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USW Health, Safety and Environment Activists Renew Commitment to the Cause The following article was featured in the Fall 2024 issue of USW@Work. Before Christopher Burks and his 325 co-workers at Kumho Tire in Macon, Ga., ratified their first contract in August 2023, they had little recourse to address their concerns about health and safety on the job. Now, after a six-year fight against long odds to join the USW, the members of Local 9008 are working under their first union contract, with health and safety language covering training, a workplace safety committee, incident investigations and other important provisions to prevent recurrence. “It was such a long battle. It was a hard fight,” Burks said. “In our first contract, we didn’t get everything we wanted, but we are better than we were before we started, and we are going to continue to grow.” Not long after that first contract took effect at Kumho, in April 2024, 57-year-old worker Steven Brookins was killed in a tragic workplace incident. If not for the USW contract there, members might not have been able to fully participate in the investigation and aftermath of that incident. Founding Principle It is that work – fighting for workers’ safety and health – that is the bedrock principle of union membership, International President David McCall said in August in his address to almost 1,700 members and guests at the USW Health, Safety and Environment Conference in Pittsburgh. “Health and safety is the foundation of the labor movement,” McCall said, emphasizing the importance of steadfast solidarity when it comes to safety. “No matter what the issues are, it’s about workers. It takes every one of us to make things better.” McCall spoke on the conference’s opening day, just after hosting meetings with acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, along with Burks and other new USW members from Kumho Tire and Blue Bird bus company in Fort Valley, Ga. Su congratulated the workers on their victories and made the case that having a union to fight for worker protections is the most basic aspect of a good job. “No job should be a death sentence,” Su said. “Every worker should know that they’re going to come home healthy and safe at the end of their work shift.” Protecting Workers Organizing more workers into the union, as USW members have done at Kumho, Blue Bird, the University of Pittsburgh and elsewhere in recent years, is the best way to protect workers, she said. “It happened because you organized, and it happened because you acted in solidarity,” Su said of the recent surge in union activism. “It also happened because leadership matters. Together, we are ushering in a new era of a pro-worker, pro-union America.” Ted Campiso, Rapid Response and safety representative for Local 13-447 in Westwego, La., said that making sure workers are safer on the job is not just a union issue – it also is a political one. “We have to have the right legislation,” Campiso said. “Elections have consequences, and bad things can happen very quickly.” In his address, McCall noted a number of the positive consequences of the Biden-Harris administration’s election in 2020, including new rules limiting worker exposure to silica dust, ensuring safe staffing in nursing facilities, and expanding the rights of workers to participate in incident investigations. Workers across the country made all of those gains thanks to the activism of USW members, McCall said. “We’ve weathered a lot of rough times, but we now have leaders who listen to what our issues are and are sincere about helping us with those problems,” he said. “It’s good to have so many friends who have our backs.” Heat Standard Another victory for worker safety could be on the way in the form of a standard protecting workers from the effects of extreme heat, said James Frederick, a former USW health and safety representative now serving as deputy assistant secretary of labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Frederick spoke to members at the conference about the progress his agency has made since January 2021. The heat standard, which the Biden administration proposed this summer and which is currently in the review process, would cover 36 million workers in both indoor and outdoor workplaces, he said. Joining Frederick in addressing the conference was Steve Owens, chair of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) along with other health and safety regulators. Refinery Tragedy Owens and Frederick led a discussion of the importance of thorough incident investigations, focusing on the tragic loss of two USW members and brothers, Ben and Max Morrissey of Local 1-346, in September 2022 at the BP-Husky oil refinery in Oregon, Ohio. The CSB investigation of that tragedy found a series of failures on the part of refinery management and led the agency to issue seven recommendations to refinery operators, and others, to prevent future tragedies by addressing the safety gaps that led to the fire. “Nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong during this incident,” Owens said. “The tragic loss of life resulting from this fire underscores the importance of putting in place the tools that employees need to perform tasks safely.” Making sure workers have those tools requires support from the USW, employers, and securing those commitments is one of the most important jobs of a union-management health and safety committee, said USW Health, Safety and Environment Director Steve Sallman. “We are here to do everything we can to prevent this from happening again,” he said. Training and Education For USW members, the work of preventing such fatal and life-altering incidents on the job takes on many forms, including investigating, training workers, inspecting work sites, identifying and eliminating potential hazards, and communicating with members and management about issues of concern. To help members do that work, the weeklong conference provided 303 workshops covering topics such as incident investigation, fatigue, active shooter, whistleblower protections, ergonomics, workplace stress, chemical safety, fall protection, industrial hygiene, cancer in the workplace, reducing toxic exposures, safe patient handling for health care workers, and the first-ever industry/sector breakout meetings. Elaine Stewart, a personal support worker at Cogir and member of Local 8300, said the conference gave her a chance to learn how her fellow health care workers are addressing their on-the-job issues. “I leave knowing other people are going through the same issues of short staffing and workplace violence that we are,” she said. “I know that we can help each other and work together to solve these issues.” Help for Members Campiso said the health, safety and environment conference is one of the most important events for USW members to attend, because it arms local union leaders with the tools and the knowledge they need to make their workplaces safer. “Our union has so many resources, and members need to know about them,” he said. Those resources include assistance with incident investigations, training and education through the USW’s grant-funded Tony Mazzocchi Center, and help in the aftermath of tragic events through the union’s Emergency Response Team (ERT). The ERT provides members and families with immediate aid, counseling, help in investigating root causes of accidents, as well as assistance with legal, financial and other needs. ERT Director Duronda Pope, formerly a member of Local 8031 in Denver, said that even though the work of ERT coordinators can be extremely difficult and stressful, it also can be the most rewarding work union members do. The ERT currently has 62 team members across the United States and Canada. “We advocate for people during the worst time in their lives,” Pope said. “Looking after each other is key, because we are our brother’s and sister’s keeper.” The conference’s second day began with a solemn reminder of why that work is so critical. The conference hall fell silent as video screens displayed the traditional memorial scroll with the names of workers who had their lives taken from them at USW-represented workplaces since the union’s last health, safety and environment conference in April 2023. That memorial, McCall said, is the most important part of the event. “It really is a stark reminder that our work is never done,” McCall said. “We don’t know how many lives we’ve saved. There’s no way to measure it, but it’s work that can never stop, and we can never quit.” — Oct 11
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Atomic Energy Workers Council Focuses on Retention, Safety At the Atomic Energy Workers Council (AEWC) biannual meeting last week, representatives from the United Steelworkers (USW) addressed pressing challenges facing atomic workers, including retention, health and safety concerns, and the upcoming presidential election. Retention challenges at the forefront Derek Gaston, Deputy Technical Area Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation program, addressed the council about the workforce needed to achieve the Biden administration’s goal of tripling nuclear energy output by 2028. Gaston estimated that nearly 375,000 new workers will be required—approximately four times the current workforce. “We need your help to reach these goals,” Gaston said. “The future of nuclear energy relies on a strong, well-trained workforce.” Council members voiced concerns about the recruitment and training necessary to meet these ambitious goals. Matt Chavez, President of USW Local 12-652 at the Idaho National Lab, pointed out that issues related to wages, pensions, and stringent clearance requirements are hindering recruitment efforts, particularly among younger workers. “These guys are seeing the writing on the wall – employees will be jumping ship,” Chavez noted, highlighting higher wages available in nearby Boise. “We’ll face serious challenges if we don’t address this.” Safety and maintenance concerns Jeff Avery, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Environmental Management, listened as representatives from various atomic sites raised alarms about health and safety due to inadequate maintenance of facilities and equipment. At the Idaho National Lab, council members reported a number of pressing health and safety concerns regarding equipment and infrastructure. Representatives from the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant also highlighted the urgent need for upgrades to critical infrastructure at the New Mexico site. Avery acknowledged a “broad awareness” within the EM office that WIPP requires funding from the DOE for these projects. Training and workforce development successes Despite these challenges, USW-led training programs for nuclear workers are proving successful. The USW Tony Mazzocchi Center (USWTMC) has surpassed its workforce development target, achieving 123 percent of its goal for the number of nuclear workers trained through TMC programs. The Portsmouth, Ohio site continues to improve its training efforts and recently secured a $2 million grant to provide skills training and certification programs for 700 workers. Looking ahead USW International Vice President Roxanne Brown, who leads both the USW’s legislative work and the union’s atomic sector, underscored the significance of the upcoming 2024 presidential election for the nuclear industry. “This sector is unique; who occupies the White House and leads Congress truly matters,” Brown stated. The USW has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for the presidential ticket, expressing confidence that Harris will continue to champion essential policies for the sector, such as climate action and workforce development. The council intends to meet with the incoming administration next year to outline their priorities. “We want to ensure that we clearly communicate our expectations for this sector and its implications for the economy,” Brown emphasized. As the council prepares for the next administration, the focus will be on securing firm commitments for the future of atomic workers. The AEWC plans to reconvene in April 2025 at the USW’s Constitutional Convention to consolidate the priorities they want to deliver to the next administration. “This is fundamentally about ensuring a future for our jobs at these sites,” Brown said. “We have a unique opportunity to outline what that future should look like. We know how to do this work; we just need to be clear and specific about our requests.” — Oct 8
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From the SOAR Director: USW Retirees and Active Members Hopeful for Continued Progress in 2024 Elections With the 2024 election fresh in our minds, I thought I’d take this opportunity to take stock of the top legislative and policy victories we’ve secured over the last four years. While we can’t possibly list every victory, I’m hopeful that this review will embolden and motivate us for the important work that lies ahead. Federal legislative and policy victories:
- Union Pensions Rescued: 120,000 active and retired USW members were among the 1.3 million union members whose pensions were rescued by the Biden/Harris American Rescue Plan.
- Lower Prescription Drug Costs were achieved through the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which empowered Medicare to negotiate costs with drug manufacturers. As a result, Medicare recipients now enjoy a $35 monthly cap for their insulin and, beginning in 2025, a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket prescription costs, saving an estimated 19 million Medicare beneficiaries $400 per year on average.
- Renewed, Pro-worker direction at the National Labor Relations Board has helped spur a massive surge in union elections. President Biden took swift action to fire the former NLRB general counsel who turned the Board against workers, chipping away at our bargaining ability and generally weakening unions. Then, on numerous occasions, Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm labor-friendly members to the Board, creating an opportunity to restore and increase Board funding and to reverse Trump-era rules that restricted union activities in American worksites.
- Historic investments in American manufacturing, thanks to another tie-breaking vote from Vice President Harris, helped pass the Biden/Harris Inflation Reduction Act. This law is sparking private investment in new manufacturing and has provided existing facilities with the resources to upgrade technology to remain competitive.
- Hard-fought improvements in workplace health and safety include a new ban on the import and use of asbestos in worksites and a long-awaited rule to limit workers’ exposure to silica dust. Additionally, the Biden/Harris Department of Labor has moved to create a new federal standard to protect workers from heat-related illnesses and death.
- Michigan’s newly-elected, pro-union governor and legislature – the state’s first in nearly 40 years – acted to restore workers’ collective bargaining rights by repealing the state’s so-called right-to-work law and putting an end to the unfair pension tax.
- Minnesota’s pro-worker, pro-retiree legislature and governor, Tim Walz (now our endorsed Vice Presidential Nominee), passed a state budget (HF3028/SF3035) that was hailed as the “most significant worker protection bill in state history.”
- In Ohio, voters defeated Issue 1, which would have raised the threshold for voters to amend the constitution to a supermajority of 60 percent and enacted stricter requirements for getting amendments on the ballot.
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Local 14300’s Reagan Benge Discovers Newfound Confidence at District 8 Women’s Conference Reagan Benge has worked as a material handler at Jackson Warewashing Systems in Gray, Kent., for three years and has been wanting to get more involved with Local 14300. She knew the USW District 8 Women of Steel Conference this past August was a great way to do just that. “Our local’s Women of Steel Chair invited me, and at first, I was a little on edge because I’m pretty shy,” Benge said. “But then I got to learn from other sisters and hear about their experiences, and it really inspired me.” Benge’s favorite part of the conference – the District’s first of its kind – was learning about the history of labor and all the sacrifices workers made to grow and strengthen the movement. She’s now ready to help build her local’s Women of Steel committee, which already is well on their way with organizing luncheon fundraisers for workers in need. “It’s changed the whole factory completely,” said Benge. “It’s building solidarity.” Benge is also grateful to have a union job because of the camaraderie that has given her a newfound confidence. “I feel like I have a backbone now,” she said. “I know my union will have my back.” One thing Benge is looking forward to is getting more women at the 200-member facility involved and even potentially running for local union office. In the meantime, when Benge isn’t at the factory or fundraising with her USW siblings, she loves to work on her Mustang and compete in drag racing competitions. Her advice to other women who want to get involved in their union but feel too nervous to start? “If you get the chance, you should definitely take the risk and step up,” Benge said. “If you don’t, nothing will change.” — Sep 20
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Rapid Response Info Alert: Steelworkers, We Need You This Thursday in Ohio! Stand Up for Aluminum Extrusion Jobs USW members know firsthand that U.S. workers can compete with anyone when the playing field is level. However, in a global economy, we have to fight to ensure that workers are protected from unfair trade practices. That is why, October 25, 2023, alongside the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition (http://usw.to/4YL), USW filed a trade case (http://usw.to/4Z4) regarding unfair aluminum extrusion imports from several countries that have harmed domestic workers and producers. These imports, sold at unfairly low prices, have led to reduced shifts, workforce downsizing, and idled extrusion presses across the country. Our union is committed to advocating for fair trade practices and supporting the ongoing investigations to safeguard this vital industry. For more information about the ongoing trade case, please visit the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition (http://usw.to/4YL) website or read this article (http://usw.to/4Z5) co-authored by, USW International President David McCall. The final determinations regarding our petition will be made by the end of fall 2024. To prepare for the final sprint, USW District 1 is hosting Senator Sherrod Brown, who has been a supporter of this trade case since filing, to discuss the importance of the aluminum extrusion industry in Ohio and our nation’s trade enforcement laws. All USW Members are welcome to attend! Details for Event with Senator Sherrod Brown DATE: Thursday, August 29, 2024 TIME: 10:45am (EST) LOCATION: USW Local 1375 684 North Park Avenue Warren, OH 44483 Although an RSVP is not required, it is helpful for us. Please send an email to District 1 Rapid Response Coordinator, Sue Browne at [email protected], if you plan to join. — Aug 27
United Steelworkers Press Releases Feed
- USW Health, Safety and Environment Activists Renew Commitment to the Cause
- Atomic Energy Workers Council Focuses on Retention, Safety
- From the SOAR Director: USW Retirees and Active Members Hopeful for Continued Progress in 2024 Elections
- Local 14300’s Reagan Benge Discovers Newfound Confidence at District 8 Women’s Conference
- Rapid Response Info Alert: Steelworkers, We Need You This Thursday in Ohio!