James C. Newport is the Organizing Coordinator for United Steelworkers of America’s District 1, which covers Ohio.

Born in Robins, Tennessee where I spent my childhood. After serving for two years in the U.S. Army, I came to Cincinnati, Ohio and started employment with Joseph T. Ryerson and Son on January 8, 1968. After a probationary period of 30 days, became a member of Local Union 3963 of what was then District 30 of the United Steelworkers of America. In 1969, I became active in my Local Union, starting with holding a position on the Grievance Committee. I also held the positions of Treasurer, Vice President and President. On March 1, 1978, I was appointed as a Staff Representative for the United Steelworkers of America, servicing Local Unions in the Cincinnati Area.

In 1987 I was assigned to organizing exclusively, and in 1990 was appointed Organizing Coordinator of USWA District 30. In 1993, in addition to organizing, I was also assigned to service some Local Unions in the Celina, Ohio area. Huffy Bicycles was one of them. After the merger of the Districts, we became District 1 and I was appointed Sub-District Director of what was then Sub-district 6 which was the Northwest Ohio area and included Celina and Huffy Bike, and continued to represent the members of that Local Union. In 1995 while I was servicing the Local, we had concession bargaining at Huffy, which resulted in $3.00 per hour decrease in wages and concessions in other areas including insurance. In 1996 I was reassigned to the Cincinnati area where I serviced Locals until approximately 1998 when I was again assigned as Organizing Coordinator and presently hold that position.

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