Locked Out Workers Will Make 1,000-Mile Journey for Justice

USW, BCTGM Announce Tour to Highlight Corporate Attacks on Workers

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) have announced a joint project, "From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for Justice." Locked out workers from American Crystal Sugar Company (PINK:ASCS) and Cooper Tire and Rubber Company (NYSE:CTB) will embark on a road trip from Fargo, North Dakota, to Findlay, Ohio, in order to focus attention on the most recent wave of greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers and their unions.

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Members of the USW and BCTGM will travel over 1,000 miles through six states in six days, participating in rallies, fundraisers, and direct actions with local union members and allies along the way. The Journey for Justice will begin on Wed., Feb. 22, 2012, with a rally in Fargo, N.D. and make stops in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana before concluding on Mon., Feb. 27, in Findlay, Ohio.

Cooper Tire locked out more than 1,000 workers at its Findlay tire plant on Nov. 28, 2011, just days after the Thanksgiving holiday. More than six months ago, American Crystal Sugar locked out its entire union workforce of some 1,300 sugar beet workers from seven facilities in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa, despite making record profits over the last three years

In recent months, thousands of workers throughout North America have been locked out of their jobs at Caterpillar, Rio Tinto Alcan, HealthBridge and elsewhere as employers try to drive wages and benefits down so that corporate executives can continue to enjoy bonuses and other compensation worth millions of dollars.

Specific events along the Journey for Justice will be announced at the campaign's blog, http://crystalgreed.com/journeyforjustice/ and via daily media advisories. Workers will be using a variety of social media to get their message out, including Twitter and Facebook. Supporters will be able to attend events in the Twin Cities; Madison, Wis.; Chicago; and Ft. Wayne, Ind. There will be opportunities for supporters not along the route to participate in what organizers hope will be a highly interactive week of solidarity building among working people.

The USW represents about 850,000 workers in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glass making, mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber and other manufacturing environments to the public sector, service and health care industries. The BCTGM represents approximately 100,000 workers in bakeries, candy, cereal, sugar, grain mills, tobacco plants, food processing and manufacturing facilities and occupations related to these industries.

For more information, contact: Tony Montana, USW, 412-562-2592 or Amy Masciola, 202-285-6955

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)