Union stops steel bosses' golidari demands for concessions

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Middletown has been dominated CINCINNATI —Not too many strikes are being won these days. But even in the midst of the worst bargaining atmosphere in this country in decades, one small union in Middletown, Ohio, was able to gain a significant victory.

The lessons of this strike need to be understood by every union man and woman in this country-and by every international union and union federation.

Middletown is a small city located about half-way between Cincinnati and Dayton in the south-west corner of Ohio. Fifty thousand people live in the town and the immediate area.

Since 1900, the economic life of Middle -town has been dominated by Armco Steel. Armco is the fifth largest steel producer in the country.

In 1981, Armco employees accounted for nearly 36 percent of that city's income-tax revenue. As a result of concessions and layoffs, that figure dropped to about 26 percent by 1986.

The Armco Middletown plant currently employs about 4300 hourly workers. It is one of the most modern steel-making loca -tions in the country.

The Middletown Works, the company's first and most profitable plant, is one of six Armco steel plants across the country. Company figures for the period between 1980 and the first half of 1986 show negative profits from all Armco operations (steel and non steel), but good profits from the Middletown Works.

In 86 years of operation, there had never been a work stoppage at the plant.

A union transformed Representing the 4300 employees at the plant is the Armco Employees Independent Federation (ABIF). This union is not affiliated to the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) or any other union body or federation.

The AEIF was established in 1943. For most of its existence it had been seen as the area. Union hats were made, and kids from a special-education class were hired to make "AEIF-No Concessions" buttons, which were sold in the plant.

Through big ways and small, the union began building that sense of internal solidarity that is so important to a success -ful struggle.

Armco is intransigent

The company had set a deadline of July 31, 1986, in the contract discussions with the union.

The union, wanting to fully inform the membership about what the company was planning, printed up the company's 30-page contract proposal and distributed it to the membership.

The outrageous concessions demanded by the company strengthened the resolve of the membership to fight. Four hours before the deadline, the company decided to continue negotiating and to extend the contract that was currently in effect.

However, in late August the situation was again quickly approaching the boiling only thing it needed: a membership ready to fight and a leadership with a will to lead and not turn back.

On Aug. 25 the union and the company reached an impasse in the bargaining.

In the face of a Sept. 1 deadline set by the company, the AEIF called for a demonstration of support for Aug. 26. Over 3000 steelworkers showed up. Chanting "No Concessions," they circled a two-block area in front of the local Armco offices. Hundreds of signs were visible with the slogans: "We Won't Work More For Less," "No Contract, No Work," and "No Concessions."

The size and militancy of the demon -stration gave the workers at Armco a sense of their own power.

On Aug. 27, the union made its final offer. It would agree to extend the terms of the current contract for the length of the next contract. The next day, the company rejected the union's offer.

On Aug. 31, the company implemented its own concessionary contract.

The union had decided previously that if economic life of

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¡ a: 1.1 : .d rot ilat fiathiid of the voting, the results of the vote were given. Of the 3839 workers who voted, 3592 (94 percent) voted to walk off the job. Only 247 voted to continue work.

That night, picket lines went up at the plant's18 gates.

When asked about the possibility of scabs or others trying to take their jobs, AEIF President Ray Back said, "They will not be allowed in the gates." When asked about the 10 Armco warehouses in the area, Back said, "We will picket each one. We want to stop steel going to the customer."

Prior to walking off the job, the union had made considerable preparations for support.

A women's committee of about 300 spouses of Armco workers began aroundthe-clock provisions for food for the picketers. It was common to see wives and children of union members on the picket line.

Area businesses supported the picketers by donations of food. Local unions also helped out. Union workers at a local supermarket collected food for AEIF members. Another local union made sure the picket lines were supplied with wood for the chilly nights.

On Sept. 9, the company, in an attempt to scare the workers, moved trucks past the picket lines loaded with steel manufactured before the walkout.

Community support continued to build. It was becoming clear that the AEIF was prepared for a long siege.

Company retreats

On Sept. 10, the company, citing "interest for the customer, a growing concern for the company's financial position, and for the sake of the Middletown area," surrendered and agreed to

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AILAM Middletown, Ohio