USW Blog

Click here to download this update as a PDF.

On Tuesday, January 28, the New Hampshire House Labor Committee voted 10 to 9 to advance HB 238-FN, the latest effort to pass a "Right-to-Work" bill, to the full House for review. This harmful legislation would lower wages, compromise workplace safety, and weaken job training programs that support all workers in New Hampshire. Our families can’t afford these attacks on our rights and livelihoods. It’s time to send a clear message: “Right-to-Work” is wrong for New Hampshire. For more information on HB 238-FN, please click here.

Tell Your NH State Representative to Oppose HB 238-FN!

Click HERE to send a prewritten email to your NH State Representatives to urge them to oppose HB 238-FN.

USW Local 689 President Herman Potter announced his retirement after 36 years of serving the local in southern Ohio and working at the Portsmouth former gaseous diffusion plant as a lab technician and production process operator.

Potter will retire from his position with North Wind Dynamics (NWD) and resign from his union leadership role effective Feb. 2, 2025. Potter has held various roles in the local union throughout his career, including safety representative, vice president and president. Potter was also instrumental in setting priorities during his longtime membership to the Atomic Energy Workers Council (AEWC).

“Stepping away at this time will allow me to reduce my workload and also give others in our local opportunities to move into leadership positions,” said Potter in a letter to Local 689 members in early January.

Evan Brown, the local union’s vice president, is set to succeed him as president of Local 689. Potter expressed his intention to possibly engage in part-time assignments for the USW and to continue his membership on the EM advisory board for Portsmouth.

Potter has been heavily involved in improving the community surrounding the Portsmouth plant throughout his career, serving on the board of the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative and collaborating with other organizations to improve the quality of life for residents.

“Herman’s leadership and dedication to his local and to workers in the nuclear sector have been instrumental in improving both the safety of our members and advancing key nuclear legislation,” said USW International Vice President Roxanne Brown, who has worked closely with Potter on AEWC in her role overseeing the council.

“His tireless efforts within Local 689, on the council and in his community to help revitalize and seek long-term investments for the Portsmouth site have left a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit our members and Pike County for years to come. We thank Herman for his service and wish him all the best as he enters retirement.”

In addition to thanking his fellow local USW members, Potter also acknowledged the cooperation of DOE and its contractors in addressing worksite issues and planning for the re-industrialization of the former gaseous diffusion plant complex, stating, “Even though there have been differences of opinion, I do not feel it was personal.”

Click here to read more about Potter and his fellow union members at Portsmouth, who were featured in the Fall 2024 issue of USW@Work magazine.

I hope everyone enjoyed a healthy and happy holiday season, is well-rested, and is ready to begin another year of activism and involvement in your community and your union through SOAR. 

As the International SOAR Conference approaches this year, I would like to give a heads-up to those who plan to attend regarding what will take place.

SOAR will be celebrating our 40th anniversary and will recognize some of the accomplishments of our members and chapters during this time.

During the Conference, we will hold elections to elect or re-elect members of the SOAR Executive Board.

The SOAR delegates in attendance will debate and vote on resolutions submitted by chapters and the SOAR Executive Board concerning how we operate as an organization.

We will discuss the successes of our efforts aimed at improving the quality of life for our members, as well as outline what steps we need to take in the future to maintain or enhance their standard of living. Some of the achievements we will celebrate include:

• The passage of the Butch Lewis Act (which protected the pension of many of our members in multi-employer plans.)
• Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (which put a cap on out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs and made certain vaccines available without cost-sharing.)
• The recent passage of the Social Security Fairness Act that repealed the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two pieces of federal law that robbed millions of public servants of Social Security benefits they earned for over 40 years, (which reduced Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million retirees, many of them USW retirees.)

We will also talk about ways we can improve the financial stability of the Social Security Fund and ensure that anyone who believes reducing benefits is a good idea will quickly realize that it is a bad idea.

This will be our first SOAR Conference using the system that was put in place during the last Conference, which will allow for greater participation from our chapters. Larger SOAR chapters can choose to send more delegates, and USW districts with many members, but with smaller chapters could be considered by their Director based on district-wide totals and activism.

Get your resolutions in on time, as the deadline for February 3, 2025, is quickly approaching. I hope to see you at the Conference, and I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

In early January, concluding what has been said by many to be the most pro-worker administration in history, President Joe Biden acted on two fronts that will directly impact Steelworker members and retirees for years to come. 

Most recently, on January 5, President Biden became the first president in more than 20 years to expand Social Security benefits after signing the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) into law.

The new law passed with large bipartisan majorities in the U.S. House (327 to 75) and Senate (76 to 20) and will ensure a dignified retirement for more than three million police officers, firefighters, nurses, postal workers, teachers, and other public sector workers and their surviving family members. 

By eliminating the unjust Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), H.R. 82 will lead to an average monthly benefit increase of $360 for frontline workers who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities. 

"The bill I'm signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their lives to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity," Biden said. 

Additionally, after a year-long campaign by our union to educate lawmakers, stakeholders, USW members and families about the potential drawbacks of the proposal to sell U.S. Steel to Nippon, a campaign aimed to build bi-partisan support for our position, President Biden acted on USW members’ behalf and blocked the deal. 

In a statement following President Biden’s action, United Steelworkers International President David McCall said:

“Throughout the past year, as the proposed transaction was under review, our union’s first and only concern has been the long-term viability of our facilities as we look to ensure a strong domestic steel industry well into the future.

“Nippon has proven itself to be a serial trade cheater that for decades worked to undermine our domestic industry by dumping its products into our market. Allowing it to purchase U.S. Steel would have offered it the opportunity to further destabilize our trade system from within and in the process, compromise our ability to meet our own national security and critical infrastructure needs.

“It’s clear from U.S. Steel’s recent financial performance that it can easily remain a strong and resilient company. We now call on U.S. Steel’s board of directors to take the necessary steps to allow it to further flourish and remain profitable.”

The USW also commended President-elect Donald Trump for his continued opposition to Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel. We remain steadfast in our pledge to work with any administration that shares our commitment to sustaining a thriving, domestically owned and operated steel industry. 

Click HERE to see the recent statement on the blocked U.S. Steel/Nippon agreement.  

Click here to download this Feedback Report as a PDF. 

Despite the -10° temperatures on Wednesday, nearly 200 labor supporters turned out to protest HB 238-FN, the “Right-to-Work” bill in New Hampshire. In addition to the rally, over 1,400 individuals registered their opposition. These impressive actions are thanks to your efforts!

Due to the large volume of testimonies submitted, the House Labor Committee has postponed their vote on the bill, which is now set for Tuesday, January 28th at 10:00 AM.

NEXT STEPS

Prior to the House Labor Committee’s vote, a labor rally will be held. Details are below.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
WHERE: 33 North State Street, Concord, NH 03301
NOTES: The rally will be held outside. For updates regarding the rally, please visit the Facebook Event Page.

Stay tuned for more information following the House Labor Committee vote!

For more information on this issue or how you can get more involved with Rapid Response, please contact District 4 Rapid Response Coordinator, Mark McDonald, at mmcdonald@usw.org.

Click here to download this Action Call as a PDF. 

Michigan Public Sector Workers: We Need Your Voice Now More than Ever.

This Wednesday, January 29, at 7:00 PM ET, the labor movement is hosting a critical town hall to discuss the alarming changes to public-sector workers’ healthcare caused by Speaker of the House Matt Hall’s unconstitutional actions. These changes could cost workers like you thousands of dollars a year.

We must act together to protect the healthcare benefits you’ve earned.

This town hall is your opportunity to get the latest updates from your union, learn what these changes mean for you and your family, and find out how we can fight back to stop these devastating policies.

Public Sector Healthcare Changes Town Hall
When: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET
Where: Online (RSVP for the link)
Click HERE to RSVP.
Once registered, you’ll receive the link to join.

We are reaching out to public sector workers specifically for this call to ensure you have the most up to date information on the status of HB 6058 (80/20 Hard Caps).

Please click HERE to see additional information on the bill and to take action.

For additional information, please contact District 1 Rapid Response Coordinator, Sue Browne at sbrowne@usw.org or 269-838-5956.

This article is part of Women of Steel's "Sister Stories" series.

Susan Ridgeway knows she has big shoes to fill as the USW Western New York Women of Steel Committee Chair. After long-time activist Cindy Marlow passed away in 2024 following a long, hard-fought battle with cancer, Susan stepped up to take on the role. Her 25 years of union experience has prepared her well, and her determination to make a change is helping her lead with dignity.

She’s also accrued her strength while working in a male-dominated career at 3M in Buffalo, N.Y. Susan currently works as a crew lead in shipping and receiving, along with serving as the Local 13833 Civil and Human Rights Chair and as Griever for her department.

Long story short, she wears many hats, and she has no plans of taking them off anytime soon.

“I am unapologetically a steadfast activist,” Susan said. “I eat, sleep, and breathe this work.”

Outside of the union, Susan is just as active. Her current focus is building up a mental health awareness center—CASSO—that is dedicated in honor of her late grandson. The goal of this organization is to help at-risk youth get off the streets and prepare them for job interviews.

Susan’s commitment to the next generation–both union and nonunion–is currently driving her to do as much as she can to empower and uplift them.

“They are being affected by so much,” she said. “It’s my desire to stay strong for them and help bring them up through the ranks.”

Susan believes the key to connecting to younger people is simple: it’s all about communication.

“We need to listen to them,” said Susan. “We need to be open and have real, nonjudgmental conversations.”

She also believes this is the key to tackling the many challenges the labor movement is going to face over the next several years, especially in the realm of social and economic justice.

“Civil rights are human rights,” she said. “It is our duty to acknowledge and include everyone in this movement. It’s about dignity.”

Susan’s passion for justice was renewed at this year’s AFL-CIO MLK Civil and Human Rights Conference in Austin, Texas. She said connecting with her fellow union siblings is always energizing and enlightening, and it didn’t hurt that she was able to meet U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett.

“Now that is a true Woman of Steel,” she said.

Regardless of what happens in the coming years, and regardless of who is in power, Susan plans to continue her work with the union, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I feel a lot of gratitude for the USW and Women of Steel for allowing us the opportunity to network and be a part of so many different experiences,” she said. “I am so honored to be a part of it.”

Click here to download this Action Alert as a PDF.

Collective bargaining is a fundamental right that allows workers to have a voice in their working conditions, ensuring they are treated fairly and with respect. It helps secure better wages, benefits, and workplace safety.

Unfortunately, in Utah, HB 267 was introduced to ban collective bargaining for public sector workers, including teachers, firefighters, transit drivers, and more. Without the ability to negotiate, these workers could face lower pay, fewer benefits, and less safe working conditions.

Opposing HB 267 is essential to safeguarding workers' rights and preserving their ability to negotiate for better conditions and fair treatment. Tell Your State Representative to Oppose HB 267! Click HERE  to send a prewritten email to your Utah State Representatives to urge them to oppose HB 267 and protect public employees’ bargaining power!

For more information on this issue or how you can get more involved with Rapid Response, please contact District 12 Rapid Response Coordinator, Catherine Houston, at chouston@usw.org.

After months of bargaining, approximately 260 USW health care workers at UP Health System– Marquette in Marquette, Mich., ratified their first contract in early January, winning historic wage increases, boosting on-call pay, securing much-needed safety protections, and more.

Peggy Lindeman, a point of care coordinator at UPHS Marquette for 21 years, began talking to her colleagues about organizing in 2023 after noticing a steady decline in workplace culture, morale, and patient care following the hospital’s acquisition by Duke LifePoint in 2014.  

Lindeman began organizing the professional and technical workers of the hospital, a unit she was excluded from that was ultimately organized by the Michigan nurses’ union. She called the USW for support as she started organizing her second bargaining unit of LPNs, Care Aides, lab assistants, payroll, IT, maintenance, office staff, and more.

According to Lindeman, the hospital “is always training us to care for specific types of patients, but nobody was taking care of us. That was huge for me, finally getting our union and making sure that somebody had our back.”

Lindeman says many of her colleagues are rightfully excited about the wage increases, but their first contract represents much more to her.

“I’ve been here for 21 years, and to not have a voice or a say in how we drove process to get quality was huge,” she said. “We finally have a seat at the table for safety issues, which is also huge. With the union, we’re equals. They’re no longer the boss, and we’re down below. We’re equals, and that means something.”

Additional contract highlights include a wage scale that recognizes seniority and provides guaranteed wage increases, capped annual health insurance premiums, shift differential, and a seat on the hospital’s Safety Committee. Average wage increases for year one of the contract are approximately 13.5 percent, and average increases over the life of the contract are roughly 20 percent.

Negotiations were led by USW District 1 staff representative Bryan Fisher and were supported by Tamara Lefcowitz, International Coordinator of the Health Care Workers Council.

The victory held additional significance for Fisher, as he was helping to change the lives of the dedicated health care workers in his own backyard.

“UPHS Marquette is five blocks from my house,” said Fisher. “It’s the only Level 2 trauma center in the UP of Michigan. Our goal was always to attract and retain the best employees for Marquette residents. If I get taken to this hospital, these workers will care for me. I want a team of talented, fully-trained, well-compensated medical professionals administering care to our community.”

Click here to download a printable PDF of this Action Call.

Last week, we shared important information about House Bill 238-FN, the latest attempt to pass a "Right-to-Work" law in New Hampshire. Now, it’s time to take action. On January 22, 2025, the New Hampshire House Labor Committee will hold a public hearing on this harmful bill. We must stand together, make our voices heard, and oppose this attack on workers’ rights. Whether you live in New Hampshire or live in a surrounding state, let's show that New Hampshire will not let corporate interests undermine the power of working families.

You Can Take Action in Two Powerful Ways!

#1: Attend Labor Rally and Public Hearing!

WHEN: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 8:30 AM

WHERE: 33 North State Street, Concord, NH 03301

NOTES: The rally will be held outside. For updates regarding the rally, please visit the Facebook Event Page. Following the rally, the group will go to the public hearing together.

#2: Tell the New Hampshire House Labor Committee to oppose HB 238-FN!

To register your position on a bill and/or submit testimony, click HERE.

STEP 1: Personal Information

• Fill in the content boxes with your first and last name, as well as your town, state, and email address.

STEP 2: Select Date of the Hearing

• Select 01/22/2025 on the calendar.

STEP 3: Select Bill

• For the "Select the Committee" tab, select House Labor, Industrial, and Rehabilitative Services.
• For the “Choose the Bill" tab, select 10:00 AM - HB238.
• For the "I am" tab, you will most likely select Member of the Public.
• Fill in the "I'm Representing" context box with the business, organization, or group that you are representing. If you are representing yourself only, write myself.
• Under the “Indicate Your Position on this Bill” tab, check the I Oppose this Bill circle.

STEP 4: Upload Remote Testimony (Optional)

• If you are unable to attend the hearing in person, but wish to submit testimony on the bill, you may upload your testimony or use the text box to type.

STEP 5: Final Review

• Once you have reviewed that the information entered is accurate, click the Submit button at the bottom of the webpage.

For more information on this issue or how you can get more involved with Rapid Response, please contact District 4 Rapid Response Coordinator, Mark McDonald at mmcdonald@usw.org.

Although we summarized the election results in our November Election Connection newsletter, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the following important work USW members contributed to the election effort:

• More than 5,000 USW members responded to our 2024 Your Union, Your Voice survey to share their thoughts on the most pressing current issues.
• More than 100 USW members and retirees led our full-time “boots on the ground” election work across critical states.
• 152 million Americans voted in the 2024 election, which is about 64% of those eligible to vote.

The 2024 election might not have turned out exactly how we wanted it to, but so many good things were accomplished on behalf of workers this year because we’ve helped elect pro-worker allies in local, state and federal government.

While it’s not a complete list, all of the following wins for workers were highlighted in our Election Connection newsletter over the last twelve months:

• Twenty-two states increased their minimum wage, raising pay for nearly 10 million workers. Only three of these states are so-called “Right to Work” states.
• Steelworkers rallied a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to defeat anti-union laws that had been proposed in Utah and New Hampshire.  
• The Biden administration advanced a series of safety and health rules to protect workers on the job, including the USW-backed “Walkaround Rule,” a ban on the import of asbestos, and a historic move to protect workers from heat exposure on the job.
• In July, the Biden administration officially celebrated one million pensions rescued by the American Rescue Plan. This includes the pensions of 120,000 active and retired USW members.
• Thanks to the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda – which includes the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act – a historic $693 billion has been invested to date to spur growth in American manufacturing. As a testament to the benefits, earlier this year USW members from Local 1688 were joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for an event highlighting how federal investments have added jobs at Cleveland-Cliffs steel mill in Steelton, Pennsylvania.
• In November, Biden’s National Labor Relations Board banned “captive audience” meetings. Before this recent ruling, employers were permitted to require workers to attend presentations explaining the company's position on not joining or forming unions. These obligatory meetings tend to coerce employees and harm workers’ chances of getting the union they want.

Click here for a printable PDF of this Feedback Report.

Last year, we asked you to reach out to your state legislators about addressing the deficiencies in Public Act 152. This unfair law forces us to negotiate inadequate healthcare insurance coverage just to keep premiums affordable. The result? Higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums that place an enormous financial burden on working families.

Your efforts paid off! In 2024, Michigan passed HB 6058 - a bill that begins to eliminate the arbitrary and unjust Public Act 152. It’s a massive victory for the thousands of public sector workers the USW represents - librarians, crossing guards, public school custodians, EMS workers, bus drivers, and so many others.

But the fight isn’t over. HB 6058 now needs to make it’s way to Governor Whitmer’s desk. Management groups are actively pressuring her to veto the bill because they don’t want to provide workers with the healthcare they deserve - despite record funding for schools and local governments.

If the Governor doesn’t sign this bill, healthcare cost increases expected in 2025 will fall squarely on the backs of public sector workers. We can’t let management be the only voice the Governor hears.

She needs to hear from workers—NOW. Click HERE to send a prewritten email directly to Governor Whitmer’s office. Let her know how critical it is to sign HB 6058 and protect Michigan’s public sector workers from devastating healthcare cost increases.

The solution is here. Governor Whitmer needs to finish the job and sign HB 6058 immediately. Let’s make our voices heard!

Click here for a printable PDF of this Feedback Report.

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, President Biden signed H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act into law. In November, H.R. 82 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 327 to 75. Later in December, thanks to action made by all of you, the Senate passed the legislation by a vote of 76 to 20.

The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act marks a significant victory for our USW siblings in the public sector and public employees nationwide. By eliminating the unjust Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), this achievement restores the promise of a secure and dignified retirement for those who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities. This is a powerful step toward fairness for all workers.

Click here for a printable PDF.

Today we bid farewell to the 118th U.S. Congress and welcome in the 119th. We wanted to take this moment to reflect on just a few of the remarkable achievements of 2024. Your unwavering dedication, solidarity, and tireless efforts have been the driving force behind these successes. Together, we’ve made incredible strides in protecting and advancing the values that unite us. Thank you for standing strong and advocating for workers everywhere!

Key Moments from 2024:

Empowering Workers through Collective Bargaining: In a landmark victory for workers, the Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act (SB 3649) was signed into law in July. This groundbreaking legislation puts an end to employer-led “captive audience” meetings aimed at undermining union organizing efforts. This achievement represents a major step forward in protecting workers' rights and strengthening the labor movement.

Championing Safety and Health: Our members in Massachusetts made their voices heard by sending over 1,100 letters to legislators, urging them to remove two dangerous amendments from an energy bill. These amendments posed a threat to the critical work of our gas workers and community safety. Thanks to this collective action, the amendments were excluded from the final legislation. While this issue may reemerge, we are prepared to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting our members and the environment.

Fighting for Job Security and Fair Trade: USW has been relentless in its fight for workers impacted by unfair trade deals and offshoring. Despite challenges, we continue to push for the reauthorization of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), which provides robust job training for workers affected by trade-related layoffs. In 2024, we brought the voices of impacted workers to Congress, advocating for action to ensure their future.

Improving Health Care Standards: April 22 marked a significant milestone when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a regulation requiring safe staffing levels in nursing homes. This rule ensures that registered nurses (RNs) and nursing assistants (NAs) are always on duty, addressing the staffing crisis and prioritizing quality care for patients.

Securing Retirement Fairness: On December 21, the U.S. Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation eliminates provisions that unfairly reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for public employees. President Biden is scheduled to sign this historic bill into law on January 6, 2025.

Investing in Our Future: Throughout the year, significant federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) strengthened our communities and industries. These initiatives underscore the power of federal support in building a robust economy, and we remain committed to championing these transformative efforts.

Supporting Veterans: USW has been championing legislation across the country that requires a standardized workplace posting that includes basic information about benefits to which veterans are entitled and a way to learn more about programs designed to help them. In 2024, this legislation was passed in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Utah, and Virginia.

As we reflect on the accomplishments of 2024, we also look forward with excitement and determination around the opportunities and challenges ahead. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to advancing our core values.
Get ready to continue to stand up for workers in 2025!