<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><i class="">Our hearts go out to everyone in the Steelworkers and to President Conway’s family.</i></div><div class=""><i class=""><br class=""></i></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><a href="https://www.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2023/usw-mourns-passing-of-international-president-tom-conway" class="">https://www.usw.org/news/media-center/releases/2023/usw-mourns-passing-of-international-president-tom-conway</a><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="meta">
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<time datetime="2023-09-25" class="">Sep 25, 2023</time>
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<h1 class="">USW Mourns Passing of International President Tom Conway</h1>
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<div class="cf"><p class=""><strong class="">Contact:</strong> Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, <a href="mailto:jkamm@usw.org" class="">jkamm@usw.org</a> </p><p class="">(PITTSBURGH) – It is with heavy hearts that the <a href="file:///C:/Users/jkamm/Documents/usw.org" class="">United Steelworkers</a> (USW) union today announces the passing of <a href="https://usw.org/union/leaders/international-executive-board/thomas-m-conway" class="">International President Tom Conway</a> at age 71.</p><p class="">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. </p><p class="">“From his earliest time making steel to his steady hand leading us
through the darkest days of the pandemic, Tom followed two simple
guiding principles: the dignity of work and the power of working
people,” said David R. McCall, the USW’s International Vice President of
Administration. “Tom was never afraid of a fight, and thanks to his
ingenuity and determination, generations of workers can enjoy better
jobs and brighter futures.”</p><p class="">Conway relished going toe to toe with top leaders of some of the
biggest corporations where USW members work, and 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.</p><p class="">As president, he also spearheaded innovative initiatives to organize
more workers into the labor movement, extending the benefits of union
representation to workers in a variety of fields from manufacturing to
higher education. Under Conway’s leadership, USW members gained some of
the movement’s most significant organizing victories.</p><p class="">“Solidarity wasn’t just a word to Tom; it was a way of life,” said
USW International Secretary-Treasurer John Shinn. “He understood that by
working together, we will balance the scales against greedy
corporations and the billionaire class.”</p><p class="">During his time in office, Conway relentlessly advocated for fair
trade, demanding that the government enforce trade laws to prevent
importation of illegally subsidized and dumped products that damage
domestic industries and destroy good-paying jobs. </p><p class="">At the same time, 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. </p><p class="">Conway first became an activist in USW Local 6787 in 1978 when he
went to work at the Burns Harbor Works of Bethlehem Steel. 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 joined the union’s International staff in
1987 and was elected as USW International Vice President in 2005.</p><p class="">“We will all miss Tom’s passion, his integrity, his gift for strategy
and not least of all, his sense of humor,” said McCall. “His time as
USW president was too short, but it’s clear he will leave an indelible
impact on our union and beyond.” </p><p class=""><em class="">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. For more information: </em><a href="http://www.usw.org/" class=""><em class="">www.usw.org</em></a><em class="">.</em></p><div class=""> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div></div><div class="">
Arthur Stamoulis<br class="">Citizens Trade Campaign<br class="">(202) 494-8826<br class=""><br class=""><br class=""><br class="">
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