National College Players Association - United Steelworkers

Photo by Steve DietzRescue Team Takes First PlaceAmine rescue team from Local 15320 at Tata Chemicalsin Green River, Wyo., won first place in the field competitionat this year’s Southern Mine Rescue Competitionin New Iberia, La.The team, Tata Chemicals Black, was up against 13 otherexpertly-trained mine rescue teams in the competition, whichwas judged by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.Local 15320 represents workers at Tata Chemicals NorthAmerica in Green River, which mines and processes trona ore,a mineral that contains soda ash. The facility includes an undergroundmine and a refining plant.Fenton Halts Glass ProductionThe Fenton Art Glass Co. announced in July that it wouldwind down production of its collectible and giftwareglass products made by USW members in Williamstown,W.Va.Company President George Fenton said the market forpressed and blown glassware has diminished, making itimpossible to sustain overhead costs. He praised USW-representedworkers for their efforts in trying to keep glassmakingoperations going.The family-owned business, featured in USW@Work in2009, was founded in 1905 as a decorating company and producedits first glass products in 1906.Local 508 President Truda Mendenhall called the closurea loss for the Fenton family “and every worker here who hasworked so hard to try to make this factory continue on.“It’s also a loss for the glass industry because we makeglass and do techniques to glass that you will not find anywhereelse in the world,” she said.We Are One in Granite CityInternational Vice President Fred Redmond addressed a “WeAre One” rally at the Tri-Cities Labor Temple in GraniteCity, Ill., home to USW Locals 1899 and 68. Members ofSOAR and dozens of other unions came to the USW-sponsoredevent, called to show support for America’s middle class, tostand up for workers’ rights and protect promises made tosenior citizens.USW Photo by Scott WeaverAlcoa WorkersWorldwide MeetAlcoa workers from allover the world came toPittsburgh in Septemberfor an international conference toexchange experiences and developplans for bargaining and organizingcollaboration and coordination.Unions from Australia, Brazil,Canada, Iceland, Norway, Suriname,the United Kingdom andthe United States participated inthe two-day meeting. Also presentwere representatives from globalunion federations headquartered inSwitzerland.46 USW@Work • Fall 2011