“From his earliest time making steel to his steady hand leading us through the darkest days of the pandemic, Tom followed two simple guiding principles: the dignity of work and the power of working people,” said David R. McCall, the USW’s International Vice President of Administration. “Tom was never afraid of a fight, and thanks to his ingenuity and determination, generations of workers can enjoy better jobs and brighter futures.”

Conway was elected as the union’s president in 2019, and was known for his quick wit, formidable bargaining skills, and unwavering devotion to workers and their families, the union said. 

Conway first became an activist in USW Local 6787 in 1978 when he went to work at the Burns Harbor Works of Bethlehem Steel. While working as a millwright in the coke plant, Conway served as a griever for plantwide maintenance and was a member of the safety and contracting-out committees. He joined the union’s International staff in 1987 and was elected as USW international vice president in 2005, the union said. 

Cleveland-Cliffs chairman and chief executive officer Lourenco Goncalves said Conway was a tireless advocate for United Steelworkers members. 

“I came to regard Tom Conway as a personal friend and trusted business partner, with whom I shared a steadfast belief in the bright future of the American industry. Tom recognized that good-paying, union jobs are at the core of America’s strength. He fought for policies that preserve and grow the middle class. While Cleveland-Cliffs’ close partnership with the USW will continue, I will miss Tom Conway greatly,” Goncalves said.