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About the United Steelworkers …

The United Steelworkers (USW) is part of the continuing struggle to uplift the lives of working people in our country, and to make sure America's wealth and bounty are shared by all who live here.

The USW began as an organization in the mid-1930’s as part of the historic labor upsurge during the Great Depression years prior to World War II.

The USW established industrial unions in steel, metal mines, aluminum and many other industries once considered impenetrable by labor unions. Early on, the USW gained a strong reputation for representing workers of all races and nationalities, and helping them to improve working and living conditions.

In Texas, the USW has been instrumental not only in improving conditions for industrial laborers, but also in breaking down regressive, discriminatory laws long used to hold many workers back.

Today, the United Steelworkers represents more than 850,000 working people throughout North America. USW members work in traditional heavy industries, but are also increasingly coming from the ranks of service employees, such as health care and public employees. 

USW - TAPE

The USW already represents tens of thousands of municipal workers at locations across the United States, Canada, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Accordingly, when city and county employees in Texas wanted organizing assistance, they came to the USW.

At a recent USW Constitutional Convention, the union rededicated resources, organizing staff and funds towards helping non-union workers win their right to union representation.

Campaigns at each location where an organizing drive is underway have taken on their own identity, but the overall goals remain the same - to give city and county workers in Texas a strong, united voice in future conditions of employment.

Why should you join USW-TAPE?

State laws in Texas limit collective bargaining rights for public employees. This means that no matter how strongly workers are organized at a single location, they will be limited in what they are able to accomplish.

Only a strong statewide organization of public employees will be able to impact local and state government decisions. That's why the USW Texas Association of Public Employees has been formed.

Here are some of the things the union can do…

• Research funding levels for city and county employees
• Research key administrators and politicians
• Study and discuss the budget as it applies to public employees
• Provide public workers with updated information on political events
• Meet with city officials about the needs of public employees
• Address budget hearings as a spokesperson for the public employees
• Organize public events and demonstrations on behalf of public workers
• Stand up for unfairly fired or disciplined co-workers
• Assist members with grievances
• Provide a financial base through your treasury for lobbying, legal action and political action
• With your own treasury, use funds to build a powerful lobbying arm
• As a group, become a stronger voice in selecting candidates
• Give public workers the eyes, ears and voice necessary to stand up for your rights, now and in the future!

 Union Dues - Why and How Much?

The Texas Association of Public Employees, like other institutions, needs a financial base to survive. Like all other membership-based organizations such as churches, clubs and fraternal orders, labor organizations must derive the vast majority of their income from member's dues.

While the Steelworkers have a standard dues structure for members working in the private sector, the dues structure in the public sector varies based on the individual circumstances.

The specific dues amount for the Texas Association of Public Employees will be based on 1% of payroll with a maximum monthly amount of $20.00, or an equivalent fixed monthly rate, which would be based on the weighted average earnings of eligible employees.

Both the Police and Firefighter Unions utilize a higher percentage formula. Their actual dollar amounts are about 2/3 higher for the Police and about 1/3 higher for the Firefighters than that for the Texas Association of Public Employees.