Former Steelworkers chief Becker dies at 78

George Becker, who was national president of the United Steelworkers of America during the 20-month lockout and labor dispute at Kaiser Aluminum Corp., died Saturday at his home in Gibsonia, Pa. He was 78 and had prostate cancer.

Becker was the sixth president of the union that has 1.2 million active and retired members in the United States and Canada, according to a statement from Steelworkers.

He retired in 2001, but remained active in union issues and served as a union-appointed director on Kaiser’s board when it reorganized and emerged from bankruptcy last year. His seat will be awarded to a nominee in consultation with Steelworkers, the company said in an announcement.

Becker may be best known for organizing corporate campaigns against Kaiser and before that, Ravenswood Aluminum in West Virginia, a company that was led by notorious international financier Marc Rich.

Rather than limit union activity to picketing factories, corporate campaigns targeted ultra-rich and scandal-tainted owners and controversial business practices such as environmental destruction.

Becker fought the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he blamed for wiping out hundreds of thousands of good paying manufacturing jobs, and then highlighted the plight of workers in foreign countries.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Goforth Becker, three sons and numerous grandchildren.