PRINTER'S NO. 2243
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
414
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY D. MILLER, KRUEGER, KINSEY, HILL-EVANS, DONATUCCI,
HARKINS, FRANKEL, BIZZARRO, A. DAVIS, YOUNGBLOOD, RAVENSTAHL,
CIRESI, WILLIAMS, READSHAW, MILLARD, MURT, KORTZ, WEBSTER,
T. DAVIS, CALTAGIRONE, McCLINTON, DELLOSO, DeLUCA, MADDEN,
O'MARA, MATZIE, DERMODY, WHEATLEY AND GALLOWAY, JUNE 25, 2019
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 25, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the work and service of Leo W. Gerard
and his retirement as International President of the United
Steelworkers.
WHEREAS, Leo W. Gerard has spent 18 years of his life as
International President of the United Steelworkers (USW); and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard has spent more than 33 years in service
to the USW in key positions, first as Director of District 6 in
Ontario from 1986 to 1991, then as National Director for Canada
from 1991 to 1994 and the union's International Secretary-
Treasurer from 1994 to 2001; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard's stewardship as International President
is extraordinary, as he worked with the government to halt a
flood of illegal steel imports and negotiated precedent-setting
labor agreements that positioned the USW as the decisive force
for a humane consolidation of the industry; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard has forged mergers and alliances with
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strong international industrial unions and helped to combat the
exploitation of workers in the developing world, who in turn
have supported USW campaigns to challenge renegade corporations;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard has helped build the USW into the largest
industrial union in North America and the dominant union in
paper, forestry products, steel, aluminum, tire and rubber,
mining, glass, chemicals, petroleum and other basic resource
industries, in addition to a growing membership in the health
care and service sectors; and
WHEREAS, The USW has unflinchingly stood up to trade-
distorting countries such as China under Mr. Gerard's
leadership, challenging unfair and illegal practices that have
cost USW members jobs and security; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of the regional and global strategies
of the USW's multinational employers, Mr. Gerard has championed
strategic alliances and global union networks throughout the
world; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard played a key role in launching the first
transatlantic union, Workers Uniting, a creation of the USW and
Unite the Union, the largest industrial union in Great Britain
and Ireland, which counts 3.4 million active and retired workers
as members; and
WHEREAS, Other alliances include:
(1) IG Metall, the German metalworkers' union;
(2) AWU, the Australian Workers' Union;
(3) CFMEU, Australia's Construction, Forestry, Mining
and Energy Union;
(4) CNM/CUT, the largest metalworkers' union in Brazil;
and
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(5) SNTMMSRM or Los Mineros, the National Union of Mine,
Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of the Republic of Mexico;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard has also exerted global leadership in
demanding worldwide standards for workers in the tire, rubber,
aluminum, mining and forestry products industries; and
WHEREAS, As USW President, Mr. Gerard was instrumental in the
formation of the Industrial Union Council of the AFL-CIO; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard is a member of the AFL-CIO Executive
Committee and serves on its Executive Council; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Gerard was a driving force in founding the
BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of labor unions and
environmental organizations dedicated to expanding the number
and quality of jobs in the green economy; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and
honor the work and service of Leo W. Gerard and his retirement
as International President of the United Steelworkers.
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