District 7 News

Covering the United Steelworkers in Indiana and Illinois - AUGUST 2009 - #34

AGITATORWorking Class Solidarity Has No Borders

District 7 SteelworkersJoin Massive

Solidarity RallyFor Los Mineros

Steelworker Solidarity Motorcycle Run & RoastSept. 12, 2009 to benefit Los Mineros (Miners)who have been on strike since July 2007. TheRun begins and ends at McBride Hall 1301Texas Street, Gary, IN 46402. If you don’t rideyou can still join us for the roast at 4 pm for anominal donation. To register Blanca Moralesat 219-886-2596 or 800-932-8007.

Granite City Steelworkers can always becounted on to support a good cause in thecommunity. On April 22, 2009 the communityplayed it back when several hundredcommunity leaders, families, and laid offsteelworkers gathered at the GatewayInternational Raceway in Madison, IL torelieve some of the strain the poor economyis causing in St. Louis Metro-East area.

With the US Steel mill idle, many localbusinesses are feeling the poor economy.Local governments are feeling the pinch toobecause tax revenues used for police and fireprotection as well as other vital services aredown because of shrinking payrolls and sales.

The Granite City Rotary Club organized theRotary Rally (using a “Monopoly” type gameboard – not race cars) at the Raceway to raiseemergency relief funds for laid offSteelworkers.

Cindy Galvisky, president of the Granite CityRotary explained that the money raised goesinto a restricted account with the United Way,then, under guidelines set up by USW localunion presidents, United Way would issue

Flowers for outgoingLocal 70 officers

by Dennis Barker

On a recent field trip Jeff Rains and I attendeda public town hall meeting for health care re-form in Farmington Mo.

Arriving early in Farmington we took the op-portunity to visit the City Hall to contact theFarmington Mayor and LocalSchool Board to ask for theirsupport for the Buy Americanresolution.

Across from the City CourtHouse we found an all Ameri-can Clothing store shop underconstruction opening soon.

We went inside and thanked

Local 1010 and1011 grievers takearbitration class

LaPorte County commitsto buying American

LAPORTE IN: Wednesday, April 08, 2009

The LaPorte county commissioners votedto “Buy American” for projects funded byfederal stimulus money. The resolution wasintroduced by Councilman Rich Mrozinskion behalf of the United Steelworkers.

Mrozinski said tax dollars should be used

to boost job creation by buying materialssuch as steel that are made in America.

"Let's stop buying stuff from China if wecan, where we can. It might cost a coupleof dollars more, but let's look out for theAmerican taxpayer," Mrozinski said.

Cindy Galvisky, president of the Granite City Rotary (second from right) presents a check for $18,000.00to officers of USW Locals 68 (Jeff Evans, 2nd from left), 50 (Jason Chism, 3rd from left) and 1899(Dan Simmons, center). The funds were raised to support laid off Steelworkers during the idling ofUSS Granite City Works in December, 2008. The money will be administered by United Way underguidelines created by the USW. Also shown in the photograph are Al Schuler, Gene Hudson, RickFancher , Granite City Mayor Ed Hagnauer, Ken Kohnen, and Missy Churchmanm. As we went topress US Steel had begun calling back some of the laid off members.

Granite City stepped up to help laid off USW membersemergency funds to help pay for food, rent,health needs, and other basic personal andfamily needs. Ms Galvisky estimated $3000to $4000 would be raisedat the Rally.

The “phantom” race,sponsored by nearly 100local businesses and civicorganizations was anoverwhelming success.As the evening closed inthis huge racing arenaCindy Galviskyannounced that herprediction was badlymauled by the true spiritof the people in the

Portage IN: Local 70 members thanked outgoingLocal union president Wanda Mazur (right), Record-ing Secretary Judy McDaniels (center) and Vice Presi-dent Lora Hess at their union meeting in May.

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Made in the USA clothing store opens in Farmington MO

the new owners for their dedication to Ameri-can made products and we told them we wouldpromote there new store wherever we could.

So the next time any of us are traveling downhighway 67 in Missouri stop by Farmingtonand across from the Courthouse, on the South

side, visit an all American Clothing store.

Metro-East. The final tally was almost$15,000.00 to be donated to the emergencyfund.

HENNEPIN IL: More than 150 peoplegathered outside the Arcelor-Mittal Hennepinmill on July 22 praying for divine interventionto save the jobs of the 300 steelworkers laidoff from the plant. “We came here today topray for our futures,” said Putnam CountyBoard chairman Duane Calbow andArcelorMittal employee.

The members of USW L.U. 7367 say that theHennepin plant been one of the mostprofitable steel finishing plants in the UnitedStates and Arcelor is refusing to sell thebuilding as a way to drive up the price of steeland limit competition.

State Rep. Frank Mautino, told the NewsTribune that, “This plant has always produceda profit even at 50 percent capacity. We’retrying to show Arcelor-Mittal you can’t profit

LUXEMBOURG — ArcelorMittal’s annualshareholders meeting in Luxembourg wasattacked by over 1000 laid off steelworkersfrom Belgium and France who set off smokebombs and broke down the front door toprotest layoffs.

The workers threw cobblestones and toredown steel fencing at the building to smashwindows and tore down moldings from theornate building.

Riot police arrested one protestor who brokethrough their lines and into the building. Hewas released several hours later after a smallergroup of steelworkers continued to fight withpolice at the entrance demanding his return.

Journalists were force to flee the first floor ofthe building as it filled with smoke. AnArcelorMittal spokesman said that the annualmeeting on the second floor was unaffected.

ArecelorMittalAnnual MeetingDraws a Crowd

by destroying American jobs. They are doingthis in other places and transferring our assetsto other countries. Our steel caucus needs tomake a decision and it needs to start righthere.”

Local union president Dave York said thatCalifornia based North American Trading Co.has been interested in purchasing the facility.But all efforts to purchase the company havebeen stonewalled by Arcelor.

Mike O’Connor L.U.7367who has 37 yearsat the plant summed up the feelings of thecrowd, “Here we have an Americanbusinessman wanting to buy the plant andcreate jobs but we have a foreign companywith its own agenda that won’t sell and iskilling us, “It’s just not the right thing to do.”

Hennepin steelworkers appealtheir case to the next level

Putnam County Board chairman Duane Calbow

ArcelorMittal Steelworkers inAlgeria win 15% pay increase

after two day strikeALGERIA: July 8, 2009; - Seven thousandsteelworkers at ArcelorMittal Annaba won a15% pay increase after a two-day strike,acording to their spokesman Smain Kouadria."We obtained a rise of 15% in the basic payscale, and re-evaluation of some key jobsmaking up three percent of the total pay roll,said Kouadria.

Mob beats Chinese steelfactory executive to death Thousands of workers gathered in northeast-ern rust belt city of Tonghua to protest the take-over of their company and threatened layoffs.

TONGHUA CHINA: Chinese state media con-firmed July 27, 2009 that a steel factory execu-tive was beaten to death after thousands ofworkers gathered to protest the takeover of theircompany.

Chen Guojun, an executive at Jianlong SteelHolding Co., died Friday after an angry mob inthe northeastern city of Tonghua beat him andthen blocked ambulances from reaching him,according to the China Daily.

The protesters worked at the state-ownedTonghua Iron and Steel Group, which was go-ing to be sold to Chen’s privately ownedJianlong Steel. Chen sparked the riot by an-nouncing 30,000 workers would be laid off, thenewspaper said.

They dispersed later only after they were as-sured by authorities the sale would not gothrough.

Leo Gerard address JOBSrally in St. Louis

You are invited to the IndianaBlue-Green Alliance’s

First Labor-EnvironmentalEducational Summit

My Job or My Planet…

Real Choicesvs.

False ChoicesThe newly formed Indiana chapter of theBlue-Green Alliance brings together blueand white collar Union workers with envi-ronmental activists who share the goal ofa clean, green and prosperous economy.

Our first Educational Summit will addressthese questions:

*With the severe economic crisis happen-ing now, why should Union members fo-cus on the crisis of global warming?

*How can we ensure that Indiana work-ers reap the benefits of renewable energycomponent production and installation?

*How can we support a significant reduc-tion in carbon emissions while protectingIndiana’s manufacturing base?

*How can we create “green” jobs that aregood jobs, with good wages, benefits anddecent conditions?

*What federal and state policies shouldwe be supporting that brings together allthese concerns?

When: October 17, 2009

Registration 9 a.m.

Summit- 10 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Airport

Indianapolis, IN

Who: All members of Blue Green AllianceState & National Partner organizations areinvited- American Federation of Teachers,Communication Workers, Laborers, Na-tional Resource Defense Council, Save theDunes Council, SEIU, Sierra Club andUnited Steelworkers.

Lunch speaker: National Director of Blue-Green Alliance Dave Foster

Contact Robin at 219-8862442 for moreinformation.

FENTON MO: July 24, 2009: The UAW rallied in Fenton to protesttaxpayer dollars from the domestic auto restructuring being used totransfer the Dodge Ram truck assembly from the St. Louis suburbChrysler plant to their Mexico facility. Approximately 1,500 peopleattended the event with Jeff Rains, SOAR and ReUnion Coordinator,as one of the many featured speakers. Several USW members fromDistrict 7-Sub 2 composed a part of the audience. PHOTOS: Doug May L.U.1899

Montgomery IL: June 2009: Steelwork-ers of Local 1635 have been in tough ne-gotiations since February of this year toreach a fair and equitable contract fortheir members. The Company LyonWorkspace Products came to the tablewith 155 takeaway demands to rewritethe whole contract. On their hit list was areduction in holidays and vacation, dailyovertime, severance pay, COLA, contract-ing out and major insurance changes.Manny Aponte, the President of L.U 1636,said, “The members have carried the com-pany on their backs for years and nowthe company wants to break those very

photo

: Jo

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abbre

backs that have kept this Company prof-itable.” Negotiations are now proceed-ing through a mediator. Larry Beck, John

Local 1636in toughbattle

McKinney, Carlos Delgado, and S. T. Pryormake up the rest of the local bargainingcommittee.

UAW saysrestructureChrysler in

the U.S.

6 District 7 News Agitator

At the meeting, Dir. Robinson encouragedSen. Durbin to call the Republicans’ bluff offilibustering the Employee Free Choice Act.He told the Sen. that he wanted to “see someidiot from Oklahoma on CNN at three o’clockin the morning reading the Bible out loud.”

-Gary GainesIn late May, a roomful of Steelworkers met with Sen. Dick Durbin and his staff at the NameokiTownship offices to discuss issues like the economic crisis, national healthcare, and EFCA.Locals 50, 68, 1063, 6063 and 1899 were well represented.

The SOAR Chapter in Sub 2 helps fund its activities by holding an annual BBQ. Despite bad

weather the event was a success thanks to a large crew of volunteers.

The Women of Steel in Southern IL haveraised over $50,000 in recent years for thePhoenix Crisis Center in Granite City.

When Mary Jo Ann Hollenbeck, the sisterof WOS activist Joyce “Sweetpea” Hayden(LU 1899) succumbed to breast cancer, thegroup decided to remember her through abenefit for the “Susan G. Komen for theCure” fund.

Local businesses and individuals gavegenerously, and $2,400 was raided for thecharity. The members of Polish Hall, inMadison, IL generously donated theirfacility for the event. The WOS presented aplaque to Polish Hall President Tom GordonJr. in recognition of their long time support

Joyce “Sweetpea” Hayden L.U. 1899, TomGordon Jr., Norma Gaines L.U. 68

A good time was had by all.

Southern IllinoisWomen of Steel at

it again

Steelworkers meet with Senator Durbin

USW District 7 is hosting a Inter-national Solidarity Motorcycle Runon Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 for LosMineros (The Mexican MinersUnion) and their families who haveremained united in the face of manyinjustices from both the governmentand their employer Grupo Mexicoduring their strike which began July30, 2007.

The Steelworkers Solidarity Run &Roast begins at McBride Hall 1301Texas Street, Gary, Indiana 46402.Registration is from 10:00 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Central Standard Time(CST) (waiver and map run provided).The first bike out is at noon and last bike re-turns at 4:00p.m. when the entertainment andpig roast begins.

The single rider donation is $25.00 which in-cludes hog roast, entertainment and event t-shirt. Passenger donation is $10.00 whichincludes hog roast and entertainment. Addi-tional event t-shirts are $15.00.

Solidarity MotorcycleRun Sept. 12

The Run is a scenic ride with interesting stops.Music, raffles and games will be availableduring the pig roast.

Non- riders are invited to attend the festivi-ties at McBride Hall from 4 to 10 p.m. for a$15 donation.

If you have any questions call Blanca Mo-rales at 219-886-2596 or 800-932-8007.

7District 7 News Agitator

GRANITE CITY ILLINOIS: June 15, 2009

USW Local 1899 President, DanSimmons, District 7 Sub-2 Director DaveDowling and USW Local 50 PresidentJason Chism briefed a packed room ofsteelworkers and St. Louis and metro areaprint media reporters on their testimonythe following day before a CongressionalCommittee.

Havy rains forced the organizers to movethe event from outside the US Steel build-ing to a meeting room at the Granite CityLabor Temple.

Simmons said he would tell Congress thattrade policy problems still exist. Tradedeficits that will reach a trillion dollarsthis year and unenforced trade laws havecontributed to the idling of the GraniteCity Works;

“US Steel is as competitive as any for-eign manufacturer when they are pre-sented with a level playing field. We arenot asking for handouts, just enforce-ment.” Most of the questions from unionmembers concerned the strangely coin-

cidental start-up of Granite City Worksand when they could expect to beginworking again.

Simmons was also asked about the needfor healthcare reform in the U.S.. ManyGranite City steelworkers were grapplingwith this issue as there healthcare cover-age with U.S. Steel had expired.

As Local 1899 member asked Simmons,“Since you will be speaking directly tothe Congressional members of the SteelCaucus, will you be asking Rep. JohnShimkus-R Il. who is a member of theCommittee, if he is finally going do some-thing about the lack of trade enforcement?He represents over 500 Local 1899 mem-bers who are not just disoriented and fear-ful because they have too much idle timeon their hands. The lack of enforcementhas been going on and affecting our en-tire society for over a decade and we wanthim to do what is right for Americans.”

Simmons said he does not know if he willhave the opportunity to speak directlywith Shimkus; but if he does, he intendsto bring this concern to his attention.

The Greater MadisonCounty Federation ofLabor surprised Norma andGary Gaines with “SpecialAppreciation” awards pre-sented by Marty St.PetersFed President at the June2009 Labor Awards dinner.Both held Executive Boardpositions for many years onthe Central Labor Council.

Local President addresses local media before testifyingin Congress on trade policy failures

By Doug May USW L.U. 1899 Editor

8 District 7 News Agitator

When it comes to bikes

Steel is BestWhen you talk about how safe a bike is, you’retalking about how it responds to differentforces that wreck it, how quickly it getswrecked, and how much warning it gives youbefore it’ll cause you to crash. This is all amatter of strength. But there are differentkinds of strength, and they all matter.

Impact strength is how much impact a partcan take before it fails. It matters, but anyimpact that tests a bike or part’s impactstrength will send you to the ground longbefore the part is damaged, and once you’redown, who cares about the part?

Fatigue strength is how a material respondsto repeated stress, usually flex. It is importantbecause there’s always flex happening, as youpush on the pedals and pull on the bars.Aluminum has the worst fatigue strength ofany common frame material, but aluminumbicycle frames can be made with oversizedtubing to eliminate most of the flex. Highquality steel has the best fatigue strengthof any frame material.

Toughness is about cracks; namely, amaterial’s ability to stop a nick from growinginto a crack, and a crack from growing into afailure. Steel creams aluminum, titanium,and carbon fiber in this area, too. That’swhy hammers, nails, rebar, and bridges aresteel.

Tensile strength,the most commonly citedgauge of strength, is measured by playing tug-o-war with a skinny cylinder of material andmeasuring the force required to rip it in half.

Tensile strength of tubing is important, but itsimportance is greatly exagerrated with regardsto bikes. Bicycle frames don’t fail in tension.Frames and parts almost always fail due tofatigue, notch-sensitivity, lack of toughness, orimpact.

Tensile strength affects safety, but any of thematerials used in bicycles has plenty of it. Thereare more important factors than tensile strength.

Failure mode is one of those “more importantfactors.” It is how suddenly failure occurs afterthe first crack, hole, or gouge. Nobody talksabout it, but it’s really, really, really important.

Materials that fail fast are said to fail“catastrophically.” Of all materials used in bikes,none fails more catastrophically than carbonfiber, and none fails more slowly than steel. Youwant your bike stuff to respond to trauma bybending and denting, not shattering andsnapping. Metals tend to do that. And once that’scovered, you want plenty of time and lots ofwarning between the onset of failure (a crack,for instance) and total material separation. Steelis the first place winner here, too.

Reparability is desirable, too, and steel winsthat one, also.

Another quality to consider in a frame materialis how well it ages; the degree to which it staysstrong as it gets old, and environmental stressin the form of ozone, ultraviolet radiation, saltair, and temperature extremes affect it.

In this regard, metals are far superior to rubber,plastic, and carbon fiber. The resins used to holdthe layers of carbon fiber together degrade withexposure to ultraviolet.

Steel critics cite rust as a weak point of steel.But rust and corrosion (“rust” being steel-specific) are protective responses toenvironmental conditions, and once a layer hasbuilt up, they help protect against furthercorrosion. Super thin tubes are more vulnerableto rust than are thicker ones, and that’s a goodargument for avoiding 0.35mm walls in steelbicycle frame tubes. But if rust were the tube-killer some would have you believe, therewouldn’t be hundreds of thousands of 30-yearold, routinely neglected steel-framed bicycleroaming the planet. Even so, it is best to preventcorrosion in super-thin-walled steel tubes byusing an anti-rust spray or if you like the oldways, linseed oil.

Defect tolerance is the ability of a material tobe safe even when defective.

This matters because perfect quality control isimpossible, no matter how white-coatedengineers in sterile rooms you have monitoringproduction. Some bug or bubble will work itsway in, and then what?

Then you want a material that maintains itsintegrity.

The least defect-tolerant material used in bikesis carbon fiber. (And most carbon fiber comesfrom China, as a matter of fact.) The mostdefect-tolerant is steel.

Shock absorption, vibration damping, andcomfort get talked about a lot in bicycle media.

Shocks get absorbed by movement, eithercompression or deflection or a combination, butthere’s a notion among bike riders that they canget absorbed without movement. Folks whoought to know better claim that carbon forksoffer a “plush, shock-absorbing” ride, eventhough they don’t compress at all, and aredesigned not to deflect enough to make adifference in comfort. Yet, the media and somany “experts” who work in retail shops and atthe manufacturing level continue to praise theirshock-absorbing qualities. If you want shockabsorption, ride higher volume tires at lowerpressure, and don’t grip the handlebar as thoughthough it’s a jackhammer. Suspension forksabsorb shocks, but only by moving.

Vibration damping is another largelymisunderstood quality whose real benefits mayor may not be detectable by a human riding abike. It is how long a material continues tovibrate once it has started to vibrate; presumably,when it hits a bump. Wind chimes don’t dampenvibration well, which is why they bother yourneighbors. Vibration is high-frequency flex. Buta bicycle isn’t a dangling metal cylinder; it’s acomposite of metal, rubber, air (in the tires) andother materials, and there’s a body on it. Thewater is so muddied that there’s no way for ahuman to accurately isolate “vibration damping”from all the other things going on during a bikeride.

How comfortable you are on the bike can beincreased with a few suggestions: Raise the barsto take weight off your hands. Scoot your seatback an inch or more farther than the expertstell you to. Ride bigger tires at lower air pressure.Relax your body and grip. Ahhhh.

We like steel bikes best, and lugged ones most.But the material and method mean nothingunless the bike is not only well-designed, butwell-designed for you, and right for your kindof riding.

Frame weight is 1/4 as important as bike weight,and bike weight is 1/10 as important as bodyweight. If you want to go fast, ride harder andmore often. We’re not suggesting you shouldwant to go fast unless you’re racing, but if youdo, that’s how you’ll achieve it. You can buy aLightspeed, but it won’t make you light or giveyou speed.

It has been said many times that engineeringmatters more than materials. But it’s not assimple as that. Yes, you can make a strong bridgeout of styrofoam, or bike frame out of almostanything, but certain materials have inherentqualities that plain make them more desirable.Steel has been around a long time. People whodon’t even ride bikes, but cock an ear when theyhear tech talk and Tour de France and Lanceand all...they “know” that steel is old and heavyand not good anymore. They’re wrong as canbe. As a strong, safe, repairable, beautiful,practical, and rugged frame material, steelis still the best. -

From Rivendell Bicycle Works- http://www.rivbike.com/

9District 7 News Agitator

Union LeadersVisit Mexico to

SupportMineworkers

UnionU.S. Congress Urges Calderón to Meet

Mexico City – Trade union and parliamentaryleaders from 13 countries visited Mexico tosupport the National Union of Mine and MetalWorkers, which has been under attack by theMexican government and the Grupo Mexicomining company.

In addition, twenty-seven membersof the U.S. Congress wrote to Mexi-can President Calderón asking himto meet with the delegation. “Con-tinued efforts by the Mexican gov-ernment and Grupo Mexico to re-press this democratic union inMexico have raised serious ques-tions about labor practices in yourcountry,” the letter stated.

The delegation, organized by the InternationalMetalworkers’ Federation (IMF), the Interna-tional Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mineand General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), and theUnited Steelworkers (USW), is seeking a meet-ing with President Felipe Calderón to discusshis government’s handling of the Mineworkersconflict, which has been criticized by the inter-national trade union movement.

“Workers around the world are outraged atMexico’s attacks on the Mineworkers union,”said USW President Leo W. Gerard.

The Mineworkers are one of the few unions inMexico that continues to strike for higherwages. The union has won a series of strikesthis year with wage increases above 8 percent,well above the 4.5 percent limit imposed bythe government. The union has also criticizedthe government’s labor law reform proposalsand the lack of health and safety protectionsfor workers.

In response, the government has twice re-moved the leader of the union, NapoleónGómez Urrutia, from office. TheCommittee on Freedom of Asso-ciation of the International LaborOrganization (ILO), ruling in acomplaint brought by the IMF,found that “the labor authoritiesengaged in conduct that is incom-patible with the right of workersto elect their representatives in fullfreedom.”

The government has repeatedlyfiled criminal charges against theunion leadership, although thesehave been thrown out by thecourts. The government has alsotried repeatedly to declare illegala strike at three Grupo Mexicomines which has run for nearly twoyears, but the courts have rebuffedthese efforts. The government has also sup-ported Grupo Mexico in establishing com-

pany-dominated unions at eightother facilities.

Four union members have beenkilled in the conflict. The gov-ernment has not investigated orprosecuted these cases.

“We are concerned that theCalderón government, whichclaims to be fighting for rule oflaw, practices impunity when it

comes to the rights of themineworkers” said IMF GeneralSecretary Jyrki Raina.

In Mexico City, the delegationmet with Congressional and unionleaders and will visitMineworkers’ official JuanLinares Montufar who has beenjailed by the government.

The delegation attended the Mineworkers’75th anniversary in Lázaro Cárdenas,

Michoacán and will visit thePasta de Conchos mine where65 workers were killed in anexplosion in 2006. An ILOreport this year concludedthat “ the Government ofMexico did not do all thatwas reasonably expected of itto avoid or minimize the ef-fects of the accident whichhad such devastating effectswith the loss of life of asmany as 65 miners.”

The delegation was headedby Jack Layton, leader ofCanada’s New DemocraticParty (NDP) and includesparliamentarians from Aus-tralia and Peru. The delega-

tion includes District 7 Director Jim Robinsonas well as trade union leaders from Argen-tina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany,Italy, Norway, Peru, Poland, South Africa,Spain, Sweden, and the United States.

“We intend to let our governments and em-ployers know what is going on in Mexico, andto discourage them from further investmentsuntil it is clear that workers’ rights are beingrespected” said Manfred Warda, General Sec-retary of the ICEM.

“We intend to let our governments and employ-ers know what is going on in Mexico, and to dis-courage them from further investments until it isclear that workers’ rights are being respected” -Manfred Warda, General Secretary of the ICEM.

District 7 DirectorJim Robinson

(Left to right) - Kurt Mullins L.U.6787, Martin Muniz L.U. 1011, Max Carrasquillo, L.U. 1010,Juan Negrete L.U. 1011, Alfredo Cadena L.U. 1011 and Godofredo Chavez L.U. 1011.

10 District 7 News Agitator

Mexican miners tell Mexican Governmen

We pick our o

11District 7 News Agitator

t

own leaders

12 District 7 News Agitator

by Dennis Barker

EDWARDSVILLE, ILLINOIS: JUNE 6, 2009More than twenty-five active and retired steel-workers joined members of the United Con-gregations of the Metro East [UCM] and theDownstate Democrats For Change at theGoshen Farmers Market in Edwardsville pro-moting a Single Payer health care system.Hundreds of flyers and pamphlets were dis-tributed.

Speaking from the courthouse steps on solu-tions to the health care crisis were Dr. PamelaGronemeyer from the Downstate DemocratsFor Change, Jeff Rains president of the Steel-worker Organization of Active Retirees, LarryEvans from the United Congregations of the

Larry Evans, of Glen Carbon, speaks at a rallyat the Land of Goshen Community Market inEdwardsville.

“Raise Your Voice” for Real Health Care Reform

Three simple charts destroy the GOP’s scaretactics on healthcare

As Congress debates health care reform, theGOP, are salivating after recent polls showinga majority disapprove of the president’shandling of health care. But those celebrationsmay be a bit premature because another pollshows they almost unanimously (85%)consider health care reform vital to saving theeconomy and making sure they personallyhave access to health care.

So how to explain this dichotomy? I think itcan be summed up simply:

People have no idea how bad the currentsystem is. They are fed the lie that we havethe best health care in the world, and arevulnerable to GOP attempts to instill FearUncertaintly and Doubt (FUD), aboutObama’s reforms. They are hoping the truthis too complicated to fit on a bumper-sticker,and thus they can obscure it indefinitely.

Enter these three simple charts. It isimpossible to look at them and not see howbad things really are:

Metro East and Mike Fultz USW L.U. 1899.

Mike Fultz USW L.U. 1899 was laid off byStein Steel Mill Services, Inc., a contractor atGranite City Steel.

He and nine other co-workers continued theirhealth insurance coverage under COBRA, afederal law that requires companies to continuecoverage for laid-off employees who pay theirown premiums for 18 months.

Because of a provision of the stimulous bill hepays $300 a month for coverage for himself andhis wife while sixty-five percent of the cost issubsidized by the government.

But he was notified that such coverage will endJuly 1 because there are no longer enough em-ployees in the pool for the insurance company

- But we have the best health care system . . .

13District 7 News Agitator

The Bending Cross:A Biography of Eugene V. Debs - By Ray Ginger

Ray Ginger's absolutely authoritative biogra-phy of the Terre Haute IN native, EugeneDebs, is a marvellous, well-written and well-researched book.

Ginger details Debs' life: his upbringing in amiddle class merchant house-hold in Terre Haute, IN, wherehe was taught the German andFrench romantic classics byhis father (the name EugeneVictor comes from EugèneSue and Victor Hugo), his firstjobs and union involvementon the Vendalia railway, hisearly leadership in the Broth-erhood of Locomotive Fire-men, his move up through theunion ranks, then the forma-tion of the American RailwayUnion, the Pullman strike anddestruction of the same, hisperiods in prison and conver-sion to Marxism, and finallyhis political career in the So-cialist Party where he madehimself immortal in the annalsof radical history by winning6% of the vote in 1912, and also being theonly person in American history to winaalmost a million votes for President while inprison (1920).

The author depicts the absolute humanity, loy-alty, intelligence, cordiality, and charity of Eu-gene Debs. Indeed sometimesit is astounding how one mancould unite so many virtues andbe so utterly uncorruptible,leading one to become suspi-cious whether Debs' reputationis not exaggerated, but fortu-nately biographer Ray Ginger isalways careful to substantiatethe claims and to apply criti-cism where deserved.

Giner chronicles Debs connec-tions with many of the impor-tant people of his time: LincolnSteffens, Robert Ingersoll, Vic-tor Berger, John Altgeld, SusanB. Anthony, and even a short conversationwith Warren Harding in the White House.Debs had an infallible sense of the failures ofboth extreme left sectarianism and excessivereformism in radical movements and laborunionism, and it is rare that one can concludehe made the wrong decision. Debs had a su-preme capacity for personal love and charity,and was capable of opposing the political de-cisions and strategies of many other union ac-tivists without in any way lessening his per-sonal loyalty or affection for them, or blam-

to provide group coverage, therefore all ofthem, including the two who are still working,will lose their health insurance.

“If that happens, my wife and I will lose ourhouse,” Fultz said. He said they won’t be ableto afford it and pay the full cost of providingtheir own health insurance.

Studies show that over a million American fami-lies a year lose their homes to foreclosure be-cause of unaffordable medical costs.

Dr. Pam Gronemeyer, a pathologist, who pays$130,000 a year to provide health insurancecoverage for her eight employees, says, “Thehigh cost of health insurance is killing smallbusinesses. ”

The response from the general public attend-ing the Farmers Market was very supportive ofreal health care reform with a single payer sys-tem option.

ing them in person for their views. While aninveterate opponent of all capitalism, he couldmake himself loved and respected even by hisenemies - once he so effectively inveighedagainst a railroad director in his own officethat the director started offering him high level

jobs in the company!

Debs of course made American political his-tory, not just with his prison campaign in 1920,victim to Woodrow Wilson's political terror;but also with the first campaigning train tour

through America (the "Red Spe-cial"), with the highest percent-age of votes in a Presidentialelection any left-wing candidatehas ever received, and last butnot least with his fierce opposi-tion to American participation inWorld War I, when all tides wereagainst him. But he equally de-serves recognition for his re-markable goodness in his per-sonal dealings: he refused all of-fers of careering and high wages,refused all attempts of union fed-erations to lavish gifts or praiseupon him, and was known forgiving away large amounts of his

money even when he could not afford it. Whenthe ARU collapsed under the military terrorof the American government, he personallytook all the debts of the union on him, whichit took him 18 years to pay off. He was evenloved by all the inmates of the Atlanta prisonduring his stay there. Add to this his vision-ary and consistent support for the rights ofwomen, blacks, and immigrants, when suchthings were radical even among radicals, andEugene V. Debs indeed is nothing but an ex-ample to us all.

The bottom line is we are getting ripped offbadly under the current system

We spend far more than any otherindustrialized nation on earth on health care.

Except for the inexplicable anomaly that isLuxemborg, we spend almost twice as muchas even the other richest nations on earth andyet we are getting lousy value for our money:

You see how the US is way over by itself onthe high end of the chart? You see anyoneeven close?

Notice what country is just behind the US inlife expectancy while spending less than anyother country on the list? Yup. Cuba. That“failed Communist experiment” severalmiles off our coast that still inexplicablydrives right-wingers (whose houses are filledwith made in China products crazy). That’snot just sad, it’s outright embarrassing.

Now we can and should argue about thecauses of the incredible inefficiency in oursystem and how to fix it. Reasonable peoplecan differ as whether the biggest culpritwhether is excessive defensive medicinecosts, The 25 percent overhead the insurancecompanies suck out, the fact that 93 millionpeople don’t have access to earlyintervention, detection and treatment of theirmedical problems; or all of the above.

But once we start having that nationalconversation, we’ve already won the mostimportant battle: Which is getting people toacknowledge that change must come andsoon. As they say in various forms ofrecovery, the first step is acknowledging youhave a problem.

Eugene V. Debs was born and is buried in Terre Haute IN

. .in the world

14 District 7 News Agitator

Born: Nov. 5,1855, at Terre Haute, Indiana.

Attended Terre Haute Public schools, droppingout of high school at age of 14 to take job aspainter in railroad yards. In 1870 became firemanon railroad. In his spare time, he went to nightclasses at a local business college.

September 1874—At his mother’s insistence hequit as a railroad fireman and worked as a billingclerk at the grocery firm of Hulman & Cox.

February 27, 1875—Became charter member andsecretary of Vigo Lodge, Brotherhood of Loco-motive Firemen. He continued to work at Hulman& Cox and used his salary to help the fledglinglocal union and conducted its work at night. Thesame year he became president of Occidental Lit-erary Club of Terre Haute. Brought Col. RobertIngersoll, James Whitcomb Riley, Susan B. An-thony and many others to Terre Haute

1878— Became assistant editor of national Broth-erhood of Locomotive Fireman’s Magazine.

1879—Elected to first of two terms as City Clerkof Terre Haute on Democrat ticket.

1880—Named Grand Secretary of Brotherhoodof Railway Firemen and editor of the Magazine.

1884—Elected state representative to the IndianaGeneral Assembly as a Democrat representingTerre Haute and Vigo County. Served in 1885.

June 9, 1885—Married Kate Metzel whom heloved and cherished until his death. They had nochildren.

1890—Built and moved into his Terre Haute homeat 451 North Eighth Street, which is a NationalHistoric Landmark and is now the Debs Museum.

1891—Retired from the Brotherhood of Locomo-

tive Firemen as its Grand Secretary.

1892—Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen pre-vailed on him to retain editorship of Magazine.

June 1893—Organized the first industrial unionin United States, the American Railway Union.

April 1894—The American Railway Union struckGreat Northern Railway. Not a wheel moved onGreat Northern and at end of 18 days, the railwaygranted the demands of the union.

May 11, 1894—Pullman Boycott and strike atChicago began.

July 23, 1894—Debs and leaders of ARU jailed.

May, 1895—Debs and leaders of ARU sent to jailfor contempt of court in connection with Pullmanstrike. Finished sentences Nov. 22, 1895. Giventriumphal welcome by thousands on his arrival inChicago, from Woodstock, Ill. jail where sentencewas served.

1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1920—Ran as candi-date of Socialist Party for President of the UnitedStates in some of the most dynamic campaigningever seen in the United States. Made his greatestshowing in campaign of 1908 which featured theRED SPECIAL train which went to every sectionof the country.

1907-1912—Named Associate Editor of the Ap-peal to Reason published in Girard, Kan. Theweekly magazine achieved a circulation of sev-eral hundred thousand.

1916—Ran for Congress in Terre Haute on theSocialist ticket and was defeated.

June 16, 1918—Debs made his famous anti-warspeech in Canton, Ohio, protesting World War Iwhich was raging in Europe. For this speech he

“Too long have theworkers of the worldwaited for someMoses to lead themout of bondage. Iwould not lead youout if I could; for ifyou could be led out,you could be led backagain. I would haveyou make up yourminds there is nothingthat you cannot do foryourselves.”From an address on Industrial Unionismdelivered at Grand Central Palace. NewYork City, Dec. 18,1905.

EUGENE VICTOR DEBS 1855-1926was arrested and convicted in federal court inCleveland, Ohio under the war-time espionagelaw. He was his own attorney and his appeal tothe jury and his statement to the court before sen-tencing, are regarded as two of the great classicstatements ever made in a court of law. He wassentenced to serve 10 years in prison.

April 12, 1919—Debs began serving his sentencein Moundsville, W. Va. State prison and was trans-ferred to Atlanta, Ga. Federal prison two monthslater. His humility and friendliness and his assis-tance to all won him the respect and admirationof the most hardened convicts.

1920—For the fifth and last time, while a pris-oner at Atlanta, he was nominated to run for presi-dent on the Socialist party ticket. Conducting hiscampaign from inside the prison, he receivednearly a million votes. On Christmas Day, 1921President Harding released Debs from prison,commuting his sentence to time served.

Dec. 28, 1921—Debs arrived home in Terre Hautefrom prison and was given a tremendous welcomeby thousand of Terre Hauteans. Debs spent hisremaining days trying to recover his health whichwas severely undermined in prison.

Oct. 20, 1926—Eugene V. Debs died in Lindlahrsanitarium. His body was brought back to TerreHaute where it lay in state in the Terre Haute Cen-tral Labor Temple. Great men and women fromthe world came over to Terre Haute for his fu-neral which was conducted by Norman Thomasfrom the front porch of the Debs home. Debs wascremated and his ashes were interred in HighlandLawn cemetery, Terre Haute, with only a simplemarker. Ten years later his beloved wife, Kate,was buried beside him.

15District 7 News Agitator

SCHERERVILLE IN: The TownCouncil voted unanimously to adopt theBuy America Resolution last night.

PORTAGE IN:Pat Lane SOAR 6787 andRosa Rodriguez L.U. 1010(in photo below) spoke infavor of the Buy AmericaResolution at the PortageCommon council meetingwho followed theirrecomendation and votedunanimously to adopt it.

ANGOLA IN: The annual Fourth of July pa-rade in Angola welcomed a new entry thisyear. United Steelworkers Local 1015L joinedin the festivities for the first time, bringingthe membership together to celebrate thenation’s independence and their local unionsolidarity.

Union members and their families were ap-plauded and cheered as they drove the paraderoute, passing out candy and freeze pops.Their caravan included two golf carts andtrailers, USW members Steve and NikkiBurrel on motorcycles and Mike and StacieWhite in Stacie’s 1970 Chevy Malibu with“Keep it Made in America” and USW signsall abound. Stacie and Mike, both Local1015L members drove the vintage car withUSW “It’s Your Fight Too” signs on eitherside. Talk about making it in America….whatwould you say the domestic content of Stacie’scar is? We don’t make’em like that anymore!

Local 1015L remindsAngola to Keep it

Made in America atIndependance Day

Parade

PHOTO: Background left, Rod Waltz Pres. L.U.1015L, Tom Emerick, past president L.U. 9463and Sharon Bowers, President L.U. 1108.Forground 1970 Chevy Malibu

Ron Burk Union Steward

Schererville Says Keep in Made in America

Local 10105L officers and members joiningthe parade were President Rob Waltz, Vicepresident Laura Gallogly, Bryan Leland,Dawn Pherigo, Kathy Powers, DawnReynolds, Scott Field, Mike Thatcher, SuannMahaffey, Ron Burke, Steve and NikkiBurrell, and Mike and Stacie White and theirfamilies.

Dan Murchek resident and President ofNorthwest Indiana Federation of Labor

thanked Councils members foradopting the Buy America Reso-lution. Schererville’s CouncilmanTom Schmitt introduced the reso-lution and got strong supportfrom residents, Steelworkers,Building Trades and Ironworkersmembers at the Councils meeting.

Union members standing up for America at the Schererville Town meeting

16 District 7 News Agitator

Communication Class 2009Women of Steel Class 2009

USW Financial Officer 2009 USW D7 Year Four 2009 USW Collective Bargaining 2009

USW Year One 2009 Trustee Training 2009 USW D7 New Steelworkers Activists 2009

USW D7 Year Two 2009

USW D7 Year Three 2009USW Alumni 2009

Safety Training Class 2009USW SOAR Class 2009

If you are not in one of thesephots and would like to be,you can apply and compete fora 2010 District 7 SummerSchool Scholarship. Your Lo-cal Union will be receivingthese applications early nextyear.

Attention Be Advised:Through a leak from the Manufacturers Spy Association of Illiana we have been toldthat these photos are being posted on company bulletin boards throughout District 7with the caption that reads:

“Danger Educated Union Members”

SteelworkerSummer SchoolChampaign Urbana

U of I2009

17District 7 News Agitator

Senator Bayh not infavor of “single payer”

IN TWO YEARS, WIFE EARNED $2.1MILLION FROM FIVE HEALTH COM-

PANY BOARDS

While many are fighting for a universal na-tional health care plan, Indiana’s Blue-Dog,junior senator, Evan Bayh has come outstrongly opposed to a single payer system.After all, his wife, Susan, sits on the board ofdirectors and collects a paycheck from fivedifferent health industry companies.

For Bayh, healthcare isn't just the latest po-litical fight in Congress. It’s a substantial partof his family's income.

THE BOARDS, THE BUCKS

Susan Bayh served on these five boards from2006 through 2008. All have a stake in health-care reform: WellPoint opposes a public plan;biotech companies want a monopoly on drugmolecules. Bayh's compensation during thoseyears:

WellPoint- $976,000

Indianapolis-based health insurer, includesAnthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

MDRNA* - $388,169

Bothell, Wash., biotech company developingtherapeutica to treat liver disease.

Dendreon -$370,391

Seattle-based biotech company focused oncancer treatments.

Dyax - $221,692

Chambridge, Mass., biopharmaceuticals com-pany developing treatments for use inonthology and inflammation.

Curis - $184,001

Cambridge drug=development company fo-cused on cancer treatments.

Total - $2,140,253

* Susan Bayh resigned in January.Source: Equilar, a California-based research firmspecalizing in execuative compensaton company websites.

INDIANAPOLIS IN: Over a hundredfifty auto workers, miners, clergy,nurses, physicians, students, the build-ing trades and SOAR, of course, ralliedfor a “single payer” health care systemin downtown. Steve Skvara, (SOAR)said, “It went great!”

Skvara said both of our Pace chaptersalong with 7-1, 7- IN-2, PC-1 PC-2, 31-5 were there and some of the locals hadfolks there also.

The police were called after the protestersinvaded Evan Bayh’s office, where they de-manded to know how he could not consider ita conflict of interest, when his wife was paid$347,000 last year for sitting on the board of

Indy rallies at Senator’s office forUniversal Health Care Plan

WellPoint. One of the cops told Skvara, “Makeall the noise you want, but leave half the side-walk clear, and they wished us luck becausethey are tired of their rates going up and UP.”

A moderate is a

person who throws a

12-foot rope to a

man drowning 20-feet

off shore and then

congratulates himself

for meeting him more

than half way.

It’s time. Health care costs are sky-rocketing, and last fall we voted forreal change. Congress needs to sup-port President Obama and passhealth care reform in this session.

Corporate lobbyists and the Republi-cans stand in between you and yourdoctor. Don’t let them block reform!It’s time. Call you representative.

1-877-264-HCAN(1-877-264-4226)

Call your representative and tell himyour union and your family want ourbroken health care system fixed now.

18 District 7 News Agitator

NAFTA has been a disaster for millions ofMexico’s small farmers, for Mexico’s balanceof trade, and for its state of food security.

In 1990, 2.5 million farmed small or medium-sized plots, most growing corn, beans, andother staples to sell in local and regionalmarkets, as well as some export crops suchas coffee.

NAFTA promised that these small producerswould benefit from new “privileged” accessto U.S. and Canadian markets. But NAFTA’s“liberalized” of Mexico’s already-developedexport sectors, largely benefitedg bigagribusinesses. NAFTA further reducedMexico’s import barriers, thereby allowing aninflux of cheap (highly-subsidized) cropsfrom the U.S. crushing small local producers.

Outside Illinois Senator Bill Haine’s office foyer in the Capitol building, Springfield. (Illinois 56th District Senator), steelworkers were all smiles.before their visit with the Senator.

Senator Haine had a tough timeexplaining why he was not sup-porting the insurance reform billsupported by USW andHealthcare Alliance (ie why hesupports the insurance compa-nies’ position) with skepticalsteelworkers from Subdistrict 2.

Much of the food production market wastaken over by a handful of agribusinesses andintermediaries (seven transnational companiescontrol 70% of Mexico’s corn imports andexports, for example), and because NAFTAeliminated all controls on imports, thesecorporations can threaten to import rather thanpaying decent prices to local producers.

With cheap commodities flooding the marketand without adequate government controls toprotect these victimized producers, the priceof key smallholder crops including corn,beans, and coffee fell nearly 50% overall inreal terms, resulting in the displacement oftwo million farmers since NAFTA went intoeffect.

After 4,000 years of corn cultivation andproduction, Mexico is now a net importer ofits main staple. Agricultural imports from theU.S. grew faster than Mexico’s exports,leaving the country with a negative balanceof trade for the sector. Further, Mexico’sexport sector is now largely dependent onmultinational firms that dominate global agro-food chains.

NAFTA gave Mexico “privileged” access tothe world’s largest consumer market, andMexico paid the price as increasing free tradeonly deepened longstanding structuralinequalities in the Mexican countryside,aggravated balance of payments problems,and failed to stimulate the kinds ofproductivity improvements promised byNAFTA’s proponents.

Who wouldn’t be happy to see these guys?

NAFTA disastrous for millions ofMexico’s small farmers

There is a story that a pool reporter on AirForce One asked President Obama, “Are youa socialist?” We would like to offer somecontext for that reporter.

Air Force One was built to custom order andpaid for by US taxpayers. The general designand that specific airplane were enabled bydecades of big government spending onaerospace technology. Every nut and bolt inthat plane and any other airliner was checkedfor flight worthiness by governmentinspectors making it, in GOP parlance thesedays, a “socialized” aircraft. As with alldomestic flights, it is safely guided from takeoff to landing by a national network of highlytrained government employees (socialized airtraffic control) who are utterly dependent onan invention using radio detecting and rangingdeveloped under the administration of asocialist FDRadministration duringWorld War II. Many ofthe pilots who fly AirForce One and its Marinecounterpart were trainedto navigate and flysophisticated aircraft atconsiderable taxpayerexpense in another biggovernment “socialized”enterprise which istasked with fighting warsand ensuring the survivalof American democracy.

That same reporter in all likelihood attendeda public socialized kindergarten, elementary,middle, and high school. They may or maynot have gone on to a socialized stateuniversity. Throughout their life theydepended on the local “socialized” policeforce, and may even called a “socialized”hotline alerting the “socialized” firedepartment to travel on the “socialized”transportation grid (county roads and citystreets) to put out a fire. The reporter is oldenough to remember standing transfixed inhorror the day that thousands of those“socialized” heroes and union membersrushed headlong into the burning World TradeTowers, before it collasped in front of theeyes of millions of horrified viewers watchingon television networks created and regulatedby a “socialized” behemoth known as theFederal Communications Commission.

I know nothing about the health of the reporterbut odds are close to 100 per cent that sooneror later their life, or the life of a loved one,will be improved, prolonged, or saved, again

The Woodburn, Indiana City Councilpassed the USW Buy America resolutionunanimously. The resolution was pre-sented by Charlie Odier USW L.U. 715L.Though small in numbers with a popula-tion of 1,600, the town of Woodburn iswitness to the benefits of domestic manu-facturing every day as home to a BFGoodrich tire manufacturing facility,employing approximately 1200 membersof Steelworkers Local 715L. Congratu-lations to Woodburn, BF Goodrich andUSW Local 715L for Keeping it Made inAmerica!

WoodburnIndiana sayskeep makingit in America

Charlie Odier L.U. 715L pushed theresolution through the city council.

Cause the last thing we needis “socialized” medicine.

and again, by drugs and treatments developedby big government “socialized” programs andoverseen for safety and efficacy by a big nasty“socialized” FDA.

It’s a statistical certainty that the reporter hasfriends and family spared the grinding povertyand spiraling morbidity that once wassynonymous with old age prior to the adventof “socialized” medicare and “socialized”social security for the elderly. These programsare so successful that the reporter need noteven contemplate them, knowing they will bethere when he or she needs them, even if thatreporter chooses to faithfully reproduce thetalking points of right-wing politicians, eachand everyone supported by the state andenjoying the benefits of comprehensivegovernment healthcare provided at taxpayerexpense, bitching and whining endlessly about

the evils of socialism.

Every week or two, thereporter will probablymake sure their paycheckis directly and/or correctlydeposited into their onlinechecking account. Theinternet making thispossible is an outgrowth ofa “socialized” Pentagonprogram. And even in themidst of the worsteconomic meltdown since1929, the reporter can restcomfortably knowing their

hard-earned bank deposits are insured by thefull faith and credit of the United StatesGovernment. The losses will be “socialized,”the banks and brokerage houses stabilized,and in the event any of the above fails, theinstitutions will be nationalized. All moderncommerce and the everyday welfare of everycitizen in this nation depends on it.

But in closing we should note, in all fairness:the reporter was absolutely well within his orher rights to pose any question, report anyanswer, or provide any commentary andopinion of their choosing. Because in thiscountry, the press is protected by anenumerated right enshrined in a “socialized”document written by radical progressives,since defended at enormous cost in the livesand limbs of countless members in the“socialized” Army, Navy, Air Force, andMarines, and beginning with a preamble thatwould stir any socialist’s heart: “We thePeople ...”

Honduran workerslaunch general strike

against coupTEGUCIGALPA .—July 24, 2009- The threeprincipal labor unions in Honduras are main-taining a general strike in the state sector forthe second day supported by road blocks putin place by the popular forces repudiating thecoup d’état.On the second day of general strike in Hon-duras the country remained paralyzed for sev-eral hours due to the closing of several strate-gic routes by demonstrators.

Juan Barahona, president of the United Work-ers Federation, described the first day of thestrike as a success, taking into account the roadblocks and occupation of various state insti-tutions by workers.

The popular actions cut off the country’s prin-cipal ports on both the Atlantic and Pacificcoasts, as well as highways connecting thecapital with the northern part of the country.

They may even called a

“socialized” hotline

alerting the “socialized”

fire department to travel

on the “socialized”

transportation grid

(county roads and city

streets) to put out a fire.

20 District 7 News Agitator

Jim Robinson, DirectorSal Aguilar, Assistant DirectorBill Carey, Editor - wcarey@USW.org1301 Texas Street 2nd Floor – Room 200Gary, Indiana 46402Phone: 219.886.2596Fax: 219.886.8686Sub-District OfficesBridgeview IL 708.233.0800Granite City IL 618.452.1130Indianapolis IN 317.845.0495Plymouth IN 574.935.3563Gary, IN 219.881.6207Staff OfficesGalesburg, IL 309.342.2635Jasper, IN 812.367.2765Copyright 2009 by the United Steelworkers - District 7 . All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced without written consent of District 7. Member of theUSPA. Articles and photographs from members are welcome. Thanks to contributors:Gary Gaines, Robin Rich, Ray Jackson, Blanca Morales, Dennis Barker, Joe Fabbre,Dave York, Charlie Averill, Steve Skvara, Rachel Steury, Mike Lamka and Doug May.

Official Publication of theUnited Steelworkers - District 7Published as an insert in USW@Work

NEWS & AGITATOR

DISTRICT 7 Issue #34 AUGUST 2009

August 5, 2009: - Hundreds of Steel-workers, SOAR members and concernedcitizens were on hand to welcome Presi-dent Barack Obama to Wakarusa, Indi-ana and to support universal health careand green manufacturing jobs. Photos Steel-

workers Organization of Active Retirees.

Steelworkersgreet Obama inWakarusa IN