Steelworkers recognized on 75th anniversary

COATESVILLE >> State Sen. Andy Dinniman recently visited local steelworkers and labor leaders to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United Steelworkers (USW) at the Steelworkers Union Hall in Coatesville.

Dinniman spoke with the steelworkers about state and legislative issues prior to their celebration of the 75th anniversary on May 20.

“Coatesville is a city born in steel and that is thanks to our steelworkers,” Dinniman said. “I want to congratulate the USW on this milestone anniversary and thank its members for working to improve job conditions and safety, ensure justice on the job, and provide vital skilled training to thousands of members.”

Dinniman also recognized the USW’s 75th anniversary with an official Senate citation and recognized the milestone in his comments on the Senate floor.

USW Amalgamated Local 1165 marked the milestone celebration with a gathering featuring food and refreshments at the union hall, where they exchanged stories and watched videos of past union events.

The United Steelworkers is North America’s largest industrial union with 1.2 million members and retirees in 1,800 local unions throughout the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. The USW represents men and women in nearly every industry there is and has a presence in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, and many other locations around the globe.

In Pennsylvania, the USW represent 50,000 active members and thousands of retirees at more than 700 worksites (150 locals). USW Local 1165 represents 1,200 workers at a dozen worksites in Chester County.

While the USW had its seeds in earlier labor unions, it was officially established on May 22, 1942, by a convention of representatives from the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel, and Tin Workers and the Steelworkers organizing committee.

The USW absorbed the Aluminum Workers of America in 1944, reaching more than a million members by the mid-1950s, and achieving industry-wide bargaining power in steelmaking. Eventually, more unions joined the USW, which today represents workers in a wide range of industries, including transportation, education, pharmacies and pharmaceuticals, oil, mining, chemicals production, manufacturing, health care, energy and utilities, atomic energy, paper and forestry, healthcare, food processing, travel and hospitality, business services, and more.

The United Steelworkers is currently affiliated with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (ALFCIO) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), as well as several international union federations.