BY MIKE FITZSIMMONS AND KEVIN DWIRE
NILES, Ohio - More than 500 unionists and supporters
braved a cold wind here February 21 to protest union busting
by RMI Titanium. United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Locals
2155 and 2155-7 sponsored the rally in a park across the
street from the plant, which makes titanium for many
industries, including aerospace. The USWA locals have been on
strike since Oct. 1, 1998. Workers from a wide range of other
unions turned out for the rally, following a police attack on
the strikers nine days earlier.
Three hundred strikers and their supporters had mobilized at the plant gate February 12. Strikers believed the company had begun using replacement workers from other RMI plants to get out production. About 100 cops in riot gear from five area police agencies confronted the pickets, pushing them out of the way to escort several trucks out of the plant. According to Niles police chief Bruce Simeone, the trucks carried materials and some RMI management personnel who had been locked in the plant for two days. Later that morning, as cars began to arrive at the plant, the cops arrested seven of the protesters.
This confrontation followed a campaign by the company and media to violence-bait the strikers. The Youngstown Vindicator claimed nine motorists, including four cops, got flat tires "caused by spikes thrown by unidentified people outside RMI." On February 9, the company canceled the first negotiating session since January 27, saying in a written statement, "This environment is not conducive to reaching an agreement and [the company] has asked the union to control its members' activities."
The next day, Weathersfield Township police chief Sam Pagano publicly urged people to stay away from RMI, saying, "It's not a healthy environment."
The same day police attacked the pickets, RMI ran a full- page "open letter to the community" in the Vindicator, saying, "The strikers are trying to accomplish with violence what they have not been able to accomplish legally by withholding their labor.
"Those who are currently committing acts of violence against RMI employees, against innocent passersby, and even against the police, think that if a company hires replacement workers to do jobs that they walked away from, they are entitled to become criminals and defy the law." In bold type at the bottom of the page, the company announces, "RMI WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WHILE THE VIOLENCE CONTINUES."
Police at first claimed five of those arrested February 12 had tried to force their way into the plant, and that one man was carrying a piece of metal that could be used to break car windows. When the seven arrested workers pleaded innocent at their arraignment February 16, the police admitted that none had tried to get onto the company property. All seven, most charged with disorderly conduct, are free on bond with their next hearing scheduled for March 24.
Following the confrontation on the picket line, Trumbull County common pleas judge Peter Kontos ordered production stopped at the plant for a one-week cooling-off period, saying "violence has reached a level that the law enforcement cannot adequately handle. . .and thus there exists an immediate danger to the citizens of this county."
Production resumed February 22.
Meanwhile, on February 19, Federal Judge Peter Economus granted a sweeping temporary restraining order against the union at the request of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The order prohibits strikers from engaging in mass picketing for one mile in either direction on the road in front of the plant. It also bans strikers from using "video cameras, film, or digital cameras," or writing down license numbers on cars going into and out of the plant. Strikers report that the company, meanwhile, still videotapes the strikers.
The NLRB also asked that U.S. Marshals act to enforce the restraining order "because of the local authorities' inability to deal with the situation." The judge agreed. A hearing on whether to turn the restraining order into a permanent injunction began February 24 and was scheduled to reconvene the next day. Strike supporters had to pass several cop cars parked at both ends of the plant and in fields along the road before arriving at the February 21 rally.
Solidarity from other workers
Members of USWA Local 1375 at WCI Steel and International
Union of Electronic Workers (IUE) Local 717 at Delphi-Packard
in Warren, Ohio, came to the rally. Also present were members
of the United Auto Workers (UAW) from the GM Lordstown plant,
members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
(IBEW), the United Electrical Workers (UE), and many others.
Speaking before the crowd, a representative of nurses at Trumbull Memorial Hospital thanked Steelworkers for the support they contributed to the nurses' victory in their nine- day strike last November. "If [Local] 2155 fails, we all fail, so get out and spread the word and build support for this strike," he added.
To loud cheers, Irma Roberts told the rally of the need to keep fighting for a decent pension. Her husband Joe, who worked for RMI for 33 years, died six months ago. His $100-a- month pension leaves her with $55 after health insurance premiums.
Four members of Teamsters Local 24, on strike against East Manufacturing in Randolph, Ohio, drove to the rally after hearing about it at their union meeting. "We came to show our support for a union in the same situation as we are," said Troy Valesko, a member of the bargaining committee. Four hundred members of their local have been on strike against the trailer manufacturer since January. One demand of the striking Teamsters is a 58-hour cap on the workweek. They said that seven-day, 70-hour weeks were common. "They don't respect our families, they don't think that we have lives other than work," said Duane Bowker.
A spirited group of UAW members, fresh from an organizing drive victory at the K-Mart distribution center in Warren, came "to show our support for our brothers and sisters because they deserve the same dignity and respect we fought for," said Thom Dorff. "By joining forces it gives them a big shot in the arm. There is strength in numbers."
Dorff and the other workers said they fought for a union for three years, beginning the organizing drive in February 1996 with the Teamsters union. After four votes, they were victorious on January 29, winning representation by the UAW. When asked what the final vote total was, they began chanting "328-234," explaining this became their union chant after the votes were counted.
In one year "125 people turned around and voted for the union," explained Dorff. More than 100 workers took part in the organizing committee. They are now getting ready to begin negotiating for their first contract.
Three of the other 13 K-Mart distribution centers are unionized, one by the Teamsters and two by the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). "We're looking forward to hooking up for a national contract," said Dorff.
Clint Adkins and Brandon Sersich were among several high school students present. Adkins told the Militant, "We came to show support for our friend's father, who's on strike. It's not right to throw someone out of a job."
Negotiations resumed with a four-hour meeting between the union and the company February 22. Both sides agreed to meet again three days later. Already the strikers have announced plans for another rally March 28. For more information call USWA Locals 2155 and 2155-7 at (330) 652-0288.
Kevin Dwire is a member of the UAW. Mike Fitzsimmons is a member of UNITE.