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USW members from the Las Vegas area take action on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).
Across the country, Rapid Response Teams have been busy educating USW members on the Employee Free Choice Act, the law that will restore workers’ freedom to form a union. They are also getting members to sign on to a statement of support for the proposed law that is directed to the next President and Congress.
Pennsylvania Local Goes All Out
Under the direction of Rapid Response Coordinator Andi Garnic, Local 1187 in Allenport, PA, took on the action despite dire times at her local; the members are all losing their jobs as their employer, Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, closes their facility. The local far exceeded expectations on the action, getting 374 people to sign up in support of the EFCA when they only have 240 members.
How did they do it? The local first got their members to sign up. They also went to management, securing a number of signatures. A few members were in the hospital, and during visits there, they got those members to sign up as well. Garnic also spearheaded a drive for support in the community, spending time at a local gas station and convenience store spreading the message for the need for the EFCA and working to gain signatures in support.
When asked why the local did so much work on this action, Andy stated, “We did this because we believe in unions. They make our country strong.” As for management’s participation, she points out, “When we benefit, they benefit too,”
Alabama Coordinator Goes Above and Beyond
Local 12136’s Rapid Response Coordinator has not been on the job all that long. But, in the short time that Grant Rush has taken on the position, hisTarrant, Alabama local has seen a major shift due in large part to Rush’s dedication. As a testament to his commitment, Rush spearheaded an effort with the support of President Arnold Burton that saw nearly all the members of his local signing the petition, and in the last days of the action, Rush actually cut his vacation short to return to his plant to submit a few more petitions before the deadline.
Many District 2 Locals Working Hard for 100% Participation
Local 564 in Vassar, MI does not have a long history of Rapid Response activism, however under the direction of President Harvey Roles, who is in his first term, that is quickly changing. During the Employee Free Choice Act action, the local signed up people in numbers exceeding their membership.
Detroit-area Local 9529 is newly formed, and one of President Ed Leija’s first actions was appointing a Rapid Response Coordinator. The local’s early commitment is showing, as it too signed up more people than just its members on the action.
Wisconsin Local 2-00150 President Kurt Randorf took on the action in a big way. Randorf, who is also a Congressional District Coordinator in the Rapid Response program, not only got all his members to sign, but he also took the message of labor law reform to other affiliated unions to build support.
Other District 2 locals securing more signatures than their membership include 13729 (Chris Wegner, Coordinator) and 5965 (Terry Newton, President and Brenda Sanders, the new Coordinator).
Granite City Steelworkers Team Up
The three USW local unions at Granite City Steel in Granite City, Illinois conducted a recent gate action to build support for the Employee Free Choice Act. Local 1899 and Local 68, two USW locals with a long history of Rapid Response activism, joined with members from the newly-organized Local 50 to collect nearly a thousand signatures as members passed through the gate on their way in and out of work. While the main action took place over a two-day period, they continue to collect additional signatures of support.
Memphis-Area Steelworkers Revitalize Rapid Response Program
Rapid Response activity at Local 7655 had tapered off in recent years. After a round of training last year and a reorganization of their program, the Tennessee local is now an inspiring turn-around story.
Under the leadership of President William Jones, who has led the charge in revitalizing the program, and Rapid Response Coordinator Wilma Buckley along with her key activists, Easter Crutcher and Deborah Daniels, the local secured over 1300 signatures as part of the action on the Employee Free Choice Act.
Has your local done a great job on the Employee Free Choice Act? Let us know!
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RAPID RESPONSE
