The union itself didn't file suit because there could have been legal complications with the union's designation as a taxpayer, Phillips says. She also is considering further legal actions on behalf of other union members. The majority of the money provided by the tax abatement would have gone to local schools, the union says. The Madison school district graciously agreed to the tax abatement during a time of severe financial crisis. Since then, the district has gone without millions of dollars that could have been spent on education.
Little progress has been made toward resolving the Mansfield plant's labor issues, the union says.
In its dispute with Rocky Mountain Steel, the USWA charges that the steelmaker has taken too long to comply with environmental regulations. But instead of enforcing the law and compelling the company to correct this situation, the state has engaged in an endless series of negotiations. These have resulted in follow-up actions by regulatory agencies and the company. The matter is being investigated. The steelmaker has made the improvements to one bag house and currently is working on the other.