Steelworkers Rebuild Kaiser Local To Reduce Conflict, Regain Respect

Stung by a loss of confidence in its leadership, the sometimes cantankerous Steelworkers union at Kaiser Aluminum Corp.’s Mead smelter is reorganizing to reduce confrontation and regain respect with members and management.

An 11-person transition team has been formed to make recommendations for new officers and committee chairman of the 1,000-member Local Union 329.

The team was assembled by the United Steelworkers of America international union, which took over operations of Local 329 in December. The team could appoint new officers within a month.

“We’re looking for a spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation,” said Paul Glavin, Steelworkers sub-district director over Spokane. Glavin also is temporary administrator of Local 329.

“Nobody’s rolling over to the company,” he added. “We want strongwilled individuals who will establish a relationship with the company and mutual respect.”

Local 329 was seized by the international after members gave former president Jerry Miller and 10 other officers a vote of no confidence. The union later found Miller guilty of using abusive language toward members.

Glavin, who is co-chairman of the transition team with maintenance worker Gene Stephens, said the group hopes to restore confidence in Local 329 by encouraging participation from every department and meeting with the company to improve working conditions.

“I think it’s fair to say that in the company’s mind there’s been hostility,” Glavin said. “The old days of using muscle are out. Now we educate - that’s the order of the day.”

Glavin said the receivership action was unrelated to last year’s emotional eight-day strike against Kaiser. The international union had recommended approval of a contract, but Local 329 members voted it down.

Steelworkers at Kaiser’s Trentwood rolling mill are represented by a different union local.

, DataTimes