CF&I, which does business as Rocky Mountian Steel Mills, brought in strikebreakers when the USWA struck its Pueblo mill last Oct. 3, refused the union's unconditional offer to return to work on Dec. 30, and continues to operate with strikebreakers. Oregon Steel is CF&I's parent company.

Wells Fargo, which operates in 10 states in the West, is the lead bank in a consortium of banks that is providing Oregon Steel with a $125-million revolving line of credit, which, the USWA asserts, has helped prolong the dispute. The union also points out that since October Wells Fargo has extended additional credit to Oregon Steel and twice has amended its credit agreement with the company to keep it from defaulting on the loan agreements.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a complaint against CF&I Steel charging it with more than 100 illegal labor practices. The NLRB also found that the USWA walkout was a strike against unfair labor practices. If upheld, that finding entitles the strikers to return to their jobs with full back pay from December 30.

The NLRB, meanwhile, has dismissed charges by the company against the union. The company has appealed, however, and has filed new allegations against the union.

In addition to CF&I in Pueblo, Oregon Steel also operates plants in Portland, Napa, Calif., and Camrose, Alta., in Canada. The plants' products include railroad rails, seamless pipe, steel plate for railroad cars, ships and other heavy equipment, and large welded pipe for oil and gas pipelines.

Wells Fargo operates more than 950 traditional bank branches, 520 in-store branches, 370 banking centers and 25 business centers in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney is urging all international and local unions and central labor bodies to withdraw funds and to notify his office as well as the bank of the actions. He said, "Our resolve in this matter will send a clear signal not only to Wells Fargo but to other banks that would use our own deposits against working families and our unions.