400 Armstrong World Workers in Macon Vote to Merge With United Steelworkers of America; 93% of Participating Members in Favor of Move to Join Their Directly Affiliated Local Union With the USWA.

PITTSBURGH -- News From USWA: In a resounding show of strength and solidarity, more than 400 workers at Armstrong World Industries in Macon, Ga. have overwhelmingly voted to merge their Directly Affiliated Local Union (DALU) with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA).

The vote was conducted on August 31 by representatives of the AFL-CIO, according to established merger procedures. Final results showed 93 percent of those who voted were in favor of the merger. Under terms of the agreement, AFL-CIO DALU #461 now becomes USWA Local #461.

The Steelworkers were attractive to the Armstrong World workers because the USWA already represents thousands of Armstrong workers at six other North American facilities. That's more than any other union.

Riley Flowers, President of Local 461, said the education, activism and resources of the USWA made an impression on his members, who produce acoustic ceiling tiles.

"I think it is going to be a benefit, not only to our workers, but to the other workers at Armstrong World to have all of us in the ceiling division under one international union," Flowers said. "We've got a good group of union employees here in Macon. I'm very proud of them. They really responded to this merger in a positive way - as you can tell by the final vote."

District 9 Director Connie Entrekin, who represents Steelworkers in eight southeastern states and the Virgin Islands, said the Armstrong workers made the right decision.

"Today's workers need the type of support the USWA can offer," said Entrekin. "Our corporate research, legal and contract negotiating departments were of special interest to the Macon workers. I'm sure they will prove to be invaluable." The current labor agreement at Macon is set to expire in September of 2005.

"We're excited to have these new members on board and we salute their efforts and unity," Entrekin said.

The USWA, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., represents more than 1.2 million active and retired members in the United States and Canada. Recently, the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers (IWA) of Canada and its 55,000 members also voted in favor of a merger with the USWA.

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