Difference

The Union Difference

Unions allow us to speak with one voice to address the things most important to us on the job and build power for working people.

Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights

Most private sector employees have the right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act.

USW National News

  • SWOC Turns 90

    USW’s Founding Has its Roots in Organizing Drive that Began in 1936 It was 90 years ago – in the sweltering heat of one of the warmest and driest summers in American history – that organizers fanned o... —

  • Solidarity in Safety

    USW Activists Build Safer, Healthier Workplaces and Communities Norm Rogers and his fellow USW oil workers fought to enshrine strict safety standards for refineries in California law, finally winning... —

  • Miners Build Power for the Future at USW Mining Conference

    About 200 USW members from the U.S. and Canada honed their skills and pledged their ongoing solidarity last week at the 2026 Mining Conference focused on building power in a turbulent but rapidly expa... —

  • Union? Yes!

    Workers on Alaska’s North Slope Refuse to Be Left Out in the Cold Bryan Goode has worked on the oil fields of Alaska’s North Slope for 35 years, braving some of the most extreme weather conditions and... —

  • Board Rejects Weakened Refinery Safety Rules

    USW refinery workers in California won a long-sought victory in September when the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board rejected a proposed settlement that would have weakened wor... —

Get Involved!

As USW members, advocacy is at the heart of everything we do. We push for pro-worker policies, and we give back to our communities. We keep each other safe, and we lift up each other’s voices. So whether you’re a seasoned veteran or an emerging activist, there’s a place for you to get more involved.

Learn More

Get Involved!