United Steelworkers Press Releases Feed

  • USW Strongly Supports Solar Trade Case, Calls for Energy Security to be Anchored by American Jobs
    Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, (412) 562-2444, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – The United Steelworkers union (USW) today sent a letter to the Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission strongly supporting antidumping and countervailing duty petitions the American Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee filed earlier this year. “Our energy security must be rooted in American jobs,” said USW International President David McCall. “That is the only way we are truly secure. If we’re serious about meeting our energy needs and addressing the threat of climate change, we cannot allow unfairly traded solar products to choke out our domestic industry.” The petitions, primarily against Chinese-owned companies operating in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, identify a number of entities that were previously found to engage in unfair and illegal trade practices.   “This case is a perfect example of the kind of tactics that Chinese firms repeatedly use,” said McCall. “They target our market, they are found guilty and then they use other countries to flood our market with their unfairly and illegally priced products. Fair trade requires constant vigilance.” USW members currently produce many of the inputs that go into solar products. The USW also reached an agreement this summer with Convalt Energy, a firm seeking to produce solar products in the United States, where the company will respect the rights of workers to form a union. McCall noted the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to grow the domestic renewable energy sector. “The investments we’re seeing are truly historic and will transform our energy landscape,” McCall said. “But we can’t allow China’s cheating to undermine this progress. This case is a critical part of securing our future.” Read the USW’s letter here. The USW represents 850,000 workers 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 27
  • USW Reaches Agreement with Convalt Energy to Respect Workers’ Rights
    Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, (412) 562-2444, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) – The United Steelworkers union (USW) today announced an agreement with Convalt Energy mutually pledging to prioritize workers’ rights as together they work to bring solar energy manufacturing back to the United States. “Domestic workers are more than up to the challenge of combating climate change,” said USW International President David McCall. “But as ways in which we meet our energy needs shift, we must ensure that the jobs of the future are good, community-sustaining jobs. We applaud Convalt for trusting in its workforce and taking this decisive step forward.” USW Vice President Roxanne Brown said that this sort of arrangement demonstrates the true promise of President Joe Biden’s energy policy. “Today’s announcement is a tribute to the Biden-Harris administration’s leadership and commitment to workers,” Brown said. “Built into the bedrock of their efforts to breathe new life into our nation’s solar industry is the idea that workers must have a voice in what comes next.” Convalt Energy CEO Hari Achuthan said that the agreement signals his company’s commitment to the communities in which it operates. “We are in the midst of bringing the solar manufacturing supply chain back to the United States, and given the chance, we know domestic producers can compete and win,” Achuthan said. “The Biden-Harris administration has been a great partner in this effort. “Our most important asset will be our people, and the agreement we’ve signed with USW signals our dedication to ensuring they are able to access their rights in the workplace. Convalt’s commitment to our workers and innovation, especially in next generation solar technologies, will be a winning combination and supports the administration’s goals to create good paying jobs right here in America.” The agreement between the USW and Convalt commits the company to refrain from pressuring or intimidating workers during their unionization efforts, ensuring a free and fair election. “Building out our domestic solar manufacturing capacity – from production of solar cells, modules and panels to the installation, maintenance and repair of solar energy equipment – must have a Made-In-America solution,” McCall said. “We look forward to working with employers like Convalt as we ensure long-term success across this sector.” The USW represents 850,000 workers 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 16
  • USW Backs NewRange Studies of NorthMet Mining Project
    Contact: John Arbogast, (218) 744-2757, [email protected] (MINNEAPOLIS) — The United Steelworkers (USW) union today announced its support for NewRange Copper Nickel’s plan to conduct a series of studies to determine whether new mining technology and sustainability developments can enhance environmental safeguards and mining performance for the company’s NorthMet project.  “This project and projects like it are a vital part of our nation’s transition to clean energy, and will help to support a domestic supply chain of critical minerals while limiting the impact on the environment,” said USW District 11 representative John Arbogast, who works with thousands of USW members on Minnesota’s Iron Range. “The USW applauds the announcement by NewRange that it will embark on these studies. “This announcement demonstrates that NewRange, working in partnership with the USW, is determined to improve the project beyond compliance with regards to tailings storage, efficient production, water treatment, and reduction of carbon footprint.” Arbogast said. 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 15
  • USW Applauds Choice of Walz as Vice Presidential Candidate
    Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, (412) 562-2450, [email protected] (PITTSBURGH) — United Steelworkers (USW) International President David McCall issued the following statement today in response to Vice President Kamala Harris’ choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate: “Vice President Harris couldn’t have chosen a stronger champion of workers to be her running mate, and the USW applauds her decision. “From his many years of service in Congress to his time as governor of Minnesota, Gov. Walz has fought for working families every step of the way. A former union educator, he’s enacted some of the most significant pro-worker reforms in our nation’s history. “Gov. Walz has given more workers access to paid sick and family leave; he has made major strides in protecting workers’ health and safety on the job; he has improved standards for patients and workers at Minnesota’s nursing homes; he has strengthened union organizing and collective bargaining rights; he has expanded unemployment benefits and taken steps to protect workers from wage theft and other abuses. “In addition, Gov. Walz understands the importance of mining and manufacturing to the economy of Minnesota and to the future of this country, and he will never stop fighting for workers across all industries. “American workers deserve leaders who fight for them every day. For four years, we’ve been fortunate to have seen exactly that kind of leadership from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We have no doubt Tim Walz will continue that work to move our nation forward.” 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 6
  • 500 Workers at Genera PR Vote to Join USW
    For Immediate Release: July 31, 2024 Contact: Cheyenne Schoen, [email protected], (412) 562-2446 PUERTO RICO – Nearly 500 workers at Genera PR today voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union. The newly unionized workers serve as technicians, electricians, field operators, instrumentalists, maintenance workers, and more in 17 locations across Puerto Rico. Genera PR is an independently managed subsidiary of the New York-based energy company New Fortress, Inc., which generates electricity for the entire island. “This is a historic moment for not only the USW but also our new members at Genera PR,” said USW District 4 Director David Wasiura. “This victory has significant implications for electricity generation in Puerto Rico as well as our ability to hold companies that seek to enrich themselves by privatizing public services to account.” Puerto Rico began privatizing the island’s power generation in 2017 after the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) declared bankruptcy. Genera PR officially took over for the Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica (AEE) on July 1, 2023. Genera refused to recognize any of the unions that represented workers at AEE. “The transition to the private sector left us without the protection of a collective bargaining agreement,” said Stephany Resto Sierra, an electrician at the Genera PR San Juan plant. “Winning our union was a priority because uncertainty reigned here previously. Now, through our union, we’ll be able to improve our working conditions and have a say in the decisions that affect us. We now call on Genera PR to sit down with us and swiftly negotiate a fair first contract.” “Working in the private sector brings new challenges, and the surest way for us to improve our working conditions and defend our labor rights was through securing union representation,” said Oscar Roque, a worker at Genera PR’s Palo Seco plant. “We trust that future collective bargaining will be done in good faith and for the benefit of all parties.” 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. ### — Jul 31