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

  • New Contract at Domtar

    Members Vote Overwhelmingly to Ratify Four-Year Agreement USW members voted overwhelmingly this winter to ratify a new four-year master agreement that provides significant annual wage increases and ad... —

  • Building a Stronger Union Around Safety

    USW Activists Work Hard to Identify and Eliminate On-The-Job Hazards In July 2025, Kerry Halter, president of Local 752L at the Cooper-Goodyear plant in Texarkana, Ark., invited a USW team to particip... —

  • Union Power

    Members at Milbank Manufacturing in Missouri Produce Electrical Distribution Units Brad Dalton first walked through the door at Milbank Manufacturing Co. in Kansas City at the age of 20, expecting tha... —

  • McCall Steps Aside

    International President David McCall Leaves Behind Incomparable Legacy of Advocacy David McCall was 18 years old when he joined Local 6787 and went to work as a millwright at Bethlehem Steel’s sprawli... —

  • Neumann Becomes New SOAR President

    Ken Neumann, who served for 18 years as the USW’s national director for Canada before his retirement in 2022, became the fifth international president of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retire... —

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!