USW names new chair of rubber and plastics council

PITTSBURGH—The United Steelworkers have named Kevin Johnsen to lead the union's rubber and plastics industry council.

Johnsen replaces Stan Johnson, who retired as the union's international secretary-treasurer on July 15.

Johnsen joined the union as a member of Local 915 in 1990, working as a maintenance electrician in Dunlop Tires' Huntsville, Ala., facility.

He has held various roles of increasing responsibility since then. In 2003, Johnsen was named a union staff representative in District 9, which covers Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina and the Virgin Islands. USW said he has served as the coordinator of the union's collective bargaining agreement with Goodyear since 2006.

"USW rubber and plastics workers are the hardest-working and most productive in the industry," Johnsen said in a statement. "They make products that are second-to-none. I look forward to continuing to work alongside them in my new role as we fight for better wages and benefits, safer working conditions, a stronger domestic industry, and for just and fair treatment for workers and families everywhere."

USW said its rubber/plastic industry council includes more than 10,000 union members who produce a variety of rubber and plastics products. They work for companies including Goodyear, Michelin/BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, Cooper Tire, ContiTech, Titan, Poly-Seal, Sumitomo Rubber and Uniroyal.