USW Statement on Contract Ratifications with NIPSCO

Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, [email protected]

Mishawaka, Ind. — United Steelworkers District 7 Director Mike Millsap issued the following statement after USW Local 13796 ratified their contract with the utility company NIPSCO today, nearly a month after management locked them out of their jobs. Local 12775 ratified their agreement with NIPSCO April 24 after also weathering a lockout.

“NIPSCO management came to the bargaining table demanding sweeping concessions from its dedicated workforce, trying to bully workers, just as it continues to attempt to extract ever-greater profits from consumers across Northern Indiana.

“The nearly 1,300 members of USW Local 12775, known as the physical unit, and the approximately 300 members of Local 13796, which represents clerical workers, made it clear they were willing to continue working and serving their communities after their previous contracts expired. They were not, however, willing to let the company gut labor rights and undermine worker safety.

“Even now, as both locals have ratified their agreements, we continue to see NIPSCO’s true colors. While this dispute was never about wages, it is extremely telling that NIPSCO insisted on giving the clerical unit, many of whom are women, smaller raises.   

“Despite NIPSCO’s efforts to divide workers and undermine their solidarity, clerical workers made the strategic decision today to ratify their contract and lay the foundation for long-term stability as they continue to build power with their union siblings in the physical unit.”

The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.

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