"Journey for Justice" shakes stock meeting

By Dennis DeMaio

This article was reprinted from the May 16, 1998 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

PORTLAND, Ore. - After traveling 1,800 miles from Pueblo, Colo. to Portland, Ore., five buses carrying 230 steelworkers roared into this city on a Journey for Justice that culminated at the turbulent meeting of Oregon Steel shareholders on April 30. It was here the locked-out workers of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Locals 2102 and 3267 confronted their bosses.

After hearing impassioned speeches by union member-shareholders, Oregon Steel Chairman Thomas Boklund canceled the meeting barely 60 minutes into the proceedings. Ignoring union and non-union shareholders alike, Boklund testily said, "We are going to adjourn the meeting now because it is a platform for other than shareholder interests."

Well over 100 union members began chanting, "No justice, no peace!" as company executives quickly shut off the microphone and exited.

Using a bullhorn, USWA Secretary-Treasurer Leo Gerard addressed the angry workers. Emphasizing the fact that shareholders who happen to be union members have the same rights as other shareholders, Gerard said, "Corporations that behave in this manner toward their stockholders ought to be taken to task by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Just because the questions are unpleasant does not mean they should not be heard and answered."

Continuing his speech, Gerard said, "It shows what happened at the bargaining table."

Terry Hannon, who controls 100,000 shares of Oregon Steel, took the bullhorn: "As shareholders, we are very concerned about a company that is at war with its employees. We wanted to make that statement and try to make them understand that using replacement workers is not the way you solve this kind of problem."

Visibly irritated, Hannon said, "When the company just walks out of a shareholder meeting without letting the shareholders ask questions, it shows you just how bad this situation is."

Although Oregon Steel executives were successful in running from their shareholders, they found little room to hide from union members in Portland during a week-long series of demonstrations, rallies and other events demanding justice for the 1,100 locked-out workers who are engaged in a seven-month labor dispute with the company.

An airplane flew above the Doubletree Hotel, pulling a banner reading, "USWA: Bringing Oregon Steel and Wells Fargo to justice," and boats ferried union banners up and down the Willamette River which runs through Portland.

The union's ground assault was relentless. Oregon Steel President Joe Corvin got wake-up calls; he and other Oregon Steel executives saw hundreds of steelworkers and their supporters leaflet their plant in Portland.

Union banners blasting Corvin hung from bridges above highways. A supporter donated land for the union to erect "Camp Ludlow" to feed the busy steelworkers and provide entertainment. The "Pueblo Posse" was dedicated to the mission of "bringing Wells Fargo and Oregon Steel to justice."

The USWA is determined to see that the Pueblo workers have adequate resources to wage their campaign. Gerard announced that he and USWA President George Becker are asking the union's executive board for a special $1 million emergency fund to help the workers and reiterated his promise that the union is prepared to "spend every dime" in its $200 million strike fund to win the struggle.

With 80 percent of contracts in the basic steel industry expiring in August 1999, it is evident that the USWA is not hesitating to use all available resources to win this struggle. They clearly do not intend to enter the 1999 negotiations from a position of weakness.

Although Oregon Steel is quick to point out that it is making a profit, statistics indicate that the seven-month struggle is clearly putting a strain on the company's ability to prolong the battle. Between October 3, 1997, when the strike began, and April 21, 1998, Oregon Steel stock declined in value by nearly a fifth. Profits are down 83 percent from pre-strike levels.

In a mad scramble to avoid default on loans from Wells Fargo and other banks, Oregon Steel has twice been forced to renegotiate their terms and has been selling land around the Pueblo plant.

Despite the slide toward bankruptcy, Oregon Steel remains rigid in its bid to bust the union. Local 2102 President Ernie Hernandez said the company has not budged in the negotiations that have taken place since the National Labor Relations Board charged Oregon Steel with 111 unfair labor practices.

"They are ruthless. There is no light at the end of the tunnel," he said, adding, "Oregon Steel was out to decertify the union from day one."

And so the battle continues. On the one hand, a company out to bust the union at any and all cost; on the other hand, a determined group of workers fighting to preserve a union and a way of life that their parents and grandparents paid for in blood, sacrifice and struggle.

On April 30, over 230 steelworkers brought a message to Oregon Steel. Leroy Garner, who has worked at the Pueblo facility for 39 years, said it all: "They underestimated the union. They have a tiger by the tail."