[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 156 (Thursday, September 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 8888 IN 
                         NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2018

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
40th anniversary of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8888, which 
represents nearly 10,000 shipbuilders at the Newport News Shipyard in 
Newport News, Virginia. These dedicated men and women build and repair 
our Navy's nuclear aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines at 
this shipyard, which is the largest private sector employer in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia.
  The birth of this local union began with a secret ballot vote on 
January 31, 1978. While they received their charter from USW months 
later on September 15, 1978, it took the courageous efforts of 
thousands of workers to carry forward a difficult campaign to 
ultimately win recognition by the shipyard. Since that time, USW Local 
8888 has advanced economic progress for tens of thousands of shipyard 
workers and has made the Newport News community more vibrant.
  The union's advocacy has produced contracts over many years with 
higher wages, improved health benefits and better pensions. The USW 
Local 8888 contract established a health and safety committee, and 
created a fairer workplace by providing for wage progression and a 
grievance and arbitration procedure. The first six years following the 
first contract between Local 8888 and the shipyard resulted in more 
than a half-billion dollars in additional wages and benefits. The USW's 
current 52-month collective bargaining agreement with Huntington 
Ingalls Industries--the current owner of the shipyard--will increase 
average wages and benefits by over $15,000 per worker.
  These gains did not come easily. Forty years ago, the shipyard 
workers had been represented by the Peninsula Shipbuilders Association 
(PSA)--which was a small association that many workers viewed as a 
company union. Wages and pensions for these shipbuilders were lower 
than those at other shipyards in the country. Some workers were stuck 
in jobs that never had a pay raise. The PSA held no membership 
meetings, no election of shop stewards, and did not have a safety 
clause in its ``contract.'' Workers wanted and demanded a better deal.
  A group of shipyard workers reached out to the United Steelworkers to 
try to secure a stronger and more progressive union to represent them. 
Known as the ``front four,'' Oscar Pretlow, Eddie Coppedge, Ellis 
Cofield, and WT Hayes were amongst the early organizers. The effort to 
build support was not easy. The company sought to terminate those who 
were organizing support for the USW as a way to discourage support. 
However, in January 1978 thousands of shipyard workers voted through a 
secret ballot election to affiliate with the USW.
  But the shipyard owner at that time--Tenneco--refused to recognize or 
bargain with USW, and it joined with the PSA to challenge the validity 
of election before the National Labor Relations Board. These delaying 
tactics were intended to wear down support for the union the workers 
had freely chosen.
  A year to the day after the vote in January 1979, workers went on 
strike to demand recognition. The strike lasted 82 days while workers 
braved the cold on picket lines outside the shipyard gates and hostile 
police action on the streets. ``88, Close the Gate!'' became their 
rallying cry during this historic strike. The shipyard workers faced 
not only a deep-pocketed and determined employer, they faced a hostile 
Governor, and a Department of the Navy that continued to provide 
cashflow to the shipyard despite work coming to a halt during the 
strike--all while taking on this battle in a right-to-work state.
  Their solidarity was tested many times; however, the shipyard workers 
received strike benefits from the USW, and many union members across 
Virginia and the country joined their picket lines. Ultimately, the 
NLRB and courts upheld the validity of the union election, and the 
company was obligated to bargain with USW.
  Local 8888 has been blessed with strong leaders over the past 40 
years including presidents Lucky Howard, Wayne Crosby, Edward ``Eddie'' 
Coppedge, Russ Axsom, Ray Coppedge, Thomas Crudup, Alton Glass, Arnold 
Outlaw, and its current President Charles Spivey. The union has also 
not forgotten those who led the original struggle, and the USW union 
hall in Newport News is named after Oscar Pretlow--one of the original 
``front four.''
  Mr. Speaker, the sacrifices of those shipbuilders who fought to have 
a union of their choosing in the late 1970s has borne fruit for the 
past 40 years and has paved the way for a brighter and safer future for 
those who come to work at the shipyard today. As the members of USW 
Local 8888 gather this weekend to celebrate the 40 years since they 
received their charter from USW, I want to commend and thank them for 
their tireless work representing the tens and thousands of shipbuilders 
and shipyard employees at the Newport News Shipyard. Their work has 
bettered the lives and working conditions for these workers and their 
families.

                          ____________________