United Steelworkers

{{about|the present-day union|other uses|Steel worker (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = United Steelworkers

| full_name = United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union

| logo = United Steelworkers logo.svg

| logo_alt =

| abbreviation = USW

| predecessor = Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers

| merged =

| successor =

| formation = {{nowrap|{{start date and age|1942|05|22}}}}

| founder =

| founding_location =

| dissolved =

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| type = Trade union

| headquarters = United Steelworkers Building, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US

| location = {{hlist | Aruba | Canada | United States}}

| membership = 860,294{{Cite OLMS|filenum=000-094|rptId=548605|rptForm=LM2Form|date=March 28, 2014}}

| membership_year = 2015

| leader_title = President

| leader_name = David McCall

| secessions =

| affiliations = {{hlist | AFL–CIO | Canadian Labour Congress | New Democratic Party | Workers Uniting}}

| budget =

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| revenue =

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| website = {{official URL}}

| formerly = United Steel Workers of America

}}

The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, commonly known as the United Steelworkers (USW), is a general trade union with members across North America. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the United Steelworkers represents workers in Canada, the Caribbean, and the United States. The United Steelworkers represent workers in a diverse range of industries, including primary and fabricated metals, paper, chemicals, glass, rubber, heavy-duty conveyor belting, tires, transportation, utilities, container industries, pharmaceuticals, call centers, museums, and health care.

The United Steelworkers is currently affiliated with the AFL–CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in Canada as well as several international union federations. On July 2, 2008, the United Steelworkers signed an agreement to merge with the United Kingdom and Ireland–based union Unite to form a new global union entity called Workers Uniting.

As of 2023, the International President of the United Steelworkers is David McCall, who was installed as president after the death of Tom Conway.

Rank-and-file members, as well as representatives, of the United Steelworkers refer to themselves, and are most often referred to, as Steelworkers. The use of the capitalized single word Steelworker or Steelworkers, as opposed to the lowercase two-worded steel worker or steel workers, is also an identifier of those who are part of, or affiliated with, the United Steelworkers International Union rather than being general non-union workers within the steel industry. This distinction is important in North America wherein a vast majority of the steel industry is unionized. For example, some of the most recognizable and largest companies in the business such as United States Steel (USS) and Cleveland-Cliffs, with their combined hourly workforces at facilities in North America being Steelworkers and represented by the USW, including the largest facilities on the continent, like US Steel's Gary Works in Gary, Indiana, Cleveland-Cliffs's Burns Harbor in Burns Harbor, Indiana, Indiana Harbor East and West in Northwest Indiana, and Cleveland Plant in Cleveland, Ohio, all of which are situated on the Great Lakes freshwater system. On the other hand, some steel companies, usually at facilities known as "mini-mills", like Nucor Steel and its facility in Crawfordsville, Indiana, are non-union shops not represented by the United Steelworkers.

Origins and history

{{Main|Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers|Steel Workers Organizing Committee}}

File:United Steelworkers Building2.jpg]]

The USW was established May 22, 1942, in Cleveland, Ohio, through the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) by a convention of representatives from the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, after almost six years of divisive struggles to create a new union of steelworkers. The drive to create this union included such violent incidents as the infamous Memorial Day, 1937, when Chicago policemen supporting the rival American Federation of Labor (AFL) fired on workers outside a Republic Steel mill and killed 10 men.Michael Dennis, Blood on Steel: Chicago Steelworkers and the Strike of 1937 (2014)

The founder and first president of the USW, Philip Murray, led the union through its first organizing drives and its first decade, when the workers of USW went on strike several times to win the right to bargain collectively with steel companies.

Significant job actions of the USW include:

Growth of the union

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| x = 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

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| y = 612157, 588790, 532234, 512312, 535461, 754978, 730936, 722545, 705190, 626526, 604938, 606954, 614054, 599399

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----

{{center|Finances (US records; ×$1m)}}{{Graph:Chart

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| xAxisTitle = Year | xAxisAngle = -40

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| y1 = 263, 281, 275, 305, 314, 347, 350, 337, 269, 313, 341, 396, 476, 603

| y2 = 197, 225, 242, 270, 288, 464, 470, 526, 533, 688, 770, 864, 818, 616

| y3 = 523, 453, 496, 561, 666, 1126, 1250, 440, 480, 420, 431, 476, 510, 507

| y4 = 519, 432, 482, 569, 657, 1115, 1261, 455, 484, 413, 422, 424, 486, 454

}}|caption={{legend0|red|Assets}} {{legend0|blue|Liabilities}} {{legend0|green|Receipts}} {{legend0|orange|Disbursements}}}}

The 46,000 members of the Aluminum Workers of America voted to merge with the budding steelworker union that was the USW in June 1944. Eventually, eight more unions joined the USW as well: the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers (1967); the United Stone and Allied Product Workers of America (1971); International Union of District 50, Allied and Technical Workers of the United States and Canada (1972); the Upholsterers International Union of North America (1985); the United Rubber, Cork, Linoleum and Plastic Workers of America (URW) (1995); the Aluminum, Brick and Glass Workers Union (ABG) (1996); the Canadian Division of the Transportation Communications International Union (1999); and the American Flint Glass Workers' Union (AFGWU) (2003).

In June 2004, the USW announced a merger with the 57,000 member Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA Canada), a major Canadian forestry workers union. In 2005 it then announced an even larger merger with the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE). The resulting new union adopted its current name after the PACE merger.

In September 2006, the Independent Oil Workers Union of Aruba, which represents refinery workers on the Caribbean island of Aruba, affiliated with the United Steelworkers, becoming the first USW union local outside of the US (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands) and Canada.USW@Work, Volume 1/5, p. 27 (Fall 2006).

In April 2007, the USW also merged with the Independent Steelworkers Union, adding 1,150 members at Arcelor-Mittal's Weirton, West Virginia steel mill.[http://www.usw.org/uswa/program/content/3926.php One Strong Voice: USW, Weirton Independent Union Sign Merger Agreement], USW, April 2007 . {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927141355/http://www.usw.org/uswa/program/content/3926.php |date=September 27, 2007 }}

Strategic alliances

In addition to mergers, the USW has also formed strategic alliances with several other unions as well as other groups. In April 2005, the USW and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) announced that they had formed a strategic alliance to take on the globalization of the culture industry and to address a range of common issues.{{Cite web|url=http://www.usw.ca/program/content/4895.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514035037/http://www.usw.ca/program/content/4895.php|title=ACTRA and USW Renew Vows|archive-date=May 14, 2008}} In July 2006, the USW announced a similar arrangement with the United Transportation Union (UTU), to address common issues in the transportation industry, including the globalization of the industry.[http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060706005782&newsLang=en United Transportation Union Signs Strategic Alliance with United Steelworkers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035813/http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060706005782&newsLang=en |date=September 30, 2007 }} (July 2006) In July 2007, the USW inked yet another strategic alliance with the Canadian Region of the Communications Workers of America.[http://www.usw.ca/program/content/4299.php Steelworkers and Communications Workers Sign Strategic Alliance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928224842/http://www.usw.ca/program/content/4299.php |date=September 28, 2007 }}, USW, July 17, 2007.

Beyond its affiliations with other unions, in June 2006, the USW announced the formation of a 'Blue-Green Alliance' with the Sierra Club, with the goal of pursuing a joint public policy agenda.[http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/content/3035.php Sierra Club, United Steelworkers Announce ‘Blue-Green Alliance’] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621195924/http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/content/3035.php |date=June 21, 2006 }} (June 2006)

In October 2009, the USW announced a framework for collaboration between US and Canadian Steelworkers with Mondragon Internacional, S.A., the world's largest federation of worker cooperatives.[http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0234 USW Site announcement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308182027/http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0234 |date=March 8, 2010 }} of USW-Mondragon Collaboration October 2009

2008 transoceanic merger

In April 2007, Amicus, then the United Kingdom's second-largest trade union, began discussions with the USW about a possible merger.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6531749.stm BBC announces start of discussions with UK trade union Amicus] (April 2007) Amicus subsequently merged with the British Transport and General Workers Union to form the new union Unite. Unite and the USW continued the merger talks initiated by Amicus.

In May 2008, the unions announced that they were putting the "finishing touches" on the merger, that the merger had been endorsed by Unite officials, and that the USW would discuss the plan at its forthcoming convention in July. Once completed, the new merged entity would represent more than 3 million workers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean. The unions have further announced that the new entity would target further mergers with labor groups in Australia and in the emerging economies of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.Bill Toland, [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08149/885287-28.stm "USW, Brits near creation of 'super' union,"] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 28, 2008. On July 2, 2008, USW and Unite leadership formally signed the merger agreement to create the new entity, to be called Workers Uniting.Steven Greenhouse, [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/us/03union.html?ref=us "Steelworkers Merge With British Union,"] New York Times, July 3, 2008.

American politics

In the 2006 election, the USW led a political mobilization program that eventually grew to include 350 full-time political organizers in 26 states, a majority of whom were rank and file USW members who took time from work to organize their communities and educate fellow union members. The USW turned out some 5,000 USW volunteers on Election Day, including over 1,000 each in the key states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Exit polls suggested union families made up 23 percent of the total vote and supported Democratic candidates by a substantial 32 percent margin, 65 percent to 33 percent. Based on these numbers, the United Steelworkers, in conjunction with the rest of the labor movement, took substantial credit for the eventual Democratic victory.Press Release: [http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/3533.php "Unprecedented USW Voter Turnout Effort Highlighted Trade and Economy,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511144227/http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/3533.php |date=May 11, 2008 }} November 8, 2006.

The USW endorsed Barack Obama's presidential campaignPress Release: [http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/4622.php "United Steelworkers Endorse Senator Barack Obama for President,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121113958/http://www.usw.org/usw/program/content/4622.php |date=November 21, 2008 }} May 15, 2008. and re-election,Press Release: [http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0514 "Steelworkers Endorse Barack Obama for Re-election as President,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720104837/http://www.usw.org/media_center/releases_advisories?id=0514 |date=July 20, 2012 }} March 6, 2012. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign,{{Cite news|url=https://www.usw.org/blog/2016/clinton-receives-two-major-union-endorsements|title=Clinton Receives Two Major Union Endorsements|work=United Steelworkers|access-date=August 25, 2017}} and Joe Biden's presidential campaign.{{Cite web|title=USW Endorses Joe Biden for President|url=https://m.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2020/usw-endorses-joe-biden-for-president|website=United Steelworkers|date=May 20, 2020 |access-date=2020-08-31}}

In 2023 and 2024, USW expressed opposition to the proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japanese steel company Nippon Steel.{{Cite web |last=Bomey |first=Nathan |date=December 18, 2023 |title=United Steelworkers union blasts $15B U.S. Steel-Nippon deal |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/12/18/ussteel-nippon-usw-steelworkers |website=Axios}}{{cite web|url=https://m.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2024/usw-welcomes-bidens-call-for-u-s-steel-to-remain-domestically-owned-and-operated|title=USW Welcomes Biden’s Call for U.S. Steel to Remain Domestically Owned and Operated|publisher=United Steelworker|date=March 14, 2024|accessdate=March 15, 2024}} USW International President David McCall stated in March 2024 that “Allowing one of our nation’s largest steel manufacturers to be purchased by a foreign-owned corporation leaves us vulnerable when it comes to meeting both our defense and critical infrastructure needs.”{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/nippon-steel-defends-us-steel-acquisition-biden-opposes-rcna143529|title=Nippon Steel defends U.S. Steel purchase after Biden expresses opposition|first1=Arata|last1=Yamamoto|first2=Jennifer|last2=Jett|publisher=NBC News|date=March 15, 2024|accessdate=March 15, 2024}}

Canadian politics

The United Steelworkers was a founding partner of the New Democratic Party and continues to be an affiliated union.United Steelworkers. [http://www.usw.ca/community/political/about "About political action."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027143447/http://www.usw.ca/community/political/about |date=October 27, 2011 }}

Philanthropy

The USW has contributed to various charitable and philanthropic causes since its creation. The USW has enthusiastically supported The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP), a nonprofit organization that works with brain-injured children. The USW has hosted the IAHP's founder, Glenn Doman, at their annual convention.{{cite news| url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1153/is_n12_v115/ai_13353405/pg_3 | work=Monthly Labor Review | first=Henry P. | last=Guzda | title=United Steelworkers of America: 26th convention | year=1992}} The USW has also held fundraising events for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The USW has consistently stated that such charitable causes are important to its mission.

Presidents

The presidents of the United Steelworkers are:{{Cite web |title=President Emeriti |url=https://www.usw.org/union/leaders/president-emeriti |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=United Steelworkers |language=en}}

Philip Murray, 1942–1952
David J. McDonald, 1952–1965
I. W. Abel, 1965–1977
Lloyd McBride, 1977–1983
Lynn R. Williams, 1983–1994
George Becker, 1994–2001
Leo Gerard, 2001–2019
Tom Conway, 2019–2023{{Cite web |title=Thomas M. Conway |url=https://www.usw.org/union/leaders/international-executive-board/thomas-m-conway |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=United Steelworkers |language=en}}
David McCall, 2023–present{{cite news |title=United Steelworkers union names David McCall as president |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/united-steelworkers-union-names-david-mccall-president-2023-09-26/ |work=Reuters |date=September 26, 2023 |language=en}}