1,400 Corning Workers in Michigan Join USW

Glen Dowdy understood the union difference long before he came to work at the Corning facility in Hemlock, Mich., a year ago.

Dowdy worked in a USW-represented facility at his previous job, but he decided to move on to work at the new Corning plant because of promises from the company, promises that made the solar wafer factory sound like a great place to work. Those promises didn't last.

"They started going back on their word," Dowdy said, describing unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, unpredictable scheduling, and the company's dismissive attitude toward workers. "Enough was enough, and something had to be done."

That something was a vote by the work force this September to join the USW - a victory that gives 1,400 Corning employees a strong voice on the job.

"I'm proud that we stood up for ourselves," Dowdy said. "It was a hard fight, but it's been worth it."

The workers in Hemlock join thousands of other USW members who work at Corning facilities in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.

The victory didn't come easy for the Hemlock workers. Corning held anti-union meetings while threatening and firing workers in an effort to bully them into voting no, but it didn't work.

"I'm so happy and relieved that we finally came together and we won," said Nakisha West, who has worked at the Hemlock facility for about 10 months. "You have to have unity."

Now, West and Dowdy and their union siblings are looking forward to negotiating their first contract as USW members, standing up for strong wages and benefits, fair treatment, and a safer and healthier work environment.

"We're just going to take it one day at a time and fight for the things that we want," West said.

Dowdy said he looks forward to building a future at Hemlock with the benefit of union solidarity.

"This was personal to me, and losing was not an option," said Dowdy, who got emotional as he recalled how much work he and other organizers put in to ensure the union victory.

"I love this union," he said. "I'm proud to be a Steelworker, and I wouldn't want to be part of any other union."