United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard talked with progressive talk show host Ed Schultz about the forces working against wage earners, a "Journey for Justice" for workers and Republican candidate Rick Santorum.

They talked about the Koch brothers, their relationship with the Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and how they plan to go after labor, public sector unions and public education.

Gerard said, "We now know completely what his agenda is and his agenda is not to just beat up on the labor movement but to eviscerate the middle class."

They also talked about the 3-day "Journey for Justice," a 1,000-mile road trip From Fargo, Minn, to Findlay, Ohio, for union workers, their families and friends to highlight the greed of two companies - American Crystal Sugar Company Bakery, who locked out 1,300 Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) workers and of Cooper Tire and Rubber Co., who locked out 1,050 United Steelworkers (USW) members.

Lastly, they talked about the radical candidate who has shown his true colors against labor, Rick Santorum. "The Republican Party has moved to the extreme right. They are almost like a cult now," said Gerard.

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Supporters Deliver Petition Signed by Tens of Thousands to Crystal Sugar Headquarters

Hundreds of union members, their families, and supporters rallied in Moorhead, MN, today to protest the lockout of some 1,300 workers by American Crystal Sugar Company (ACS). After the rally, a delegation of labor and community leaders delivered a petition signed by more than 33,000 people to the company’s headquarters.

The petition calls on CEO David Berg to end the lockout and resume negotiations with his workers, members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM). The petition was circulated on the internet by American Rights at Work and the Minnesota AFL-CIO. More than 33,000 people had signed by Tuesday.

“This overwhelming response to our petition shows that people support our struggle for justice at Crystal Sugar,” said Nathan Rham, who has worked at the ACS Hillsboro factory for four years ... more

Over 250 United Steelworkers (USW) refinery workers, their families and members of the Boilermakers, Pipefitters, United Auto Workers and Carpenters unions descended upon Washington, D.C. on Feb. 15 for a “Lobby & Action Day” in support of the campaign to keep open the Sunoco and ConocoPhillips refineries in the Philadelphia area.

The participants attended a press briefing on Capitol Hill with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and members of the Pennsylvania and Delaware congressional delegations. Afterward, they split into two groups: One group lobbied members of the Northeast congressional delegation who had not previously been approached. The other group moved crosstown to chant and demonstrate on the sidewalks in front of the Washington offices of Sunoco and ConocoPhillips.

The members’ goals were simple: to get Congress to hold hearings investigating the Sunoco and ConocoPhillips refinery closures and to get Washington to take action to keep these facilities open.

Sunoco announced Sept. 6 that it would close its Marcus Hook, Pa., and Philadelphia refineries by July 2012 if a buyer was not found. Three weeks later, ConocoPhillips announced it was immediately idling its Trainer, Pa., refinery. In December, Sunoco announced it would idle the Marcus Hook plant sooner because of poor economic conditions. The ConocoPhillips refinery shut down in January and has a March 31 deadline to find a buyer. Marcus Hook is decommissioning and USW-represented workers are expected to be laid off Feb. 29. Only the Sunoco Philadelphia plant is operating.

USW Local 10-234 President Denis Stephano, who recently lost his job at the Trainer refinery after working there for 35 years, said about 230 workers, many with families, lost their jobs at his facility.

“It’s the younger people, the 30-year-old with two kids, who really have the toughest time with it,” he told the Associated Press at the news conference. “That’s the bigger issue here.”

Hearings Requested

Senator Casey announced Feb. 10 that he has called for a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine the possible negative effect the Philadelphia refinery closures will have on fuel prices in the Northeast.

At the Feb. 15 meeting he said many Pennsylvanians and Americans throughout the country could be adversely impacted by price hikes for home heating oil and transportation fuel. He also said the shutdowns could impact national security. That day he released a letter he wrote to incoming Sunoco CEO Brian MacDonald about the company needing to redouble its efforts to find a buyer for its refineries.

“They need to be more transparent about where they are on the sale and where they are in keeping your interest in mind,” Casey said to the union members at the press briefing.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07) announced at the meeting that the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, which he chairs, will be conducting a hearing soon on how the closure of the Philadelphia-area facilities and other nationwide refinery shutdowns could increase the risks to domestic critical infrastructure and threaten supply shortages in a time of global crisis. The Philadelphia closures will remove over 50 percent of the refining capacity in the Northeast.

“More than 30 U.S. refineries have closed in the last decade,” Meehan said in a press release from his office. “This hearing will help us understand the homeland security consequences of our declining domestic refining capacity, both in terms of threats to critical infrastructure and our dependence on imports from unstable parts of the world.”

Also speaking at the meeting were U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and U.S. Representatives Chaka Fattah (D-2nd PA); Allyson Schwartz (D-13th PA); John Carney (D-10th PA) and Robert Brady (D-1st PA).

Full USW Support

USW International Vice President Gary Beevers, who heads the National Oil Bargaining program, acknowledged the rallying, marching, lobbying and writing of letters the Philadelphia refinery workers and members of other unions have done that brought them to the Feb. 15 day of action.

He said he has been meeting with potential buyers of the Philadelphia-area refineries and expressed hope that a buyer could be found. He said Valero’s Delaware City refinery was shut down for 10 months until it was sold.

USW International Vice President Fred Redmond spoke at the end of the meeting to say that he and Beevers were both present to represent USW International President Leo W. Gerard, who is solidly behind the campaign to keep USW refineries open. Gerard asked Redmond to affirm the USW will persist in seeking solutions in the Pennsylvania state house and before the U.S. government.

“The Philly refineries are not just a state problem, or a Northeast regional problem, but a national problem,” Redmond said.

District 10 Director John DeFazio, whose region is the state of Pennsylvania, spoke with the refinery workers at the meeting and participated in the interviews with the news media covering the event.

USW MEDIA ADVISORY

Auto fuels, heating oil shortages expected if closures proceed

About 200 oil workers from three Philadelphia refineries slated for permanent shutdowns early this year are arriving on buses for a ‘Lobby & Action Day’ on Capitol Hill to advocate that the closures threaten family-supportive jobs and will lead to  persistent shortages of home heating oil and motor vehicle fuels in Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast.

 A press briefing with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7th-PA) and other invited Pennsylvania congressional members is scheduled with leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) on Wed., Feb. 15 at 12:00 Noon in Room 902, Hart Senate Office Building. The refinery workers will also be present.

Sidewalk demonstrations by the Philly oil workers against their employers’ Washington offices are happening at the ConocoPhillips Corp.: Eye and 18th Streets., NW at 2:00 pm; and at the Sunoco Corp.: K and 9th Streets., NW at 3:00 pm. ‘Pink Slips’ will be presented to the managers of each oil company office owning the Pennsylvania refineries being shutdown ... more

USW, BCTGM Announce Tour to Highlight Corporate Attacks on Workers

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 15, 2012  -- The United Steelworkers (USW) and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) have announced a joint project, "From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for Justice." Locked out workers from American Crystal Sugar Company (PINK:ASCS) and Cooper Tire and Rubber Company (NYSE: CTB) will embark on a road trip from Fargo, North Dakota, to Findlay, Ohio, in order to focus attention on the most recent wave of greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers and their unions.

Members of the USW and BCTGM will travel over 1,000 miles through six states in six days, participating in rallies, fundraisers, and direct actions with local union members and allies along the way. The Journey for Justice will begin on Wed., Feb. 22, 2012, with a rally in Fargo, N.D. and make stops in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana before concluding on Mon., Feb. 27, in Findlay, Ohio.

Cooper Tire locked out more than 1,000 workers at its Findlay tire plant on Nov. 28, 2011, just days after the Thanksgiving holiday. More than six months ago, American Crystal Sugar locked out its entire union workforce of some 1,300 sugar beet workers from seven facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa, despite making record profits over the last three years ... more

Leo W. Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers (USW) issued the following statement today on hearing reports of President Obama’s budget proposal that’s going to Congress, asking millions for a new trade enforcement center and the resources to more effectively enforce U.S. trade laws:

“President Obama has acted to enforce America’s laws against unfair trade since coming to office and announced in his State of the Union address last month, a clear commitment to this effort.  The USW is especially pleased to know the President’s budget will be asking for millions of dollars to arm his new Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC) with the resources needed to fight for American jobs.

“Too many American workers have had their jobs stolen from them by foreign unfair, predatory and illegal trade practices.   Many of our trade competitors agree to the rules, but then fail to abide by them.  Enforcing our laws – and the commitments other countries have made – must be high priority. President Obama is devoting resources to accomplish that goal ... more

Contract Issues Include Emergency Response Needs

MEDIA ADVISORY

United Steelworkers Union (USW) members at Tesoro’s Anacortes, Wash., facility are rallying at the refinery gate on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 11:30 AM to send Tesoro Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Greg Goff a message that the company needs to bargain fairly.

“USW members are sending a message to Mr. Goff that they expect to be treated with respect and dignity,” said USW Local 12-591 President Steve Garey. “Workers deserve a fair and equitable contract at each of the six Tesoro refineries that USW members maintain and operate. It’s high time Tesoro rejoins the ranks of decent employers ... more

Leo W. Gerard, international president of the United Steelworkers (USW) issued the following statement today on the record high for the U.S. trade deficit for a single year with China, that includes an overall increase of $1.8 billion in December of automotive vehicles, parts and engines.

“Last year’s trade deficit was another measure of our nation’s failed trade policies.  The U.S. trade deficit with the world increased by more than 10 percent over the previous year, but our trade deficit with China reached an historic high of $295 billion.

“The success of our nation’s trade policies should be measured not in the number of trade agreements that are signed, but the increase in jobs and growth.   Each billion dollars in trade deficits represents thousands of American lost jobs and the overall trade deficit has placed a significant drag on economic growth and our recovery ... more

Leslie Marshall discusses with United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo W. Gerard the startling changes that has swept over the political landscape since the 2010 election that should be a concern to all Americans.

The tsunami of extreme measures by Republican legislators is not only attacking basic rights of working men and women but the rights of young people, the elderly and minorities.

The motive to introduce Right to Work legislation is to try and destroy unions. The only problem with this legislation is it is a guise to lower our standard of living.

Figures show, that in states that had right to work prior to 2010:
• On average workers made about $5,300 less than those with no legislation,
• The average pension of workers were lower,
• The average person had less health care coverage,
• The average high school and college graduate rates were lower, and
• The average life expectancy was shorter.

Download Right to Work (for less), Voter Suppression, Our Democracy Under Assault »

Union and Company Submit Draft Standard to Agency

The United Steelworkers (USW) and Materion Brush today announced that they have reached agreement on a model Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) beryllium standard and have sent it to the agency as a joint recommendation.

Materion Brush, the only U.S. producer of pure beryllium metal, accounts for more than half of the beryllium alloys and compounds produced in the United States. The USW represents workers who manufacture beryllium alloys and beryllium-containing products in a number of industries.

Beryllium, a valuable metal, is critical in many applications, including national defense. However, beryllium can cause a chronic and sometimes fatal disease of the lungs. Studies have also shown beryllium to cause cancer. The current permissible exposure limit is the lowest for any common metal, but it is widely acknowledged to be too high ... more