Next up in our series that takes a deeper look at each of our affiliates is the United Steelworkers.
Name of Union: The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW)
Mission: The values upon which the USW was founded in 1942 still guide the organization today. These include:
- Uniting in one organization, regardless of creed, color or nationality, all workmen and working women eligible for membership.
- Increasing the wages and improving the conditions of employment of members by legislation, joint agreements or other legitimate means.
- Securing equitable statutory old-age pension, workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance laws.
- Enforcing existing just laws and to secure the repeal of those which are unjust.
- Securing, by legislative enactment, laws protecting the limbs, lives and health of members, protecting their right to organize and other legislation as will be beneficial.
Current Leadership of Union: Thomas M. Conway has served as the international president of the USW since July 15, 2019. Prior to that, he served as the international vice president (administration) since 2005. Born to a New Jersey union household, Conway began his union career in 1978 after serving in the U.S. Air Force.
John E. Shinn serves as international secretary-treasurer, David McCall as international vice president (administration), Fred Redmond as international vice president (human affairs), and Ken Neumann as national director for Canada. Roxanne Brown and Leeann Foster also serve as USW international vice presidents.
Number of Members: 850,000.
Members Work As: USW members work in the steel, aluminum, iron ore, cement, glass, rubber, paper and paper products, oil, chemical and manufacturing industries, as well as in mining and other metals. They work as health care workers, professors, bank workers, grocery workers, security guards, electricians, pharmaceutical workers, public servants and much more.
Industries Represented: Atomic, chemical, education, energy and utilities, glass, molders, pottery, plastics, health care, pharmacies and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, metals, mining, oil and petroleum, paper and forestry, public employees, rubber and tires, transportation and more.
History: Watch this video or read more at the USW website.
Current Campaigns/Community Efforts: Solidarity Works Podcast, USW @ Work and Other Publications, Fair Trade and various ways to engage in activism with USW.