USW@Work - National College Players Association - United ...

Two and a half years of solidarity,determination and courage bysome 1,600 copper workers hasresulted in an unprecedented victoryagainst a company that had been hellbenton wiping out retiree benefits andbusting the union.It took a strike, a corporate campaignagainst Grupo México — the thirdlargest copper producer in the world,assistance from unions in our globalalliances, a bankruptcy and finally thereplacement of management beforemeaningful negotiations got under wayto reach an agreement that fulfills theneeds of our members and retirees.ASARCO workers in Arizona andTexas have won a new labor agreementthat provides substantial economicgains, and landmark security protectionsnever before achieved in the U.S. miningindustry.Struggle and solidarityIn 2004, there were seven differentlabor agreements with varying contractlanguage, expiration dates, and pensionplans. The USW, along with seven otherunions representing workers employedby ASARCO, began bargaining in thespring of 2004 only to find that the companywas demanding massive wage andbenefit concessions.Prior to the commencement of negotiations,all the other unions signed statementsagreeing the USW would lead thenegotiations and that District 12 DirectorTerry Bonds, who chairs the USW'sNonferrous Industry Conference, wouldbe the chief spokesman for all theunions. When the contracts expired onJuly 1, 2004, the workers refused toaccept the company's concessionarydemands but continued working for ayear without a contract.When bargaining began at Arizona'sRay Mines in May 2005, the companycontinued to demand concessions.Workers again refused and the unionfiled Unfair Labor Practice (ULP)charges with the NLRB. When the RayMines contract expired in July 2005, allASARCO workers began a ULP strike.Photos by Jack Kurtz.USW@Work • winter 2007 21