PITTSBURGH (Sept. 9)—The United Steelworkers union has made an initial contribution of $100,000 for relief to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The organization contributed $50,000 directly from the International Union, which was matched with an additional $50,000 from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund in Canada.
In a communication to all its local presidents and recording secretaries, the USW urged members and the locals to add their contributions to the union´s initial $100,000 seed money for the relief effort.
Thousands of Steelworker members live and work in the Gulf Coast area most affected by the hurricane, the USW said. Many are in immediate need of temporary shelter, food, and medical supplies as well as longer-term help in repairing damage to their homes and replacing furniture that was destroyed, the union said.
Further information on the USW´s Katrina relief efforts is available on the union´s web sites: www.steelworkers-usw.org and www.steelworkers-metallos.ca.