Unions consider merger

Alana Roberts

Tuesday, April 12, 2005 | 11 a.m.

Delegates of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) are set to approve a merger with the United Steelworkers of America Union (USWA) either today or Wednesday during the union's convention.

If approved, the combined unions will represent 850,000 members in both the United States and Canada. In Nevada, PACE represents 371 pharmacists and pharmacy support workers at Medco Health Solutions Inc. and the USWA represents about one-third of the Las Vegas Valley's 5,000 cab, bus and limo drivers and about 350 titanium workers at the Titanium Metals Corp. facility in Henderson.

The two unions hope to grow not only their membership base but their political and organizational power, Lynne Baker, a PACE spokeswoman, said. She said the union hopes to merge with USWA because the two unions represent workers in similar industries.

The USWA represents workers in the metals, mining, glass, paper and rubber industries and PACE represents workers in the chemical, energy, paper, oil and pharmaceutical industries.

"We're looking forward to our members going ahead and endorsing it so we can begin massive organizing drives and be more effective politically and respond to our members' needs," Baker said.

The USWA is holding its convention this week at the Las Vegas Hilton, while PACE is holding a special concurrent convention at the Riviera. If the merger is approved, delegates of the two unions will meet on Thursday at the Hilton.