PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) International Executive Board today appointed David McCall as the union’s new international president to fill the remainder of Tom Conway’s term. Conway passed away this week after four years as the USW’s leader.
“We are all mourning a great loss,” McCall said, “but even in our sadness, our union is strong, thanks in large part to Tom’s leadership and vision. Now, we’ll move forward the only way we can: together. Together, we’ll honor Tom’s legacy, as together, we fight for justice and fairness for working families.”
McCall served as USW international vice president of administration since July 2019. In that role, he 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 for 21 years as the director of USW District 1, a job in which he represented 70,000 USW members and retirees throughout the state of Ohio 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 in Northwest Indiana. There, 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. He joined the USW international staff in 1986.
McCall’s leadership during the American steel crisis from 1998 to 2002 helped to restore benefits to tens of thousands of retired steelworkers. During the global economic recession in 2008 and 2009, he fought to save thousands of jobs with a focus on long-term viability and sustainability.
“Our union is changing,” said McCall. “We’re organizing new members in new industries in both the United States and Canada, even as we bargain cutting-edge agreements for members in our traditional sectors. I am humbled to lead our union as we continue to fight for a better future for all working people.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, mining, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, the service, public and health care sectors and higher education.
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