Pat Gallagher, President of the North Coast AFL-CIO, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast following his recent retirement from the United Steelworkers to discuss several regional events. Gallagher discussed the win over State Issue 1, the issues with gerrymandering in Ohio and the U.S. Steel sale.
The defeat of Issue 1 was a big win for organized labor and workers all across Ohio, Gallagher said. The vote showed that the state is not as red as once thought. While previous votes and elections have made it seem that way, Gallagher believes it’s a purple state with a good mix of voters from both parties. If the message is right and voters are engaged properly, anyone can win in Ohio, he said.
There remain concerns about gerrymandering and redistricting efforts in Ohio. A proposed bill would establish a redistricting plan without using political officials, instead opting for a neutral board. While Gallagher likes the concept that it’s trying to be fair, he also believes it won’t be able to move forward without politicians being involved. The politicians need to create a fair map for the state, which is the only thing that matters, he said.
U.S. Steel is currently up for sale with multiple bidders. Cleveland-Cliffs, ArcelorMittal and Esmark Inc. are the remaining bidders. The USW failed in its bid to purchase the company, but they aren’t staying out of the bidding process. The Steelworkers have stated they will only support the bid by Cleveland-Cliffs, as they are the most likely to use union labor.
To hear more from Pat Gallagher, press the play button above.