United Steelworkers Union Names New Leadership Team
05/29/2019 - The United Steelworkers union is changing up its leadership team as four of its principals, including union president Leo Gerard, plan to retire over the next two months.
In a statement, the union said Gerard, along with USW secretary-treasurer Stan Johnson, international vice president at large Carol Landry and Iinternational vice president Jon Geenen, will be stepping aside in the coming weeks to allow for a smooth transition.
"The decision to announce these changes together will ensure that a capable and experienced group of trade union leaders will hit the ground running as a team," said Gerard. "It will also pave the way so that the union continues to be on solid footing and that the transition is seamless and serves the best interest of our membership."
Gerard has served the union for more than 50 years. He began his career as an 18-year-old in northern Ontario’s mining industry, and he has since held a series of positions within the union.
He will be succeeded by international vice president Tom Conway, who has held that position since 2005. Conway began his career as a millwright at Bethlehem Steel in 1978 and has served as a staff representative and as the secretary of the USW's Basic Steel Conference.
He has also chaired many of the union's major sector negotiations in steel, mining, aluminum, and other metals and manufacturing operations, the union said.
"Our union is changing and becoming more diverse," Gerard said. "We represent more different kinds of workers in more and more sectors, and our board is changing to reflect that growth. The USW is committed to bringing forward the next generation of labor leaders and to provide the tools, training, and opportunity they will need to succeed.”
You can find the union's full announcement here.
"The decision to announce these changes together will ensure that a capable and experienced group of trade union leaders will hit the ground running as a team," said Gerard. "It will also pave the way so that the union continues to be on solid footing and that the transition is seamless and serves the best interest of our membership."
Gerard has served the union for more than 50 years. He began his career as an 18-year-old in northern Ontario’s mining industry, and he has since held a series of positions within the union.
He will be succeeded by international vice president Tom Conway, who has held that position since 2005. Conway began his career as a millwright at Bethlehem Steel in 1978 and has served as a staff representative and as the secretary of the USW's Basic Steel Conference.
He has also chaired many of the union's major sector negotiations in steel, mining, aluminum, and other metals and manufacturing operations, the union said.
"Our union is changing and becoming more diverse," Gerard said. "We represent more different kinds of workers in more and more sectors, and our board is changing to reflect that growth. The USW is committed to bringing forward the next generation of labor leaders and to provide the tools, training, and opportunity they will need to succeed.”
You can find the union's full announcement here.
