•USW-164 SOAR Lday07
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Spring 2016 11/2 201 6 RAPID RESPONSE AND LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE SOAR MEMBERS BRING MENTORIN G, EXPERIENCE AND A CTIVISM More than two dozen S OAR SOAR delegates, representing every USW workshops, district meetings and District in the United States, participated members, representing especially during visits with U. S. in the union’s Rapid Response and Legislative Conference. every USW District in the Senators and Representatives. Mentoring United States, traveled to time sharing their experiences over Washington, D.C., in April District 4 Director John Shinn and the years with Rob. When it came to take part in the 2016 SOAR President Bill Pienta spear- time for the meeting with Representa - Rapid Response and headed an effort within the District 4 tive Langevi n’s staff in the afternoon, Legislative Conference. delegation to link young Steelworkers Rob took the lead. with SOAR members. Al Polk was “It was apparent that the knowledge They were part of nearly 700 Steel - one of the SOAR members taking part. passed from one generation to the worker voices that learned together “When I went to Capitol Hill for next was invaluable,” Rob notes. for two days before descending upon the first time, I felt like a deer in the “When it was my time to speak and Capitol Hill. They carried a strong headlights,” he recalled. Over the represent my home state of Rhode message of opposition to bad trade years, he’d gain the experience that Island, I had no reservations talking policy, while advocating for stronger comes with repeated advocacy. Now, about our views. This was a substan - health and safety protections and at this conference, he could give back. tial experience for me, especially being a Next Generation member.” tougher penalties for companies that Al partnered with Local 135L mem - Sharing Critical Experiences break the law when workers try ber Dennis Mitchell and USW Next to organize. Gen member Rob Sousa from Local Retirees’ experiences bring added SOAR members provided much- 1603 1. Al and Dennis took the lead dimension to Rapid Response and needed perspective to the discussions during an initial meeting with Repre - legislative work. For instance, District 13 that occurred in conference sentative Keating. They also spent continued on page 11 FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK The Lesser of Two Evils The election season is upon us, Do not believe the rhetoric about self-financed therefore a look at the two leading campaigns or millions of small contributions. In order presidential candidates is in order. to win the presidential election, both sides will spend a On one side, we have a candidate that BILLION DOLLARS each! One candidate has so far refuses to release the transcripts of LOANED his campaign most of its money. He will be speeches given to bankers and has, in the expecting those loans paid back. The other has had a past, supported bad trade agreements. The fundraiser that required a $350K contribution per couple. BILL PIENTA other leading candidate has said American Both will need money and those who make big contribu - SOAR President workers’ wages are too high and condemns tions will be expecting a return on their investment. companies that move jobs out of the coun - Until term limits, public-financed elections and try; while choosing to have his company make suits and increased voter participation become a reality, we need to ties that could be made in America, made in China and look at the party platform of the two parties and determine third world countries. which platform has our best interests at heart. Do we think I believe we, as a country, are getting what we asked for. the economy works best from top down or bottom up? With continued low voter turnout and allowing unlimited Are we better off acting as individuals or as a group? financial contributions, we have put ourselves in a spot Should we help out each other when help is needed or let where, after years of us saying by voter apathy, that we do everyone fend for themselves? not care who gets elected. We have left that decision up to Not real tough questions and pretty easy answers. a select group of wealthy individuals. So vote for the lesser of two evils on Election Day. FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK Primary Season The presidential primary season is winding down for both USW@Work Published as an edition to parties. Once the anointed candidates leave their perspective for the United Steelworkers conventions, the battle for the White House begins. 60 Blvd. of the Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15222 With the advent of the 24-hour news cycle and social media, we Winner of ICLA’s journalistic competition will be barraged with so much information and misinformation, that awards for General Excellence it will make our heads spin. Somehow we will have to sift through in 1986, 1990 and 1993 all of this rhetoric and make the decision on who we believe is the Jim Centner, Director/Editor IM ENTNER best candidate to move our nation forward. Which candidate will Lee Etta Hairston, Copy Editor J C Address editorial material to: SOAR Director look out for our best interests and enhance the quality of life for USW@Work, S OAR in Action average Americans. Edito r, United Steelworkers Every election we hear that “this election is the most important election of our 60 Blvd. of the Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15222 lifetime.” Unfortunately, I believe this statement is true each and every time we Send address changes only to: vote for the President of the United States. We live in difficult times. Unrest in the USW Membership Department Middle East, ISIS, along with an unstable economy in most of the world, makes for 60 Blvd. of the Allies a very volatile situation. Stagnant wages and unfettered trade has decimated the Pittsburgh, PA 15222 When submitting address change, please manufacturing sector of our country and has created a downward spiral for the include address label from last issue. working class. The future of Social Security and Medicare, two successful programs USW@Work (ISSN 0883-3141) is published that have kept millions of retirees from poverty, are in danger of being cut or priva - four times a year by the United Steelworkers AFL-CIO-CLC, 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA tized. All of these issues, and more, must be addressed by the next occupant of the 15222. Subscriptions to non-members: $12 for Oval Office. one year; $20 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Pittsburgh, PA and additional mailing That is why who we elect this November is so critically important. Listen to the offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: debates carefully and make an informed decision. We are faced with an awesome USW@Work, USW Membership Dept., 60 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. responsibility, one that many across the globe have never experienced. Don’t take your role in this election lightly. Every vote counts! The future of our children and grandchildren depends on us dOolditnimgerth3 e right thing. Let’s not screw it up! USW@Work/ SOAR Page 2 Spring 2016 SOAR Vice President Al Becco Honored Al Becco, who serves on the SOAR Executive Board as Vice President of the Western Region and 20-year Chapter 38-3 President, was presented the Lifetime Chapter 13-PC-1 President, Charles Achievement Award by the Pueblo County Democrats at Henderson presenting the check to their Annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner. The dinner has a Ashdown Police Chief Mark Ardwin. long history and is one of the top Democratic events in Colorado, attended by Democratic and Labor leaders Givin g Bac k to from across the state. Your Community Al has spent over 25 years working in every aspect of the party. From knocking on doors during election cycles SOAR Chapter 13-PC-1 recently to running Friday Night Bingo, which is the primary held their quarterly luncheon and pre - funding for the party. The bingo games have provided the majority of the funds sented a check to the Ashdown Chief that just recently built the building that serves as headquarters for the county of Police Mark Ardwin for their annual Democratic Party, which Al currently serves as First Vice President. donation to the “Shop with a Cop” Al was the longest serving President of USW Local 3267 and has always program. The program benefits local worked to ensure that labor and the United Steelworkers’ issues are at the top of children by giving them an opportu - the Democratic Party’s agenda. Four years ago, he was elected to be a delegate nity to shop for Christmas gifts at local at the Democratic National Convention, where he continued his efforts to ensure businesses with an Ashdown Police - that labor was a central piece of the party’s platform. man. The program was started by Pete Price, who worked as a Reserve SOAR Chapter 34-2 President is Deputy and later as an Ashdown Auxil - iary Policeman, and passed away in 2013. The Auxiliary Police promised JEFFERSON AWARD RECIPIENT Pete before his death that they would see that his legacy lived on! On Wednesday, June 1, fourteen USW Jefferson Award winners from all over The SOAR Chapter has been the United States and Canada travelled to Linden Hall (the Steelworkers involved in fund raisers, bake sales, Education Center) in Dawson, Pennsylvania to be recognized during the selling raffle tickets on a handmade International Union’s Executive Board meeting that was being held there. quilts and collecting donations toward The Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees this program for the past few years.