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University of Pittsburgh Staff Vote to Join USW Contact: Cheyenne Schoen, [email protected], 412-562-2446 Pittsburgh – University of Pittsburgh staff members today voted to become members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union and look forward to bargaining their first union contract with the school’s administration. “Staff at Pitt have finally achieved what all workers deserve – a collective voice and the ability to take part in decisions that affect our work. It’s been a long road, but ultimately our solidarity carried us through to this historic moment,” said Emilee Ruhland, a Global Communications Strategist in the University Center for International Studies. The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board held a mail ballot election over the past several weeks for the staff members. A strong majority voted in favor of joining the union. “This will make Pitt a more secure workplace and a better place to get an education,” said Ruhland. “It’s a victory for the whole campus community.” The roughly 6,300 workers will become part of the 850,000-member USW, one of the largest labor unions in North America, which has its headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh. Faculty at Pitt unionized with the USW in 2021. “This win belongs to every staff member who stood together for a stronger, more inclusive Pitt,” said USW District 10 Director Bernie Hall, who represents about 50,000 Steelworkers in Pennsylvania. “When workers have a voice, the entire university thrives—from the classrooms to the community that calls it home.” Approximately 2,100 Pitt graduate workers this year filed for their own union election with the USW and will vote once the PLRB sets the schedule. The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in manufacturing, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in tech, public sector and service occupations. ### — Sep 27
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USW Condemns McCormick for Exploiting Pyrex Workers Contact: Joe Smydo, [email protected], 412-562-2281 PITTSBURGH — United Steelworkers (USW) District 10 Director Bernie Hall issued the following statement today following U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick’s visit to Charleroi, Pa.: “David McCormick sunk to a new low by visiting Charleroi to exploit the closing of the Pyrex plant and the loss of hundreds of good union jobs. “McCormick himself has inflicted this very kind of heartache and misery on working people by cutting jobs at his own companies, teaching other employers how to outsource, and doing business with Chinese firms that undermine America’s economy and security. He’s a hypocrite who lined his pockets on the backs of ordinary Americans—and he’s unfit to stand alongside hard-working USW members. “Sen. Bob Casey has reached out to the USW about the plant closing and continues working behind the scenes to help our members during this difficult time. He’s always by our side—fighting for manufacturing workers, standing up to trade cheaters and taking on corporate greed—and we know we can continue to rely on his support in the days to come.” The USW represents 850,000 workers 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 health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. ### — Sep 20
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Eos Energy Workers Vote to Join USW Contact: Cheyenne Schoen, [email protected], 412-562-2446 Pittsburgh – Approximately 160 workers at Eos Energy Enterprises in Pittsburgh voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW), marking a significant step in their pursuit of stronger job security, fair wages, and improved working conditions. Eos workers manufacture batteries used to store electricity generated from renewable sources like solar and wind energy. The decision to unionize reflects the workers’ desire for a voice in shaping the future of their jobs in the rapidly expanding clean energy sector. “Today’s victory at Eos is a pivotal moment for these workers who are eager to be part of this new and growing part of our economy,” said USW District 10 Director Bernie Hall, who represents about 50,000 Steelworkers in Pennsylvania. “These are the jobs of the future, and workers deserve the opportunity to shape their working conditions and secure their place in this vital industry.” “We’re proud to be contributing to our nation’s energy future, but for that future to succeed, we need to earn fair wages and be treated with respect on the job,” said Dante Williams, an assembly operator at Eos. “Unionizing puts our future into our own hands, and now we’re looking forward to sitting down and bargaining a fair contract.” The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in manufacturing, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in tech, public sector and service occupations. ### — Sep 6
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USW Files Petitions Seeking Duties on Corrosion-Resistant Steel Imports Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, (412) 562-2450, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – The United Steelworkers (USW) today joined with domestic steel producers in filing trade petitions seeking anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of corrosion-resistant, flat-rolled steel imports from nine countries. Corrosion-resistant steel, known as CORE, is among the most important value-added flat-rolled steel products in the industry. “CORE imports from these nine countries almost doubled from 690,000 tons in the first half of 2023 to 1.35 million tons in the first half of 2024,” said USW International President David McCall. “These imports are destroying good union jobs in the United States and causing harm to U.S. companies. “In particular, imports from Vietnam almost quadrupled from 122,000 to 468,000 tons,” McCall said. “Vietnam is ramping up its steel industry and exports at the expense of U.S. workers, and we can’t repeat the mistakes with Vietnam that we’ve made with China in the past.” In addition to Vietnam, the nations included in the petition are Australia, Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Corrosion-resistant steel is widely used in vehicles, appliances and construction, as well as in other industries. The U.S. market consumes an estimated 22 million tons of CORE products annually. “In a strong economy with strong steel demand, the U.S. industry is only operating at 77 percent capacity utilization this year and has seen sharply reduced profits compared to 2022 and 2023,” McCall said. “Once again, the U.S. has become the dumping ground for excess steel capacity, and the USW will stand up against any unfair trade that hurts American workers.” The USW represents 850,000 workers 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 health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. # # # — Sep 5
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Museum Workers at The Frick Pittsburgh Vote to Join USW Contact: Cheyenne Schoen, [email protected], (412) 562-2446 Pittsburgh – Workers at The Frick Pittsburgh Museums and Gardens voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union, solidifying their commitment to securing better working conditions. The newly formed unit consists of approximately 100 employees, including café staff, maintenance and housekeeping teams, groundskeepers, gift store and visitor center associates, gallery attendants, museum experience associates, docents, educators, curators, and others vital to the museum's operations. The workers are eager to negotiate a contract that addresses key issues such as job security, fair wages, health insurance, understaffing, and respect in the workplace. “We are the backbone of this institution, and we're excited to finally have a voice in shaping our work environment, our pay, and our benefits,” said John Payne, a groundskeeper at The Frick. The unionization efforts began last winter, with the group announcing its intent to file for a union election on July 31. The Frick Museums are set on the grounds of historic buildings once occupied by steel magnate Henry Clay Frick, who was infamous for his anti-union stance, notably during the Battle of Homestead, where many striking steelworkers lost their lives. “This is a historic and symbolic victory for the labor movement, as we unionize in the very house of Henry Clay Frick, a notorious opponent of unions,” Payne continued. “In a way, this is retribution for the workers who died at Homestead.” The USW also represents more than 500 museum employees across Pittsburgh’s four Carnegie Museums, which, as of last year, constituted the largest museum union in the United States. “It’s an honor to welcome the dedicated staff of The Frick Museums to our union,” said Bernie Hall, USW District 10 director. “These workers are essential to providing a welcoming and enriching environment at this important cultural and historical institution. We are confident that the visitor experience will only improve as these workers gain a stronger voice at the negotiating table.” The USW represents 850,000 workers 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 health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. ### — Aug 28