News from the Picket Line

"All we want is a fair contract", This is what the men are saying who are walking the picket line.

On Sunday, October 25, I I stood on the picket line at ATI (Allegheny Technologies, Inc.).in Brackenridge, PA. I listened to the plight of the locked out skilled workers at the former Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Company.

The CEO Richard Harshman has received a 70% increase in his salary. He and the next four executives made more than $19 million in 2014. The company also made billion dollar plus improvements in the Brackenridge plant.

The contract between ATI and USW (United SteelWorkers) expired on June 30, 2015 and the company locked out its union employees on August 15, despite their willingness to work while contract negotiations continued. ATI wanted the union to make concessions in 57 areas. Most of them were negotiated until they got to salary. The union decided not to budge on salary concessions. Now, it has been 71 days and USW members are in it for the long haul.

The workers are fighting for their jobs, their families, and communities and finally for all workers, whether unionized or not.

I talked to Lance Jablonski at the USW(ATI) union hall in Brackenridge. The men think that the company wants to lower their standard of living and doesn't care who works in the plant. The steelworkers have been loyal to the company for years, even encouraging their sons to work for ATI. That is now gone. The company wants to lower costs of labor and doesn't want to pay for anything that is not directly needed to make the product.

The company set aside money for the eventuality of a lockout or a strike, so this conflict was planned in advance. They have brought in scabs to cross the picket lines. Other trade unions are represented in the plant and they cross the picket lines, since they already have contracts with the company.

The local, USW 1196, is taking all kinds of help to get them through this tough time, especially getting close to the holidays. The community at large is invited to help by donating money, food, moral support. Those interested in helping or who know of anyone who is can call 724-

224-9000. Also call that number if you are interested in showing solidarity by standing on the picket line or joining the union by forming a human fence around the plant. All interested persons are invited and welcomed.

Katherine Cunningham is a member of The Thomas Merton Center and a former member of USW community affiliate, Fight Back Pittsburgh.

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