DISTRICT 12 CONVENTION REPORTS

SAN DIEGO, CA  -  MARCH 8-12

On March 8 members of Steel, Rubber, Paper, Chemical, Atomic, the western part of the United Steel Workers known as District 12, (Alaska to New Mexico) came together to ratify the District 12 by-laws, and train in a variety of areas, courtesy of the USW International.

• Starting out the day was explaining of the USW Statement of Policy on Sexual Harassment.
• Credentials - gave their report on attendance and representation.
• Discusses how Plant Lockouts, Strikes and Mill closures affect everyone.
• Touched on H.R. 3012: the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment (TRADE) Act of 2010.  Discussed the Disappearance of Small town USA, Foreign trade, WTO.
• USA-United Sportsmen's Alliance report/Shotgun raffle (Jerry Enyeart wins at Thursday's dinner)
• WOS announce the upcoming International Women's Conference, October 17-20 at Pittsburgh Westin Convention Center.
• Discussed US oil companies who are importing oil!  New Energy Bill is coming around the bend and the USW will be at the table while it is created and penned.
• The delegates jointly worked on the first half of the District 12 By-Law changes and updates.
• LUNCH
• Health Care workers, a new division of Steelworkers.
• Neutrality issues, where companies step back and remain neutral as to whether their employees choose to join a union or not.
• Los Angeles Carwash Strike and our involvement (guest speaker).
• Union Workers statistics.

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY:  Classes consisted of the following: (groups rotated through in random order)

• YOU ARE THE UNION
• NEGOTIATIONS
• LABOR HISTORY
• RAPID RESPONSE
• POLITICAL ACTION FUNDS

FRIDAY:

• VARIOUS USW AND AFL-CIO SPEAKERS
• KOREAN METAL WORKER Describes his plight against a Korean guitar manufacture who, when faced with an organizing body of workers, shuts down shop and moves to a different country (china).
• Ike Gittlen - USW & AAM Action- "Growing a Manufacturing Economy for the 21st Century."
• AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT'

CLOSING CEREMONIES.

"Very informative, and highly useful information that will come in handy in the coming months."