NLRB Certifies USW Representation for Workers at Golden Dragon Copper

News provided by

May 29, 2015, 03:26 ET

PINE HILL, Ala., May 29, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has certified the union as the exclusive bargaining representative for production, maintenance and warehouse workers at Golden Dragon Copper.

In a very close, secret ballot election conducted on Nov. 7, 2014, workers at Golden Dragon voted in favor of USW representation, even after outsiders, including Gov. Robert Bentley, campaigned against the union.

"The state of Alabama promised the company $120 million in tax breaks over 20 years, so we want to ensure that these are good jobs and Golden Dragon employs local workers," said USW District 9 Director Daniel Flippo. "The company showed where it stands on the issue when it originally brought a team of workers from China to assist in running the Pine Hill facility."

A three-member NLRB panel heard, considered and ultimately rejected the Chinese owned company's objections to the workers' successful organizing drive.

Flippo congratulated workers at Golden Dragon on their hard fought victory.

"Workers need a strong voice with management to ensure that they are treated fairly on the job," he said. "Union contracts have proven to be effective tools to improve occupational health and safety as well as promote and enforce civil rights and fight harassment, prejudice and other common forms of on-the-job discrimination."

The USW represents 850,000 North American men and women employed in a wide variety of industries, which include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper and energy production, along with workers in the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org.

More information, contact:
Dan Flippo-205- 213-6464; [email protected]
Tony Montana-412-562-2592; [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)