USW democracy begins at home, in more than 1,800 local unions throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Membership is open to all without discrimination.

Steelworkers are men and women of every ethnic background from cities and towns across every region of our countries, workers who join together in local unions to bargain a better deal -- more job security, a healthier and safer place to work, better benefits, and an end to arbitrary, unfair treatment.

Union officers at every level are responsible to the membership. And the principle of “one member, one vote” applies whether we’re electing our local officers, deciding our goals and priorities in contract negotiations, choosing delegates to help establish the USW’s overall policy at our international convention, or voting for the international, national and district officers who make up our executive board and direct the Union’s day-to-day work.

USW collective bargaining agreements set the pattern for hundreds of thousands of workers in dozens of industries. Union contracts do more than raise wages and deliver an array of benefits such as pensions, health care and vacations. They also secure equal treatment on the job and provide an established procedure for resolving differences with supervisors and management -- a grievance procedure that resolves disputes on their merits, not on favoritism.

Trained professional staff provide our districts and local unions with expertise in research, economics and public policy, legal services, health and safety and communications. Equally important, thousands of USW members are trained every year by our Union in these and other skills.

This is our Union, an organization fighting to improve our wages, benefits and working conditions; to ensure justice and dignity on the job; and to create a social movement to better the lives of all working people.

The USW is 1.2 million working and retired members throughout the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, working together to improve our jobs; to build a better future for our families; and to promote fairness, justice and quality both in the workplace and in our societies.

Our Union is a resource: an organization that provides education, research and representation to help us achieve those goals; a network made up of hundreds of thousands of workers just like you, united to face the challenge of an ever-changing workplace in a constantly changing world.

Many Industries, One Strong Union

In the USW, diversity isn’t some politically correct buzzword for the new millennium. It’s a tradition as old as our union itself. Just two years after our founding convention in 1942, the Aluminum Workers of America voted unanimously to join our Union, and the USW wasn’t just for Steelworkers anymore. The Aluminum Workers was only the first of nine unions to join the USW. Each brought a new wave of diversity, eventually spreading Steelworkers through virtually every industry, and making the USW the most diverse union in North America. Today, USW members don’t just produce ore in the nation’s mines and steel in our mills. We make auto parts, tires, bricks, books, glass, cement, furnaces, air conditioners, furniture, potato chips, even submarines and aircraft carriers. Steelworkers work in banks and credit unions, legal clinics and offices, hospitals and nursing homes, hotels and restaurants, warehouses and manufacturing plants, mines and mills, security companies, colleges and universities, airports and resorts, in just about every job imaginable. We’re all Steelworkers -- not just because of where we work, but because we know the importance of strong, democratic representation on the job.

Industrial machineryConstruction, farm, mining, metalworking and textile machinery; machine tools, valves, fittings, pumps, compressors, engines and blowers; steam engines and hydraulic turbines; internal combustion engines; power transmission equipment; industrial trucks and tractors; restaurant equipment.

Lumber, wood products and furnitureSawmills, millwork, hardwood veneer and plywood; pallets and skids; household furniture; mattresses and bedsprings; office furniture; partitions and fixtures.

Metal fabricationSheet and structural steel; bolts, nuts, rivets and washers; metal doors, sash and trim; fabricated plate work; prefabricated metal buildings; plating, polishing and coating.

Paper productsPulp and paper mills; paper converting operations (boxes,tissues,towels; napkins, etc.).

AluminumMetal mining; primary production of aluminum; secondary smelting and refining; rolling, drawing and extruding; aluminum sheet, plate and foil; die castings.

Business servicesDetective and armored car services; building maintenance; equipment rental and leasing; computer services; printing.

Chemical and petroleum productsIndustrial gases and inorganic chemicals; pharmaceutical preparations; paints; industrial organic chemicals and fertilizers; explosives; soap; petrochemicals; petroleum refining; asphalt refining; asphalt paving mixtures, felts and coatings; lubricating oils and greases; oil pipelines.

Construction and maintenance servicesHighway and street construction; water, sewer and utility lines; bridges and tunnels; industrial buildings and warehouses; plumbing, heating and air conditioning; electrical work; plastering, drywall and insulation; concrete work; wrecking and demolition; mobile homes.

ContainersMetal shipping barrels; drums and kegs; metal cans; paper and allied products, fiber cans, tubes and drums; fabricated metal products.

Copper and other nonferrous metalsCopper, bauxite, nickel, uranium, lead, zinc, gold and silver mining; smelting and refining copper extruding; platinum group metals.

Education and social servicesElementary and secondary schools; colleges and universities; family services; job training; residential care; childcare workers; librarians.

EnergyNuclear researchers; nuclear remediation; nuclear waste handlers; nuclear materials; nuclear fuel; uranium mill. Natural gas, water and electric utilities.

Food processingCorn milling; bean milling; soybean processing; grain.

Foundries and forgingsMalleable iron, gray iron and steel foundries; aluminum castings; iron and steel forgings; brass, bronze and copper castings.

Glass, stone and clay productsFlat glass; pressed and blown glass; brick and structural clay tile; clay and other refractories; vitreous plumbing fixtures; concrete; kaolin; cement; lime; and gypsum.

HardwareElectrical equipment, cutlery, hand tools, saw blades and handsaws; measuring instruments and medical equipment; valves and pipe fittings.

Health careHospitals, nursing homes and other skilled care facilities; doctors’ and dentists’ offices; outpatient clinics; home health services; drug, alcohol and physical rehabilitation centers; mental health centers; mail-order pharmacies.

Public serviceLaw enforcement, courts and fire protection; air, water and solid waste management; housing, public health and social programs; children’s services; urban and community development; city and county workers.

Retail, wholesale and financial servicesGrocery stores, department stores, restaurants, dairies, bakeries, banks and credit unions; pension, health and welfare funds; hospital and medical service plants; fire, marine and casualty insurance; food caterers; garment cleaners; garment workers; crematory and cemetery workers; and brewery.

Rubber and plasticsVehicle tires and inner tubes; hose and belting; gaskets, packing and sealing devices; plastic and synthetic resins, rubber and plastic commercial and consumer products.

Basic steelIron ore mining, blast furnaces, steel works and rolling mills; steel pipe and tubes; office and technical personnel.

Transportation equipmentShip building and repair; railroad and light rail vehicles and equipment; aircraft parts; truck and bus bodies; truck trailers; travel trailers and campers; aircraft repair; auto repair; motorcycles; automotive and truck parts, motor coaches.

Transportation servicesTrucking and warehousing; railroads and trucking; local transit and taxicabs; school buses; water transportation, freight and ferries; flight attendants.

Travel and hospitalityTravel agencies, hotels, motels, resorts and restaurants.

OtherHousehold and commercial appliances; salt mining, swimming pools.

Leo W. Gerard, PresidentThe son of a miner who began working in a Sudbury, Ontario, nickel smelter at age 18, Leo W. Gerard rose through the ranks to become the USW’s seventh International President on Feb. 28, 2001. Gerard assumed the Union’s highest office during a global crisis which devastated the North American steel industry. He immediately charted a course of renewed membership activism to win government safeguards against a record surge in steel imports, negotiated precedent-setting labor agreements, and spurred industry consolidation. Under Gerard, the USW’s major priorities include reversing the decline of U.S. manufacturing; promoting the welfare of workers in trade agreements, investment priorities and corporate governance; and resolving the deepening health care crisis in the U.S.

Stan Johnson, Secretary-TreasurerStan Johnson began his union career as a tire production worker and active member of United Rubber Workers Local 670 holding various positions and offices, which included vice-president and president. He also served on the URW International Executive Board. After the URW merger with the USW, Stan served the Union as the National Rapid Response Coordinator; Director of the Dislocated Workers Program; Assistant to the International President and International Secretary-Treasurer; Executive Assistant to the International President; Organizing Director; Sub-District Director, Assistant to the Director and then Director of District 9. In addition to serving as the USW’s Secretary-Treasurer, he also chairs the Rubber and Plastics Industry Council, and is the Chair of the International Paper Council.

Thomas M. Conway, Vice President, Administration Appointed International Vice President in 2005 and elected to a full term in 2006, Tom Conway’s career has centered on the steel industry. He helped start an educational program for steelworkers in 1989 and was appointed Secretary of the Basic Steel Industry Conference in 1995. He also serves as Chair of the USW bargaining committees at U.S. Steel, Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Allegheny Ludlum.

Fred Redmond, Vice President, Human AffairsPrior to being elected Vice President of Human Affairs in 2005, Fred Redmond serviced locals in the Chicago area, developed and conducted training programs for the International’s Membership Development Department and coordinated special projects assigned by the International President. In 2002 he was appointed Assistant Director for District 7. He oversees the Union’s civil rights and human rights efforts, and is Chair of the USW Health Care Workers Council.

Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada A life-long steelworker, Ken Neumann started serving members as a steward and then as the president of his local. After years as a staff representative, he was elected to District 3 Director in 1989 and served four terms until he was appointed by the International Executive Board as National Director for Canada in 2004. Ken Neumann has played a key role in greatly expanding the labour movement in Western Canada. As National Director, he has worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the recent merger of our Union with the Industrial Wood, and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA). Ken is active in numerous Canadian and international organizations..

1.2 MillionWorking and Retired

Members

Rochelle Holmes, Local 12030Public Utility WorkerMontgomery, Alabama

“I love my Union! As a member, I have a voice on my job. I have employee rights, because my employer has to negotiate over the terms and conditions of my employment and safe working conditions. There is a contract between the Union and employer, and the employer must abide by it. A Union means working under good conditions for all workers, now and into the future for us and our children.”

Terry Gartin, Local 7972Aluminum WorkerHot Springs, Arkansas

“With the Union, we have liveable wages, good benefits and a defined pension plan. I think the Union has really done a great job at our facility.”

David Hawks, Local 878LRubber WorkerUnion City, Tennesee

“I have worked for the same employer for 30 years, both as part of the bargaining unit and as a salary employee. Working as a salaried employee I was treated unfairly and saw that the company cared little about me, my family or my fellow workers. I found that belonging to a Union has many advantages. I was treated with respect. The Union protects its workers’ rights and safety, negotiates contracts for fair wages and benefits, and fights daily to protect all of our jobs. Through solidarity we can all protect our future and those of our children. The work force of this country and its backbone are laborers like you and me.”

Dale Zimmerman, Local 12081ElectricianRittman, Ohio

“My Union provides me with wage and benefits so that my family can enjoy a good life. Without the Union, my wage would not be as near as what I receive. Also I enjoy a nice vacation package plus a health care plan.”

Kevin Batters, Local 1408Grocery Store ClerkMt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania

“Union benefits are a big plus. We know we’re guaranteed to get raises, vacations, paid holidays and a lot more. Having a Union gives you a way to make changes so your store is a better place to work.”

Carl Hartley, Local 689Power Operator Piketon, Ohio

“I never had a living wage until I got involved in a Union shop. In a nonunion shop, you have no rights, there’s no bargaining for wages and benefits, and you’re at the mercy of your employer. Once I got a Union job and had rights, it made all the difference in the world.”

Fernando Mirelez, Local 819Machine OperatorGilroy, California

“Having a voice in the workplace has been a benefit for me, my family and my members. It allows me to negotiate a better contract and better working conditions without fear of reprisal. Most importantly, there isn’t any favoritism when it comes to wages. I make the same pay as any other machine operator in my classification regardless of whether I’m liked or disliked.”

Debbie Gray, Local 9Dock WorkerRossford, Ohio

“This is my first Union job. The first thing you notice is that now you have somebody to stand with you and the benefits are better. I’ve worked in past jobs with no insurance and no benefits. Because there’s a Union, it’s more organized here and when you need assistance, there are references to show you what you are entitled to. It’s nice to know what the company can and can’t do.”

Betty J. Caple, Local 9465 Union TrusteeLaurinburg, North Carolina

“I had a problem and my Union president spoke up for me. He was able to get my penalty reduced. Without the Union, I may have lost my job.”

Lillian Lanca, Local 1998University WorkerToronto, Ontario, Canada

“I always thought the university was a good employer, a fair employer (but) I quickly came to realize that it is not. It is unfair. It is unjust. There’s lots of room for improvement in the university environment. Having the Union in the university environment has given me -- as well as other members -- a strength to stand up for our rights, to keep the university honest, to keep them doing the right thing and try to keep them fair.

We’ve been able to save people’s jobs. We made sure people get the jobs that they are entitled to. We’ve been able to do things that I really never thought possible, even within the university environment, that would have not been possible had we not had a strong and powerful Union behind us. Steelworkers is strength.”

Eileen Morris, Local 9445Certified Nursing AssistantPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“The Union has given me a fabulous opportunity to grow and learn.”

Cruz Lopez, Local 7600Health Care WorkerFontana, California

“We provide better patient care when we are not worrying about a lot of little problems. This is good for the company. I’ve worked at the hospital for 32 years and spent a good portion of my life there. Our Union has helped improve our benefits and the way we’re treated.”

Gail Weatherspoon, Local 9187Public EmployeeCanton, Ohio

“USW public employees in Ohio are setting a pattern that keeps our members moving up. I’ve noticed a decrease in grievances or complaints filed against management. We try to handle problems without having to go to the grievance procedure. Without a Union you don’t have a voice or say in what goes on in your workplace.”

Craig Cernic, Local 2635Public Utility WorkerJohnstown, Pennsylvania

“Safety is a big issue on our jobs. The Steelworkers Union sends our members to classes each year on scholarships to strengthen our skills. That may seem like a little thing, but to me it means a lot. Part of our job as elected Union officers is to protect the health and safety of the members, and we take that responsibility seriously.”

Robert Phillips, Local 13-227Chief OperatorPasadena, Texas

“Being a former locked-out worker at Crown Central Petroleum (now Pasadena Refining Systems, Inc.), I saw how the Union supported me and my members whole-heartedly. I’ve been able to raise four kids and give them a college education. It was all done on Union wages. If you go to work when you’re scheduled and do a job well, you’ve got a job for as long as you want.”

Sharon McGrouty, Local 984Data Entry OperatorTampa, Florida

“Being a Union member I have a voice in my working conditions. My coworkers and I work as a team and look out for each other. I’m not out there alone.”

David Garcia, Local 296Instrumentation TechnicianTucson, Arizona

“I have been Union for 31 years. I see my Union as an enforcer and protector of the workers. The Union is a check and balance that keeps corporations from taking advantage of the workers. Without the Union, we would not enjoy good wages and benefits. In saying this, the Union has put my family in a position to pursue many options, like getting an education, learning the trades and enjoying life. My family thanks you, Union.”

Lee R. Mackie, Local 9465Glass WorkerLaurinburg, North Carolina

“I think as a whole the Union has done a lot of positive things for the employees. We have a voice to the point that the company has to listen. To sum it up, we should have

had it a long time ago.”

John Kling, Local 1114MachinistMilwaukee, Wisconsin

“If we want to maintain our quality of life in this country, we need to organize the nonunion workers, otherwise everything our predecessors accomplished will go down the drain.”

Pam Phillips, Local 70Public EmployeePortage, Indiana

“We all know that the Steelworkers Union has been good for our families and community. The USW has given us the tools to negotiate with management and to handle grievances and problems. They’ve improved our lives and our working conditions too. Together we can accomplish so much more!”

Ike Pankhurst, Local 12075Operating TechnicianMidland, Michigan

“I’ve been a Union member for 33 years. Our Union contracts have given me protection through good times and bad. Being a Union member has allowed me to challenge what was wrong and give suggestions on how to improve things without fear of repercussions. The Union is all about helping each other so we can all have a better life.”