The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
STEELWORKERS RALLY
Employees, supporters come together to fight for better contract
Steelworkers and supporters at Lorain Tubular rallied for fair treatment, joining thousands of United Steelworkers members around the country on Aug. 30.
United Steelworkers Local 1104 gathered for a contract solidarity rally on Aug. 30 at the corner of East 28th Street and Grove Avenue.
The union is presently in the midst of contract negotiations and with their present contract expiring at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 1. The contracts cover about 31,000 workers across the country with employees of U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal and the union has been in negotiations since July, according to a news release from USW International. “Our labor contract ends at midnight Friday. We’ve been in negotiations for a couple of months between USW and U.S. Steel. U.S. Steel had put a proposal out that really doesn’t do anything for us,” said John Gargasz, recording secretary for USW Local 1104.
In the proposal rejected by the union Gargasz said medical expenses for current and retirees goes up considerably and stressed the need for U.S. Steel to take care of its workers.
“In 2015 we didn’t take
“We’re the ones who make the steel. We’re the ones that make the pipe. It’s time for them to stand up and give us a fair contract. That’s what we’re looking for is a fair contract.”
— John Gargasz, recording secretary for USW Local 1104
any raises. They’re making money now. They’ve got the 232 tariffs coming into play. They got a huge Trump tax break,” Gargasz added. “We made our sacrifices working in here and it’s time for to turn around and take care of all the workers in there.
“We’re the ones who make the steel. We’re the ones that make the pipe. It’s time for them to stand up and give us a fair contract. That’s what we’re looking for is a fair contract.”
If no agreement is reached by the Sept. 1 deadline, there are four possibilities that could occur including continuing to work on the existing contract; U.S. Steel ordering an extension on the present contract; a lock out; or USW could call a nationwide strike for U.S. Steel.
Lorain Council-at-Large member Mary Springowski, addressed union members and supporters citing her 27 years in the UAW.
“I’m here today not as a councilperson but as a union sister. I have 27 years in the UAW and I bleed blue and yellow. I bleed union,” Springowski said.
“I’m here to support you because you are what made Lorain what it is. It was your sweat, it was your labor and sometimes it was your tears and your blood that made this city a city. And these guys that are running this company into the ground have to realize that you are not the enemy. The Chinese and other corporations like North Korea and that, they are the enemies,” she added.
“They have to stop taking it out of the workers pockets. Because when you guys made concessions and when you guys sacrificed I can assure you they weren’t economizing their own household. And it’s time for them to belly up to the bar and pay their fair share,” Springowski said.
United Steel Workers International, President Leo W. Gerard said the collective rallies were about standing in solidarity for better conditions.
“Today, we saw hardworking people standing up with one voice demanding fair treatment for themselves and their families,” Gerard said.
“These workers have gone three years without a wage increase,” Gerard added. “In that time, they’ve seen the cost of everything go up; they’ve seen their employers report millions of dollars in profits; they’ve seen management pay themselves millions of dollars in bonuses. And today, they stood up and said they’d seen enough.”