The United Steelworkers (USW) union praised a report released today by Human Rights Watch documenting how many European companies publicly embrace workers’ rights under global labor standards while undermining their employees’ rights in their U.S. operations.

The 130-page report, “A Strange Case: Violations of Workers’ Freedom of Association in the United States by European Multinational Corporations,” details ways in which some European multinational firms have carried out aggressive campaigns to keep workers in the United States from organizing and bargaining, violating international standards and, often, US labor laws.

The Human Rights Watch report is based on thirty interviews with workers and employees’ testimony in legal proceedings, findings and decisions of U.S. labor law authorities, company documents, and written exchanges with company management ... more

The United Steelworkers (USW) today condemned Grupo Mexico SAB, Mexico's largest mining company, for a mass firing of workers at its copper smelter in Esqueda, Sonora after the miners rejected a company-imposed union in a vote late last month.

“This blatant act of repression clearly puts Grupo Mexico’s anti-union vendetta ahead of the company’s interest in having stable labor relations,” declared Leo W. Gerard, USW international president.

The mass firing, enforced by a thousand heavily armed federal police who entered the town on Aug. 31, threatens to disrupt production at the smelter.  “Instead of deploying the police to protect its citizens from the drug cartels, the Mexican government is using them to bust democratic unions run by the workers and not the company,” Gerard said ... more

United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Gary Beevers issued the following statement concerning the explosion and fire of an offshore petroleum platform in the Gulf of Mexico today:

“We are thankful that no one was killed in the explosion today of an offshore petroleum platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, one person was injured and that is one person too many."

“This latest explosion shows that we need to make sure all these rigs in the Gulf are safe to operate before we put personnel back to work on them. I would hate to see a worker killed in our haste to reopen the Gulf to drilling. We need to give the government adequate time to do its inspections and ensure adequate health and safety provisions are in place ... more

The United Steelworkers is proud to announce that members and their families can reserve a seat on buses heading to and from the One Nation Working Together March on Washington, Oct. 2, 2010. There is no cost for these round trip bus rides, which include a boxed lunch and t-shirt. But reservations are required. Click here to reserve a seat.

It's important that we show up and stand up to send a message that our nation needs jobs and unity. There is strength in numbers so invite your friends, family and co-workers. 

Buses will be leaving and returning to and from several areas including: Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; Boston, Mass.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Edison, N.J.; Baltimore and Hagerstown, Md.; Newport News and Richmond, Va.; Charlotte, N.C.; Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Sharon, Beaver County and Erie, Pa.; and Weirton, W.Va. Again, you must reserve a seat by clicking here.

The One Nation movement includes human and civil rights organizations, unions and trade associations, nonprofit organizations, youth and student groups, religious and other faith groups, educational, peace, environmental, and ethnic associations, and other groups and individuals who are committed to pulling our country back together now. 

For more information about the USW buses please call Vice President Fred Redmond's office at 412-562-2311. For more information about the march and the One Nation movement, click here. 

Report Shows Obama’s Enforced Relief under Sect. 421 of Trade Law Working

With the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s decision to provide relief on imports of ‘Certain Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from China’ approaching, the United Steelworkers (USW) pointed to a report issued today by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) that shows the tariff is achieving the desired positive effect on U.S. tire manufacturers and their workforce.

“The relief provided by President Obama is fulfilling a promise that permitted China’s entry into the World Trade Organization – and that promise was American workers and companies would not be harmed by non-market economy distortions in China,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.

“With relief in place, American workers are finally beginning to see jobs return to their communities. We must maintain that momentum and allow the tariffs to stay in effect for the full three years,” Gerard said. “To do otherwise would be to break the repeated promise to American workers and companies that they would not be unfairly harmed.” ... to read more