NATIONAL BARGAINING SESSION

Steelworkers united for battles in
the union’s pulp and paper sector
The United Steelworkers have unit-
ed districts and local unions repre-
senting over 150,000 workers in the

ing out to educate
the membership
on a program the union has adopt-
ed to Build Power in that sector,
which has some 900 bargaining
agreements.

USW International Vice President

Richard LaCosse

contract basis and that the organi-
zation needs a common agenda
and single voice.

Pulp and paper locals have
agreed to bargain expiry dates that
are closer together, in order to
exert Bee"? on common
employ:

Most i Re oitanny: a strict poey
has been adopted to make sure col-

the ability to bargain health care
and other benefits. In the United
States, employers are attacking bar-
gained health care coverage for
current US hed and retirees (see
article this page).

Locals will Aes seek to expand

in place, under the collective agree-
ment. The pulp and paper locals
also adopted a policy to avoid lump
sum payments and two-tier wage
scales and negotiate clauses which
ensure that employers will not
interfere in union organizing drives
in the company’s non-union opera-
tions.

NORMAN GARCIA

> International Calls for Boycott of Continental AG Union members,
their families and communities are being asked to boycott the purchases of
Continental tire products in North America. International president Leo
Gerard sent out a notice, in early June, calling for the German-based company
to stop its attacks on American workers. Continental AG is aban-
doning tire production facilities in Mayfield, Kentucky and
Charlotte, North Carolina and is dumping the costs of health care
programs onto the back of American taxpayers. In Kentucky it
has reduced the crew sizing to 140 workers in a mixing and dis-
tribution facility, while in Charlotte it f
ment to slash wages and benefits, gut grievance procedures and
seniority rights and has retained the right cut health care benefits as it pleases.
The results: some older retirees’ smaller pension cheques will be wiped out by
increased health care costs. In July, the North Carolina tire production facility
will cease to produce as the company switches to Mexico and Brazil. The com-
pany will limit health care and drug coverage for current employees to
$3000.00 per year. Gerard said this would be “fine for workers in advanced
industrial countries other than U.S. where tl
grams.” Many irees will see face i
cent, based on increased dical i

implemented an agree-

Leo
Gerard

1 health care pro-

losses from 20-28 per

premiums. The union is launch-
ing a multi-faceted corporate campaign to expose the corporation’s behaviour.
(> Gerard calls for Universal Health Care in US Speaking to the Health
Care Coalition of RIS aoe ae: in ae USW Iemehocal President Leo
Gerard said A ( ig dri

country’s deindustrialization as empl flee offsk
jd that the lak

ig Hae of the

to accept less on order to pay for premiums. Hi
must unite with pialiions te Beit! for a quality see thet is untyersal,
portable, and

1 1

states
‘try. Currently A pend about 16 per cent of GDP
on thertth care premiums. “The House of Sect ink is on aie said
Gerard. He said the U.S. health te
immigrants, minorities, women and others Shot can’t afford it.

agains t

THE ALLIED WORKER JUNE 2006 | 33