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   Vol.65/No.39            October 15, 2001 
 
 
Steelworkers win support for strike in Wyoming
 
BY JACK PARKER  
WORLAND, Wyoming--More than 100 people rallied here September 29 in support of United Steelworkers (USWA) Local 8810, whose 90 members have been on strike since June 1 against the international bottling giant Crown, Cork, and Seal. The issues in the walkout include job classifications, retirement, and medical benefits. Strikes are also under way against the company in Illinois and Maryland.

The event, sponsored by the Wyoming State AFL-CIO, was attended by mine workers, USWA members from the Green River soda ash mines, building trades workers, rail workers, and others. Most of those who came brought donations of food and money collected from members of their locals.

Following the rally, pickup trucks full of food and dry goods caravaned to a former veterinary office that serves as the local's food bank. The donations filled the building. "We really needed this," said Bill Tibbs, chairman of the local's Strike and Defense Fund. "Strike benefits are only $109 per week and we have been out since June 1. The international uses some of our strike money to pay for medical insurance and that limits what we can give to our members."

Crown, Cork, and Seal makes one of every five beverage cans used in the world and one of every three food containers used in the United States and Europe. Last year the company had total sales of $7.3 billion from products made in 223 plants.

"Crown is demanding we take a concession contract," said Local 8810 president Tim McElhinny. "They want to double our annual medical deductible to $200 for a single person and $400 for a family. They want to charge us $25 per month per dependent for the medical plan. They want to do away with our job descriptions. They want you to show up for work and find out that day what you are going to be doing."

The Worland Crown, Cork, and Seal plant was built in the late 1970s and organized by the USWA in the early 1980s. "From the beginning, the company resisted the union coming in here," McElhinny said. "We had to win a court fight just to get recognized. This is our fourth strike in 20 years. This one is different, all the others lasted just a couple weeks."  
 
 
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