�

InsIde ThIs

Issue

November 2006 • ISSUe 11 • voLUme XXXII • USW LoCAL 831

Continued on page 6

PAge 2• SOAR Meeting

Minutes• Pension &

Insurance• Prayer Vigil

PAge 3• November

Membership Minutes

• U.S.TradeDeficitAt All Time High

• Back To The Table• CATS to The Race• Union Member

Not Impressed In Seattle

PAge 4• Editor’s Column• Another First

for Goodyear Danville… Temporary Workers!

PAge 5• Questions &

Answers• Jim Webb Visits

Picket Line!

PAge 6• Trade Agreements

Hurt More Than U.S. Jobs!

PAge 8• December

Calendar• Condolences• Retirees

Food Voucher distribution A successOn November 6th and November 7th, 2006,

thefirstofStrikeandDefenseFundpaymentswere made to Local 83� members on strike. The payment was made in the form of a $75 Food Lion gift card. The membership of Local 83� has completed the four week waiting period and are now eligible for assistance from thefund.Inordertobeeligibleforthisbenefityou must be an active union member who is officiallyonstrike.Benefitsarenotpayableif you are on Accident & Sickness(A&S), Workers Compensation or if you are receiving StateUnemploymentbenefits.FoodLioncards will be distributed at the local union hall on a weekly basis until further notice. The week of November �9 will be an exception, vouchers will only be available at the union hall on Monday, November 20 and Tuesday, November 2� at the rally at Bibleway Cathedral located at 2�5 Grant Street (off of Industrial Ave). Vouchers for free turkeys will also be given at Tuesdays rally.

Pickup schedule at Union Hall as follows:Mondays A-E 8am - ��am F-K �pm - 4pm.Tuesdays L-R 8am - ��am S-Z �pm - 4pm.

The lines moved briskly and the overall mood was upbeat during the distribution. There were drinks provided, as well as breakfast biscuits courtesy of Local 83�. The Monday afternoon lunch featured hot dogs and

Rally To Be held To support American Jobs

Asheboro Wire Local 1161L members serve lunch to Local 831 members.

hamburgers courtesy of the Asheboro Wire plant Local ��6�L members in Asheboro, NC. These members are laid off as a result of the ongoing strike and they have donated their time and money to come to Danville and feed Local 83� members. The Tuesday afternoon hot dog lunch was provided courtesy of URW 83� Members Federal Credit Union. Talk about Solidarity!

On Tuesday, November 2�, 2006, a rally will be held in support of keeping American jobs in this country and to support the striking workers of Goodyear. The rally will take place at Bibleway Cathedral beginning at �2:00 pm.

Elder Larry Campbell of Bibleway Catherdral said that God placed on his heart recently to do something in support of the strikers and to raise awareness about American jobs leaving the country.

“I just felt a need for the churches in our community to show these striking workers that

we support them and that we are concerned about the trend of jobs leaving the country. These Steelworkers are our brothers and sis-ters of our community and we need to make a public statement that we support them in their fight,”saidCampbell.

After discussing this with his father, Apostle Lawrence Campbell, who supported his son in this idea, Elder Campbell contacted the leadership of Local 83�. After hearing and ap-preciating Campbell’s idea, a committee was

2

PensIon & InsuRAnceBy Gloria Gravely

November 8, 2006The meeting was called to order by

President Jack Dodson. All board members were present

except Earl and Nancy Guill. Prayer led by George Williams, fol-

lowed by Pledge Of Allegiance to the Flag.

Minutes from the October meeting were read and stood approved as read.

The minutes from the November board meeting were read and after a brief discussion, they stood approved as read.

Treasurer report was given by George Stewart and was approved as read.

President Dodson asked members to walk the picket line Thursday, No-vember 9th so the workers can attend the union meeting. He also encour-aged the members to visit the picket to show their support.

Gloria Gravely, P&I representative spoke on the Open enrollment policy and the Delta Dental plan. Letters will be sent to each member about the plan. Any questions about either, give her a call.

President Danny Barber spoke. He too asks the members to picket at certain times. He spoke on some of the issues that we are facing.

Vice President Terry Trull spoke and thanked the Retirees for their support.

Evelyn Bailey name was drawn for the attendance award. She was not present, so December drawing will be $ ��0.00.

Free oil lube change from Goodyear store, Piney Forest Road won by Don-ald Haymore and Page Slayton.

Free oil lube change from Good-year, Mount Cross Road store won by Sue Chatten and Nancy Chaney.

50/50 won by Ed Robertson A collection was taken up for the

strikers. Meeting adjourned and members

enjoyed a delicious meal. Nancy J. Chaney, Acting Secretary

Prayer VigilIfyoumissedthefirstPrayer

Vigil on Thursday, you missed a very emotional and uplifting experience. Bobby James led the event with several others from within the plant along with Danville Ministerial Alliance. Brother James stated that the idea of having a weekly prayer came to him in a moment of personalreflectionanditishisgoal to do this every Thursday at �2 noon until we go back to work. If your minister would like to partici-pate please invite them at that time.

medICAL PremIUmSIf you are still out of work on

November �5, 2006, then you need to send in your December payment along with the coupon to the Atlanta Lock Box. Family premium is $36.00 and single coverage is $�2.00 for the entire month of December. (Goal $468.00 yr family and $�56.00 yr single coverage). Medical/Vision cov-erage is extended 90 days after the strike, which takes you up to January 3, 2007. COBRA letters will be gener-ated to everyone if this happens. Note: I was informed by Akron that some of our employees sent money to the Atlanta Lock Box, which is where the medical premiums go, but they designated on their checks that the money was for their Optional Life Ins or for 40�-K loans. The Company is looking at a way to cut checks and return this money to the employee. So, if you meant for that money to be for Medical premiums, it will not be. You must re-send your Oct/Nov pre-mium again because the Company says they are not allowed to assume what you meant the payment to be applied to. We do not know how long it may take them to send the money back.

optional Life Insurance payments need to be sent to Minnesota Life. (�-800-660-2584)

401-K loan payments need to be sent to J.P. Morgan. Please call and set up payment arrangements with the correct vendor. (�-800-345-2345)

NoTe: The above information if for ACTIVE members ONLY!

deLTA deNTALCOBRA letters are being prepared

by Delta Dental to be sent to the homes of all employees. You should receive one soon. The COBRA Rates for family is $89.00 and Single cover-age is $29.00.

oPeN eNroLLmeNTEveryone should have received

their packets by now. Please take the time to read over your information to make sure it is correct. If you are not changing anything, then you do nothing. The only ones who have to respond are the following:Working Spouse must do the COB questionnaire in order to be reim-bursed for 2007.Flexible Spending/Dependent Day-care Accounts must be done online. Adding or deleting dependents can be done now. Anything done online mustbeconfirmedinorderforittobeaccepted.Makesureyouconfirmyour elections before logging off. Print a copy for your records.

Union Member, George Murray speaks to crowd on picket line.

3

november Membership Meeting MinutesUSW Local 83� held its regular

membership meeting on November 9, 2006 at the Danville City Auditorium with President Danny Barber presid-ing. These are the highlights of the meeting.

K Elder Larry Campbell opened the meeting with prayer. It was followed by the pledge of allegiance.

K RollcallofofficersK Executive Board report for Sep-

tember was approved as read.K Recommendation of By-Law

Committee not to amend By-Law proposal. Vote by membership ruled to uphold the recommendation of the By-Law Committee.

K Financial report for September was given by Dana Dixon and ap-proved as read.

K Policy member Gloria Gravely presented P & I report. (See P&I report)

K Trustee report given by Bennett Gobble, all books in order.

K Strike & Defense Committee

report.K President, Danny Barber present-

ed points of information.K 50/50 winner was Brandon Pow-

ell, cc# 6893 dept. 24�5.K The name of J.D. Talbott dept.

���0, cc# 3277 was drawn for the attendance drawing. He was not present. The December door prize will be $�50.

K Motion to adjourn. Motion car-ried. The next union meeting will be December �4, 2006.

Back To The TableOn Thursday November 9th, 2006, Goodyear

Tire and Rubber negotiators made it known that they were ready for the two parties to resume negotiations in Cincinnati, Ohio. This comes as Steelworkers are entering their sixth week of being on strike against the tire producing giant. In response, Local 83� President Danny

Barber and Policy Member Gloria Gravely returned to Cincinnati for the negotiations process on Monday November �3, 2006. Hopes are that Goodyear is going to abandonit’s“CutandGut”agendaandbereadyforsome“goodfaith”bargainingtowardan agreement that will bring the striking Steelworkers back into the affected plants to resume production. All eyes will be on Cincinnati.

cATs To The RaceNine members of the Contract Ac-

tion Team hand picketed the Mar-tinsville Speedway race on Sunday,

union Member not Impressed In seattle

A driver of a school bus for middle grade students in Seattle has been firedaftershereportedlymadeanobscene gesture at President Bush. Shehasfiledauniongrievanceinanattempt to get her job back.

The 43-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was driving middle school children back to school after a zoo visit on June �6 when the President and Rep. Dave Reichert

George Stewart’s hat says it all…

Horace Gunn shows his support.

U.S. Trade Deficit At All Time highAmerica’stradedeficithashitan

all-time high as record imports of oil, swamped a solid gain in U.S. exports. ThedeficitwithChinashotupby12.2percent to a record of $22 billion in August and is running �3.5 percent above last year, when it hit $202 bil-lion, the highest ever recorded with a single country.Thetradedeficitisontracktoset

arecordforafifthconsecutiveyear,running at an annual rate through August of $784.2 billion, 9.4 percent higher than last year’s $7�6.7 billion. Some feel that the string of record deficitsdocumentsfailuresoftheBush administration trade policies that have not addressed unfair trade practices by other nations, particularly China.TheU.S.tradedeficitwithMexico

went to 22.2 percent to a record of $6.2billionlastmonthwhilethedeficitwith Canada, the partner in the North American Free Trade Area, rose by 2.5 percent to $6.� billion.

October 22. They traveled to Mar-tinsville to meet with three members of Fayetteville Local 959 to pass out over20,000flyerstoracefanstating“Goodyear Racing Our Jobs Over-seas”.“Itwasanexperiencebecausesome fans were very receptive and others were very hostile, but we were gladtodoit,”statedCarolynColes.Local 83� would like to take this opportunity to thank Carolyn Coles, Brian Shore, Antonio Harris, Rhonda Walker, Ricky Wrenn, Darryl Logan, Robert McCowan, Gloria Gravely and Sandra Hairston for assisting in hand billing the race.

drove by in a motorcade.In the bus, the children waved

and Bush and Reichert waved back. That’s when the driver gave the Presi-dentthefinger,accordingtoReichertand Issaquah superintendent Janet Barry.

The President turned to Reichert andsaid,“Thatone’snotafan.”

4

CREDENTIALSUSW Local 831

285 Shady Grove RoadProvidence, NC 273�5-9477

(336) 388-5537 • FAX: (336) 388-5009USW District 8 • www.usw83�.org

MDanny Barber

President and Editor

MAssociate Editors

Danny Travis, Mike Fox, Sandra Hairston

MCommunications Coordinator

Dana Dixon

support Your union!

Be InVolVed

Back to the BasicsWhen I was small my mother always worked two

jobs just to provide for her children. Looking back now, I did not know that we were poor, because she did such a good job to disguise it. Working two jobs just to make ends meet, growing her own garden, Ioftenwondernow“howdidshedoit?”Wellshewas conservative. We only got the things that we needed.

It seemed that everybody in the neighborhood pitched in to help each other. It really does take a village to raise a family. In saying that, I am truly blessed, since we have been on strike that my family and neighbors have given me their support.

So, to further help myself, I sat down and went over my bills trying to figureoutwaystocutback.IfoundextrachargesonmyphonebillthatI did not use, on my cable bill and also different insurances on my credit card that would help me during this time. I encourage all of you re-evaluate, stick together and stay strong in order to make it through this strike. My mother always told us, “when it comes down to it, all we have is each other. Always help one another and stay strong, because WE ARE FAMILY!

Sandra m. Hairston, Associate Editor

Another First for Goodyear danville.... Temporary Workers!

The day is October 30, 2006, and the striking steelworkers of Local 83�, at Goodyear Danville, are assembled to greet their Halloween trick from Goodyear..... Temporary workers. Goodyear Danville has announced plans to bring in temporary workers to help resume partial production at the Danville facility. Originally announced to be approximately 50 temporary workers each week for �0 weeks, week three was announced by Goodyear to yield an additional 300 temporary workers but only approximately 50 additional temporary workers showed up. According to Communications Coordinator Dana Dixon we currently have a total of approximately 250 temporary workers in the Danville plant.

Since day one, the striking Local 83� Steelworkers maintained a daily

vigil at the beginning and end of the temporary workers shift.Shoutsof“SCAB”aswell as union oriented songs are chanted throughout these events as the temporary workers are forced to drive through the striking picketers. Hand gestures are made to show the temporary workers that they are thought of as being number one. Anything more than this risks being in violation. Overall the striking members have represented themselves well on the picket line however there have been a couple of recent incidents involving striking

Local 83� members and scabs. The incidents so far have resulted in the arrest of two temporary workers and two strikers. Then on November �3,

2006 an injuction was served to union leaders prohibiting the use of more than �2 picketers in the area from Jenny Lane entrance one to Jenny Lane entrance two. A hearing is to be held at �0am on November �7, 2006, in Danville Courts, to address the injunction. Local 83� would ask that all striking members adhere to the posted rules and guidelines of the picket line.

5

If anyone has a question for The Informer,

please submit it to Danny Travis, Sandra Hairston, Mike Fox or

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What’s my best source for negotiation updates?

In todays world, with the internet and so many other resources available to everyone, where can I get dependable information about the negotiations? This is a question that’s on many members minds these days. There is information available in the print media, radio, television and the internet. With all of this available it’s easy to get confused. Remember that the only source that has your best interests in mind is local 83� and the USW. Goodyear certainly does not have your best interests at heart and sadly neither does the media. Your best information source is available in the form of SolidarityAlertsattheGKDwebsite.Thisisverified,officialnewsoncontractnegotiations.Checkoutthewebsite www.gkdsolidartyexpress.org for the latest news.

Jim Webb Visits Picket line!There was no trick at the picket line this Halloween,

only a treat. Candidate for U.S. Senate, Jim Webb and candidate for the House of Representatives Al Weed paid a visit to the picket line around 2:00pm on Halloween. Many union members plus the media were there to see what both candidates had to say about the strike and other issues that are hurting working Americans.

“There aren’t enough people in the U.S. Congress who arelookingaftertheworkingpeople,”saidWebb.Webbsaid he supports working people and would be loyal to them if elected this November.

Webb talked about how some in Washington judges the economy by how well the stock market does. Webb said he judges the economy by seeing how many people were workingatgoodjobsthatprovidebenefits.Webbeventu-ally went on and defeated incumbent George Allen for U.S. Senate.“WeneedsomeonetofightfortheworkingmanandI

hope he will live up to his promise to support the state’s middleclassifelectedtotheU.S.Senate,”saidstrikerBrady Gibson.

Al Weed, who eventually lost to Virgil Goode for the House of Representatives, was also on hand this Hallow-een day. This was Weed’s third visit to the picket line since the strike started.

“Everybody should want to stand with them. These union memberswerefightingfortherightsofallworkingpeoplewhentheywentoutonstrike,”saidWeed.

“We’re going to support the people who support us, and you see who’s that’s been. Neither Allen or Goode have stoppedbysincethestrikestarted.”saidUnionCommuni-

cations Coordinator Dana Dixon. Scot McKenzie who has worked at the Danville plant

for nine years said, “Anybody (Allen) willing to call an American worker a moron doesn’t deserve to hold a public office.”“IfWeedandWebbsupporttheunions,thenIsup-portthem.”

Jim Webb talks to President Barber about the strike on picket line.

6

Trade Agreements hurt More Than u.s. Jobs!

formed to plan and organize the rally. The theme for the rally is “The Salvation of American Jobs on this Thanksgiv-ing.”“IntheBible,itspeaksofJesustakingtwofishandfive

loaves of bread and feeding 5000. To see our brothers andsistersoutonthestreetfightingfortheirrightswithoutan income coming in and for some to say that the church shouldnotgetinvolvediswhereIdisagree,”commentedCampbell. He said that there were those that thought that the community and churches should stay out of this matter between Goodyear and the Steelworkers.

Campbell contacted the Ministers Alliance well before the idea for the rally and gained their support in supporting the striking workers. Some of the things that the Ministers Alliance have done in support of the strikers are; walking the picket line, purchasing an ad in the paper in support ofthestrikers,contributingfirewoodatthepicketlineanddiscussing the workers issues on radio talk show. “Wewantthepublictounderstandthatourfightisto

maintain jobs in North America. We can no longer sit back on our heels and watch our jobs leave. We must be more proactive, and awareness to the public is the beginning. I appreciate what Elder Campbell, his church and other churches are doing for our workers and workers all over the United States. I also appreciate what some businesses

WhatisdefinedasaSweatshopgood?Asweatshopgoodisdefinedasanygoodmanufacturedinaconditionthat violates core labor standards. This includes: the right to work free from forced or child labor and the right to have acceptable conditions of work in terms of wages, safety and health standards and hours of work.

For way too long, trade agreements have incorporated corporate protections, while ignoring the lives of human beings within the global economy. As a result, worker oppression and abuse is rampant around the world.

In Jordan, recent reports exposed slave labor conditions among guest workers making products for export to the United States market. If workers spoke out against their lack of pay or �8-hour days, they were beaten.

Manufacturing workers in China are routinely paid sub-poverty wages, locked inside plants and forced to work in filthy,unsafeconditions.

In Central America, companies exporting to the United States target young, unmarried girls for hard labor. Forced abortions are common. When these girls reach a certain age,theyareoftenfiredinfavorofyoungerworkers.

In the majority of these situations, workers have no recourse. They are bystanders in the so-called global

economy, used and abused by corporations in their quest to make as much money as they can!

In the United States, workers are forced to compete with products made under these conditions which result in, we can make it cheaper over there thus putting pressure on wagesandbenefitshere.Lostjobsanddestroyedcommu-nities is what are left.

A bill that was introduced by Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Representative Sherrod Brown of Ohio has been introduced and backed by the Steelworkers. This bill, which is called the Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act (S.3485 & H.R. 5635), will ban sweatshop goods from entering our markets. The bill also prevents our government from purchasing sweatshop goods with our taxpayer dollars. Writing your representatives in support of this bill is essential in this legislation becoming law!

If this bill is passed, consumers will get peace of mind knowing that they are not supporting sweatshop condi-tions.Businessesbenefitfromnothavingtogoupagainstimmoral competitors. Most of all, workers around the world willbenefitfromincreasedpressuretoimproveworkingstandards-something our current trade relationships fail to do!

and organizations have done and continue to do for our members.Wewillnotforget,”statedLocal831PresidentDanny Barber.

The rally will consist of special guests speakers which include; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, Fred Redmond, International Vice President of Human Af-fairs, Ron Hoover USW Executive Vice President of R/PIC, Jim Leaman, President Virginia AFL-CIO, James Andrews, President, President North Carolina AFL-CIO and Kevin Johnson, USW Goodyear/Kelly/Dunlop Coordinator.

Vouchers will be given to all union members the day of the rally with one little extra attached. That extra will be a turkey for every union member, compliments of Local 83�. The whole community is invited to come out and show their support for workers across the country.

The Local invites all that will come, to join them for a celebrationofthankfulnessandinsupportingtheirfightinpreserving American jobs.

Continued From Page 1

Rally To Be held To support American Jobs

Together We stand, divided We Fall!

solIdARITY

7

Chris r. eastwood, AAmSInvestment Representative�295 South Boston RoadDanville, VA 24540(434) 79�-2595

Hershel m. Stone, CFP®

Investment Representative2276 Franklin TurnpikeDanville, VA 24540(434) 836-47�7

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mAKINg SeNSe oF INveSTINg

Benefits Solution Center1-800-334-9395

URW Community Federal Credit Union539 Arnett Blvd. Danville, VA 24540

Phone: (434) 793-�278 • Fax (434) 799-0949

Taking Care of Our Own!

that’s just what urW community federal credit union

is going to do!

If United Steelworkers Local 831 deems it necessary to go on strike URW will work with our members to help you through this time.

people helping people Since 1970

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The More You Play, The More You Need Ray!

Visit our store at450 Mt. Cross Road

Danville, VA434-792-1022

The Staff and Unionized workers at the

Goodyear/Gemini Store would like to express their support for the striking Local 831

Goodyear workers and their families.

8

Sunday monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

deceMBeR 2006 cAlendAR

PresortedStandard

U.S. PostagePaid

Danville, VAPermit No. �4�

U.S.W. Local 831285 Shady Grove RoadProvidence, NC 273�5

Return Service Requested

We Send Our Sincere

Condolences ToCourtney Dixon, Samuel Dixon,

Cynthia Jefferies, Calvin McLaughlin, Jamie Moser,

Dexter Saunders, Shepard Shelton, Ronald WhittleThis edition is dedicated to

the memory of Danny Crumpton,

Dept. 1110 CC# 2583

ReTIReesCongratulations to the following retirees.

We wish them much success in their future endeavor’s and hope they can

fully enjoy their union negotiated retirementbenefits.

Steve Carney dept. 4040 cc# 3��7

Larry Ingedept. 254� cc# 524

Steve mossdept. 23�2 cc# 3��7

UNIONYES ✓

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SoAr exec. boardmtg �:00 PM

SoAr meeting��:00 AM

Union meeting7:30 AM7:30 PM

exec. board mtg.

7:30 AM

merryChristmas