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

• Restoration of health care benefits forretirees to previously negotiated levels.In 2003, Grupo México unilaterallychanged retiree health care benefits dramaticallyincreasing the cost to retirees.Benefits will be restored with affordablepremiums.• Stronger corporate protections regardingthe sale of the company or single plants.The renewed and improved protectionsincluded added requirements thatASARCO invest in its properties.Restrictions also prevent a parent companyor investor from siphoning offcash.• Greater bargaining power.The new agreement sets the stage forincreasing the union's bargainingstrength by securing a pledge thatASARCO remain neutral in future organizingcampaigns and allow the unionsto participate in new employee orientationprograms.Following approval by the bankruptcy court, the agreement is retroactive toJan. 1, 2007, and expires on June 30, 2010. The 1,600 ASARCO employees coveredunder the agreement are members of the United Steelworkers, IBEW,Machinists, Boilermakers, Teamsters, Operating Engineers, Millwrights andPipefitters.When USW President Leo W. Gerard signed a strategic global alliancein Phoenix on April 13, 2005, with Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, presidentof the National Union of Mining, Steel and Allied Workers ofthe Republic of Mexico (SNTMMSRM), few would have predicted howimportant it would be to winning the fight against Grupo México.They pledged cooperation and assistance during the struggles to win contractswith the common employer — Grupo México. They agreed to formcross-national networks of unions to continue on-going exchanges betweenSNTMMSRM and USW activists to refine the alliance and develop jointstrategies.SNTMMSRM lived up to its commitment. The Mexican union sponsoreda demonstration where more than 700 of their members joined a delegation ofUSW members and marched from union headquarters in Mexico City toGrupo México's headquarters. It was the first protest in the history of theMexican labor movement that was held in Mexico on behalf of an Americanunion.Solidarity meetings were held in Peru and Mexico City between the USWand SNTMMSRM, and with representatives of metals and mining industryunions from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Trinidad.The global alliance increased communications, collaboration and coordinationacross national borders and put the ultimate pressure on Grupo México,leading the creditors' committee in ASARCO’s bankruptcy to recognize thatthe existing management was a major roadblock to an agreement."The Mexican Mineworkers Union has proved to be a strong ally to ourunion, joining in decisive battles to support our members," said Leo W.Gerard. "I've come to know and establish a close personal friendship withtheir president, Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, who is establishing a reputation as agreat leader in the North American labor movement."Photo by Jack Kurtz.USW@Work • winter 2007 23