Steelworkers Looking to Take “Fair Share” from Utica Shale Profits

The United Steelworkers union (USW) wants a substantial increase in wages, stronger rules to prevent fatigue, and measures to keep union workers, rather than contract employees, on the job in Ohio’s Utica Shale area. The USW is on the record as saying that the union is ready for the biggest fight in recent history, and have set aside a strike fund for the first time in over 20 years.

The USW is using the fact that the nation’s oil production is at the highest level in at least 30 years as a means to agitate its members into action. For example, the union claims that refiners are “looking for a fight,” and that the industry “has very, very good profits [and tells] us we don’t deserve a good piece of the pie.”

Matt Austin is a lawyer based in the Columbus, Ohio office of Roetzel & Andress, LPA who limits his practice to representing employers dealing with labor, employment, and OSHA matters. You can call Matt at (614) 723-2010 or email him at maustin@ralaw.com.