On Sept. 25, USW International President Tom Conway passed away at 71 years old. Elected as the union’s president in 2019, Conway was known for his quick wit, formidable bargaining skills and unwavering devotion to workers and their families.
“Tom was a principled trade unionist, a pragmatic man who always had the best interests of workers at heart,” said Marty Warren, USW National Director. Over the course of his career, he became one of the union’s most accomplished contract negotiators in steel, aluminum, oil and other major industries, often directing bargaining during crises.
“Tom guided our union with confidence,” said Myles Sullivan, District 6 Director. “I admired his ability to steer through challenges with positivity and never forgetting that our priority as a union will always be to get the best results for our members.” As president, he spearheaded innovative initiatives to organize more workers into the labour movement.
Under Conway’s leadership, USW members gained some of the movement’s most significant organizing victories. “Tom was funny and down to earth, asked questions, listened and gave me some great advice that I still follow today,” said Scott Lunny, District 3 Director. “He made a difference.”
Conway relentlessly advocated for fair trade, demanding that the government enforce U.S. trade laws to prevent importation of illegally-subsidized and dumped products that damage domestic industries and destroy good-paying jobs.
“Tom was a steadfast leader that the USW needed, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dominic Lemieux, District 5 Director. “Tom reassured us that the union would get through it and that we would get through it together. Before that, he showed up for District 5 members, during one of our most difficult conflicts – the 18-month lock-out at ABI in Bécancour, Que.”
Conway worked not just to save jobs but to create them, finding new ways to engage both companies and elected officials to expand manufacturing, secure domestic supply chains and invest in healthy, flourishing communities.
Conway first became an activist in USW Local 6787 in 1978 when he worked at the Burns Harbor Works of Bethlehem Steel, in Indiana. While working as a millwright in the coke plant, Conway served as a griever for plant-wide maintenance and was a member of the safety and contracting out committees. He was elected as USW International Vice-President in 2005.
Changes in our union: International President David McCall, Emil Ramirez and Cathy Drummond Former USW International Vice-President of Administration David McCall was named International President on Sept. 26, 2023. As Vice-President (Administration), McCall bargained contracts with some of the union’s largest employers in steel, aluminum, rubber and other industries.
Before his election as Vice-President, he served as the director of USW District 1 (Ohio) for 21 years, where he represented 70,000 USW members and retirees and bargained some of the union’s biggest contracts.
McCall began his career as a union activist with USW Local 6787 at the Burns Harbor integrated steel facility. He worked as a millwright and served the local union in various positions, including grievance chairman and vice-president. During his tenure with Local 6787, McCall established the local union’s food bank and unemployment support committee.
Former District 11 Director Emil Ramirez replaces Dave McCall as International Vice-President of Administration. Ramirez served as USW District 11 Director since 2014, representing workers in nine Midwestern states. Ramirez began his union career in 1986 with USW Local 15162 at KPL/Gas Service’s Topeka, Kan., facility, serving in various leadership roles, including local union president.
He currently leads the USW’s bargaining with some of the union’s largest employers. He chairs the USW’s Cement Council and Arconic Bargaining Committee and serves as secretary of the union’s Container Industry Conference.
Replacing Ramirez as District 11 Director is Cathy Drummond, the first-ever woman District Director. Drummond comes out of USW Local 9460 at what is now Essentia Health in Hibbing, Minn. She served as Assistant to the District Director since 2019.
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