News from the Steelworkers (USW)
This Week’s Fight Back America Headlines: May 24, 2007
Negotiations Reach Crucial Phase in British Columbia’s Forest Sector
A June 15 contract expiration date for five local unions in BC’s forest sector is rapidly approaching. The USW is negotiating collective agreements for more than 8,000 workers employed mainly in sawmills and logging operations. We are aiming for two-year agreements to reunite coastal workers with interior workers and repair damage done by government-imposed agreements in 2004. This is the first major set of negotiations since the September 2004 merger between the former Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada and the USW. For more information, click here http://www.usw.ca/program/content/4109.php.
USW Public Sector Conference Held in Pittsburgh
More than 100 delegates from diverse USW-represented workplaces in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean gathered in Pittsburgh recently to discus pressing issues in the public sector. In workshops and panel discussions held over three days, the delegates examined subjects such as organizing, workplace restructuring, technological change, outsourcing, privatization of government work and dispute resolution. For more information about our Public Employee Council, click here http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/overview_sub.php?modules2_ID=94&modules_ID=416.
Steelworkers Endorse Al Franken for U.S. Senate in Minnesota
USW District 11 has endorsed satirist and author Al Franken in the upcoming race for the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota. In announcing the endorsement, District 11 Director Bob Bratulich cited Franken’s support of universal health care, early childhood education, retirement security and fair trade, as well as his strong support for the Employee Free Choice Act. Al is an associate member of the Steelworkers, as well as a full member of four unions: the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the Screen Actors’ Guild (SAG), the Writers’ Guild and the Directors’ Guild. For more information, click here http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/4021.php.
Medco Council Meets
The Medco Council, composed of USW-represented locals from throughout the United States, met with USW Vice President Fred Redmond last week to discuss strategies for future and current bargaining. I was glad to have had the opportunity to speak to the Council about my meeting with the company’s CEO and our goal as a union to expand our density in the healthcare and pharmaceuticals industries.
Check Out Our Weekly POWERcast
In this week’s POWERcast, espisode 17, we feature an interview with journalist and author David Sirota, who gives us an update on the important trade debate going on in Washington, D.C. We also hear from Congresswoman Betty Sutton of Ohio and the AFL-CIO’s Bob Baugh. What do lead-laced baby bibs and the health of our country’s children have to do with international trade? Marilyn Furer, a concerned grandmother from Illinois, helps connect the dots.
For a list of all episodes, click here http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/3712.php.