We share workers’ concerns about the back-door collusion of MeadWestvaco and the USW-Pittsburgh. The shadowy way in which Pittsburgh and Richmond are forcing a shotgun marriage to an ugly contract on the workers—denying employees their free choice of union representative or any legitimate say in their future benefits—is disgusting and dangerous. Even the USW’s remaining supporters are furious about the USW’s recent tactic to try and drum up membership through forced dues checkoff withdrawal in exchange for mere access to the proposal.

But all of this is no surprise; it’s the way the USW International has always worked. The USW International will never put local workers above the International’s political goals. CPU does—your rights are our goals. Always will be.

Because only about 60 people showed up to the USW’s proposal meeting, many workers have not seen the details. If you have, you know that there are major problems. Elected local officers who understand bargaining would never recommend this agreement to the mill. It is going to sacrifice hard-fought gains by past contract negotiations in Covington, and it is far worse than the three proposals that the workers voted down two years ago. It reads like a document concocted by the company against a weak union with no elected local representation, no majority support in the mill, and in the middle a recession—which is exactly what it is. We encourage everyone to drop by CPU’s union hall to get a copy and discuss it. (There’s no catch—CPU would never make you sign something to voice your opinion.)

Despite recent, confusing phone messages, the USW is still forcing anyone who wants to vote on this proposal to be signed up for mandatory, irrevocable dues withdrawal—and permanent USW membership. The International is hoping that enough people will come sign up—under the false belief that their vote matters—that they can get closer to a majority. But the USW’s ratification vote won’t make a difference in what the International decides. Vote or no vote, up or down, the International will just sign it anyway—and they’ll hide the true vote count while locking you into permanent, dues-paying membership. So should you give up free choice for a mandatory dues withdrawal and a fake vote at the USW hall? No.

Yes, the USW International is trying to lock the mill into an agreement with the USW now, at the sacrifice of the future. We understand your frustration with the slow pace of justice and free choice under the government’s current system. But while the company and the USW may be able to do some short-term damage before the Board acts, CPU will not stop fighting for the future of the workers in this great mill. And neither should you. Don’t give up on Covington, and don’t give in to Pittsburgh. Stand with us. Together, we’ll put the workers on top again.