USW Installation of Officers March 1 Will Celebrate Rapid Growth, Expanded Diversity of Membership

PITTSBURGH--Feb. 28, 2006--

Governor Rendell, Former Congressman Gephardt to Join Celebration of 350,000 New Members; Launch of New Logo and Message -- 'Unity & Strength for Workers'

The United Steelworkers (USW) will hold a press briefing prior to the swearing in of its top international officers and district directors at an installation ceremony on Wednesday, Mar. 1, 2006 at 1:30 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh. Reporters who want to participate in the press briefing via remote audio can do so by using the following dial-in information: 888-296-1938, access code 898197.

The swearing in ceremony will follow at 2:30 in the Grand Station Ballroom of the Sheraton and will also be open to the media.

The growth by the USW has come from continued organizing initiatives and a series of mergers with the American Flint Glass Workers, Canada's Industrial Wood and Allied Workers and the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way in Canada, plus the 250,000- member PACE International Union.

The USW is the largest union representing workers in the industrial sectors of steel, rubber and tire, paper and forestry, aluminum, brick, glass, oil refining, chemicals and mining. Other significant sectors represented include 35,000 members in health care and pharmaceuticals.

More than 1,200 USW members and their families will be at the ceremony, joined by special guest speakers, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, former Democrat House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt, Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor and Dan Onorato, chief executive of Allegheny County.

Also speaking at the ceremony will be William 'Billy' George, president, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO; Kenneth V. Georgetti, president, Canadian Labor Congress (CLC) and Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada.

Re-elected as the seventh USW International President, Leo W. Gerard will give an installation address after the union's executive board is sworn-in, citing his first term accomplishments that include adding 350,000 members - a 60 percent increase that makes the USW the largest private sector industrial union in North America. The installation event will be marked with the rollout of a new logo and accompanying message slogan, 'Strength and Unity for Workers.'

WHAT:  USW Installation & Swearing-In Ceremony of International
       Officers; Press Briefing and Photo Availability of New 
       International Union Officers.

WHEN:  March 1, 2006; Press Briefing with USW Officers at 1:30 pm, 
       EST; Installation and Swearing-In Ceremony at 2:30 pm, EST 
       (Audio only, dial-in information for remote participation: 
       888-296-1938, access code 898197

WHERE: USW Press Briefing & Photo Availability, Fountainview Room,
       Sheraton Station Square; USW Installation Ceremony in the 
       Grande Station Ballroom, Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh.

ATTENTION ASSIGNMENT EDITORS, TV, RADIO:

A press riser with audio mult-box will be available at the USW's Installation and Swearing-In Ceremony. The USW's new logo and accompanying message slogan, 'Unity & Strength for Workers' will be displayed as a banner behind the podium. A DVD with 'B-Roll' of USW members at work and animation of the new USW logo is available by contacting Marco Trbovich or Gary Hubbard at 412-562-2442. Graphic files of the new USW are also available for download by accessing the USW website: -- www.steelworkers-usw.org/ .