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News BytesStan JohnsonNew Director of District 9tan Johnson is the new director of theUSW's District 9. He succeeded formerDirector Connie Entrekin, whohas agreed to work as a special assistant toUSW President Leo W. Gerard.A native of Springfield, Tenn., Johnsonstarted his career as a production worker forPirelli Armstrong Tire, where he heldvarious local union offices includingpresident of United Rubber WorkersLocal 670.After the URW's 1995 merger with theUSW, Johnson served in Pittsburgh asNational Rapid Response Coordinator,director of the Dislocated Workers Program,assistant to the International President,assistant to the International Secretary-Treasurer and special assistant to theInternational President for Organizing.Johnson relocated to Cornelius, N.C. inearly 2003 as Sub-District Director. Helater moved to Birmingham, Ala., where hewas subsequently appointed AssistantDirector ofDistrict 9.District 9covers Alabama,Florida, Georgia,Mississippi,North Carolina,South Carolina,Tennessee, andthe VirginIslands.SUSW Wins $1.3 Million for Employees and RetireesSeveral hundred former employees and retirees of an aluminum smelter inHawesville, Ky., now represented by the United Steelworkers, are entitled toshare the $1.3 million proceeds of a stock distribution from the reorganizationof a mutual insurance company into a stock company, a federal appeals court hasruled.The favorable ruling for the union came from the United States Court of Appealsfor the Sixth Circuit. Last November, it reversed a previous decision in favor ofSouthwire, a former owner of the smelter that had been issued in 2004 by a federalcourt in Kentucky."This ruling brings to a close one of our last remaining chapters with Southwire,''said Gary Erwin, vice president of USW Local 9423. "We are delighted that the courtruled in this manner, as our retirees and members stand to recoup some of what waslost under our former employer."The Appeals Court cited Kentucky law and the demutualization plan adopted byPrudential Insurance in making its decision to send the case back to district court forfurther proceedings consistent with the new opinion.The smelter has been owned since 2000 by Century Aluminum, which alsoclaimed a right to the funds but stated that if it prevailed it would give the funds toemployees and retirees.Women of Steel bring joy to disabled girln addition to lending support in labor disputes, participating in legislative actionsand contributing to their own basic union functions, USW Local 9477 in Marylandhelps with the important job of building the union's image in the community.Each year members of the Women of Steel committee write down the charities theywish to support and pick one by holding a drawing. The one chosen gets the proceedsfrom an event the women organize.This year the winner was the Sunshine Foundation, which bills itself as "the originalwish-granting organization." The Women of Steel wanted tosponsor someone locally, so the charity promoted 7-year-oldGabriella Corbett of Perry Hall. She was born with spina bifidaand uses a wheelchair. Her wish was to go to Disney World.To fulfill her dream, the Women of Steel held their secondannual Halloween dance and raised over $3,000 to send Gabby,her parents and older brother to Disney World in Florida."She was so appreciative and kept saying 'thank you' overand over again," said Kathy Garrison, chair of the Local 9477Women of Steel committee. "It was very worthwhile to seeGabby smile and giggle."IDuPont Abandons Nerve Gas PlanuPont Corp. has abandoned a plan — opposed by the USW and communityleaders — to treat a highly dangerous nerve gas waste at its Chambers Worksplant in New Jersey.The USW has opposed the plan to treat the VX nerve agent since 2005 and mostrecently spoke out against it at DuPont's shareholders meeting in May 2006.It was the second time in a year that DuPont scuttled plans to secure lucrative governmentcontracts. It previously dropped a bid to operate the Savannah River nuclearcomplex after the USW called attention to DuPont's lousy environmental and safetyrecord during 40 years of managing the site.D36 winter 2007 • USW@Work