NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 1
MICHAEL H. BOLTON, DIRECTOR
DISTRICT 2 CONTACT IINFORMATION
NFORMATION
USW District 2 Office
It’s November and that
means that Thanksgiving is
right around the corner. With
that in mind, on behalf of
our District 2 Servicing and
Support Staff, I would like to
wish you and your families a
very happy and safe holiday.
All of us have a lot to be thankful for and we
should try to take a few minutes to consider our
many blessings we enjoy.
1244A Midway Road
Menasha, WI 54952
(920) 722-7630
Northern WI & MI Sub-District Office
1244A Midway Road
Menasha, WI 54952
(920) 722-7630
Southern WI Sub-District Office
1126 South 70th Street
Suite N509A
West Allis, WI 53214
(414) 475-4560
Northern MI Sub-District Office
503 North Euclid Avenue
Suite #10 - Euclid Plaza
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 667-0660
Southern MI Sub-District Office
20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300
Taylor, MI 48180
(734) 285-0367
USW District 2
Council Steering Committee
The District 2 Council By-Laws established a
District 2 Council Steering Committee comprised of
a rank and file structure. It was set up to assist in
the following:

Development of agenda for Council Conference.
●
Planning of the District Council Conference Educational
Conferences.
District 2 strategic planning.
●
●
Determining and assessing educational needs within the
District.

Generating and leading activism and other purposes
consistent with the mission and directives of District 2
and the USW.
The elected members of the Steering Committee
are listed below by manufacturing sector. If you
need to contact a Steering Committee Member,
please do so by using the email provided below.
Name
Name
LU#
LU#
Sector
Sector
Email
Email Address
Address
Hawley Warren
1299
Steel and
Related
[email protected]
[email protected]
Dennis DeMeyer Jr.
2-15
Paper
Kevin Bishop
1533
Amalgamated
[email protected]
Jesse Edwards
2-232
Automotive
Related
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kent Holsing
12075
Chemical &
Energy Related
Mary Jane Holland
9184
Health Care
[email protected]
John Mendyk
12934
Public
[email protected]
Dave Page
1327
At Large
[email protected]
At Large
Jim Whitt
2-145 Allied Industrial
A Message from Michael Bolton
[email protected]
is published by the
United Steelworkers District 2
AFL-CIO·CLC
MICHAEL H. BOLTON, Director
1244A Midway Rd., Menasha, WI 54952
(920) 722-7630
Contributors to this issue include:
Lori Gutekunst, Jay McMurran, Tammy Duncan,
Sue Browne, USW Media Department,
Josh Israel, reporter for ThinkProgress
Articles and photos are welcome
and should be sent to:
Art Kroll, Editor, District 2 News
20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300, Taylor, MI 48180
[email protected] • 734-285-0367
NOVEMBER 28, 2016, is the deadline for
submissions for the next issue.
Well, it’s all over. The people have spoken and
Donald Trump will become the 45th President of
the United States. I wish I could tell you what I
think that means for our country. However, I don’t
have a clue what this guy is going to do. Is
building a wall between Mexico and our southern
border really one of his top priorities? How about
rounding up all the illegals and sending them back
where they came from? Also, what about repealing
the Affordable Care Act; and, again, if he does,
what will he replace it with?
It should be noted that Republicans maintained
their majorities in both the U.S. House and Senate,
which means they now control all branches of
government. It also means that the importance of
a successful District 2 Rapid Response Program
just went up substantially. Having said that, I am
pleased to welcome aboard Sue Browne, who will
be joining us as our District 2 Rapid Response
Coordinator. She is joining us at a critical time and
will need your support. When called upon, please
make Rapid Response a major priority in your
Local.
Now, that we know we have our work cut
out for us, I also would like to stress that this is
not the first time the labor movement has been
challenged. This country has been through a bloody
civil war, two world wars, several major economic
downturns, and numerous natural disasters. I
didn’t even mention all of the lousy things
Republicans have been doing over the past several
years to kill our movement. We weathered all of
them and we will weather this. It just means we
are going to have to work a little harder and rely on
one another a little more. But, we can do it
because we are Steelworkers and we know
from past fights – SOLIDARITY WORKS!
Now on to part two of a three part continuation
of Labor History. You may remember, in the
September 2016 issue I wrote about Labor History,
which dated back to pre-revolutionary war days of
the United States and I ended that article with the
stock market crash of 1929.
I showed how brave and dedicated our founders
were to the labor movement when there were no
laws to define Union rights. There was nothing to
protect activists from unjust firing. And there was a
very real fear of criminal prosecution for Union
activities. In other words, Union members of the
past put everything on the line in the struggle for
dignity, decent pay, and a voice in establishing
working conditions.
This month, I’ll pick up at the election of
Franklin Roosevelt and end it in 1949. This period
of history was a time of tremendous growth for
American Unions. In fact, there were so many
historic events taking place, it would be impossible
to mention them in such a limited space. So, for
our purposes, I will concentrate on the United
Steelworkers and the Union that became
Steelworkers through mergers and affiliations.
I hope you find this entertaining and educational.
At the time of
the Stock Market
Crash of 1929,
union membership
in the U.S. stood
at 20% of the
private
sector
workforce (public sector workers were not given the
right to unionize until 1962). That number dropped
to 10% almost overnight as the stock market
plunged nearly 85% resulting in nearly half of all
U.S. banks failing. Over 25% of American workers
were jobless with no social safety net programs in
place to help them through the financial hardship.
With misery as their backdrop, idled members got
active in the 1932 election, putting their support
behind former New York Governor, Franklin D.
Roosevelt. And so began the work of getting
America back on the job.
March 4, 1933, was perhaps one of the darkest
hours of the Great Depression. However, as rain fell
and cold hung over the Nation’s Capital, the winds
of change were blowing as Roosevelt took the oath
— Continued on Page 2 —
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 2
A Message from Director Bolton — continued
Did you know?
2016 Voter Demographic
Results
Donald
Trump
Hillary
Clinton
College Graduates
43 %
52 %
No college degree
52 %
44 %
Male
53 %
41 %
Female
42 %
54 %
Age 18 – 29
37 %
55 %
Age 30 – 44
50 %
42 %
Age 45-64
53 %
44 %
65 +
52 %
45 %
White
58 %
37 %
Black
8%
88 %
Hispanic
29 %
65 %
Asian
29 %
65 %
Registered Democrat
9%
89 %
Registered Republican
90 %
7%
Registered Independent
48 %
42 %
The Union Plus Credit Card program.
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To apply by phone, call: 1-800-522-4000
United Steelworkers District 2
AFL-CIO·CLC
MICHAEL H. BOLTON, Director, 1244A Midway Road, Menasha, WI 54952
(920) 722-7630
HAVE YOU BEEN TO DISTRICT 2’S
PAGE ON FACEBOOK?
www.facebook.com/USWDistrict2
of office, becoming the 32nd President of the United States. His inaugural speech set
a tone that the American people were ready to embrace. With optimism in his
voice, Roosevelt told the crowd gathered on the steps outside the East Wing,
“We have nothing to fear, but fear itself”. Hours later, he summoned the
Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to swear in his cabinet and they immediately
got to work on the most ambitious “First 100 Days” agenda in American history.
The most immediate need was the
failed banking system. In two days,
the administration had written a bill to
begin reopening banks and rushed it
through Congress. Just seven days
after the inauguration, the banking
system was operating again. As
Roosevelt’s aide, Raymond Moley,
said, “Capitalism was saved in eight
days.”
Roosevelt, with help from organized labor, recognized the most certain way to end
the Depression was a two-part strategy. The first was to get workers back on the job.
The second was to put more money in their pockets to spend. The rational behind
that line of thinking was to get Americans back to work and earning wages again.
With money in their pockets, Americans would start making purchases of goods and
services, thus driving up demand. Increased demand meant more jobs for idled
workers and increased profits for employers. Those profits could then be reinvested in
the workplace to keep the gears of manufacturing turning and growing.
As he began putting Americans back to
work in new public works programs, the
President also came to realize that in order to
get the economy really humming again,
workers needed to be earning living wages.
He met with leaders from organized labor
who informed Roosevelt that the best way to
reach higher wages was through unionization
and collective bargaining. However, they
reminded him, workers still did not have the right to engage in union activity without
fear of reprisal or worse. The President called congressional leadership together and
successfully pushed them to pass the National Labor Relations Act, which for the first
time, gave workers the right to join a Union and negotiate with employers without
fear of retaliation. It also set the rights and responsibilities of management and Union
regarding all aspects of the representation process. For good measure, Roosevelt
even went out on the trail and encouraged workers to join a Union.
But just because the President was behind
Unionization didn’t guarantee that organizing
would get easier. In the past, workers would
strike for union recognition. However, the boss
would hire scabs to perform the jobs of strikers
and at the same time hired “security
personnel” (goons) to intimidate picketers and
provoke them to violence. In the end, the goons
would initiate a confrontation that led to Union
members being beaten or killed, which usually led to a change in public sympathy and
a victory for the employer.
In 1936, Rubber Workers (now proud Steelworkers) at Goodyear Tire in Akron,
Ohio, came up with a new strategy.
— Continued on Page 4 —
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 3
JANUARY
15–18
2016 District 2 Calendar of Events
22
WOS Quarterly Meeting
Milwaukee Area Labor Council Building, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI
26
Olympia Resort & Conf. Center, 1350 Royal Mile Rd. • Oconomowoc, WI
17
20–24
WOS Quarterly Meeting
FEBRUARY
LM Review Session
LM Review Session
Kronenwetter Village Hall, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive • Kronenwetter, WI
10
LM Review Session
Lucky Dog’z Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road • Neenah, WI
11
WOS Quarterly Meeting
Dog Scouts of America - MI Camp, 5040 E. Nestel Road • St. Helen, MI
Kent Ionia Labor Hall, 918 Benjamin Ave NE • Grand Rapids, MI
JULY
12–13
Sheraton Station Square - Pittsburgh, PA
WOS Quarterly Meeting
29
WOS Quarterly Meeting
22
WOS Quarterly Meeting - 2nd Annual Princess Mud Run
LM Review Session
LM Review Session
LM Review Session
Teamsters Local 7 Hall, 3330 Miller Road • Kalamazoo, MI
4
7
LM Review Session
USW Dist. 2 Southern MI, 20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300 • Taylor, MI
7–10
21
22
23
24
USW International Women’s Conference
Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh, 600 Commonwealth Place • Pittsburgh, PA
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (900 – noon)
Ronn Hall (USW Local 4950 Hall), 1206 Baldwin Avenue • Negaunee, MI
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon)
Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1104 S. Oak Avenue • Marshfield, WI
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon)
Lucky Dog’z Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road • Neenah, WI
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon)
Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI
APRIL
1
WOS Quarterly Meeting
USW Dist. 2 Southern MI Office, 20600 Eureka Rd., Suite 300 • Taylor, MI
4–7
8
12–16
WOS Quarterly Meeting
8
WOS Quarterly Meeting
USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI
8
WOS Lock-In
USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI
Presidents Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
Next Generation Meeting (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road - Midland, MI
Presidents Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
Next Generation Meeting (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
USW Local 1299 Hall, 11424 W. Jefferson Ave. - River Rouge, MI
Presidents Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
Next Generation Meeting (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
USW Local 2-1010 Hall, 718 Shoppers Lane - Kalamazoo, MI
USW Health, Safety and Environment Conference
Westin Convention Center - Pittsburgh, PA
Presidents Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
Next Generation Meeting (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
23
Presidents Meeting (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
Next Generation Meeting (1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.)
Lucky Dogz Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road - Neenah, WI
Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road - Milwaukee, WI
25–30
WOS Leadership Development Course - Levels 1 & 2
The Waters of Minocqua, 8116 Hwy 51 South • Minocqua, WI
27
WOS Quarterly Meeting
7
WOS Quarterly Meeting
19
WOS Quarterly Meeting
21
WOS Quarterly Meeting
USW Paper Sector Bargaining Conference
Kent Ionia Labor Hall, 918 Benjamin Ave NE • Grand Rapids, MI
Mosquito Hill Nature Center, N3880 Rogers Road • New London, WI
22
Holiday Inn Express, 1110 Century Way • Houghton, MI
OCTOBER
Westin Convention Center and Hotel, 1000 Penn Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA
6
Kronenwetter Village Hall, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive • Kronenwetter, WI
SEPTEMBER
6
American Legion Hall, 10 Mason Street • Manistee, MI
3
Milwaukee Area Labor Council Bldg, 633 S. Hawley Rd • Milwaukee, WI
AUGUST
USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI
2
2016 National Oil Bargaining Conference
22
LM Review Session
MARCH
Wyndham • Pittsburgh, PA
30
Milwaukee Labor Council Building, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI
1
USPA – 50 Years of Telling the USW Story
WOS Quarterly Meeting
WOS Quarterly Meeting
USW Local 2-21 Hall, 1201 Sheridan Road • Escanaba, MI
9
WOS Quarterly Meeting
24
USW Local 2-148 Hall, 1201 Gillingham Road • Neenah, WI
8
Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SWI)
USW Dist. 2 Southern MI Office, 20600 Eureka Rd., Suite 300 • Taylor, MI
Kronenwetter Village Hall, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive • Kronenwetter, WI
3
16–17
WOS Quarterly Meeting
Ronn Hall (USW Local 4950 Hall), 1206 Baldwin Avenue • Negaunee, MI
29
JUNE
Martin Luther King Jr. Civil & Human Rights Conference
Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW • Washington, D.C.
Dog Scouts of America - MI Camp, 5040 E. Nestel Road • St. Helen, MI
USW Local 2-148 Hall, 1201 Gillingham Road • Neenah, WI
Kent Ionia Labor Hall, 918 Benjamin Ave NE • Grand Rapids, MI
11
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon)
12
Teamsters Local 7 Hall, 3330 Miller Road • Kalamazoo, MI
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon)
USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI
1–2
Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NWI)
12
WOS Quarterly Meeting
3–4
Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SWI)
13
Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon)
8
29–30
Election Day—United States
Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NMI)
NOVEMBER
Riverwalk Hotel, 123 E. Wisconsin Avenue • Neenah, WI
Central Community Center (old elementary school), 413 Maple St. • Munising, MI
USW Local 1299 Hall,11424 W. Jefferson Avenue • River Rouge, MI
25–27
Olympia Resort & Conf. Center, 1350 Royal Mile Rd. • Oconomowoc, WI
USW Rapid Response & Legislative Conference
Great Hall Banquet & Convention Center, 5121 Bay City Rd • Midland, MI
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street • Washington DC
MAY
4–8
DECEMBER
1
USW District 2 Council Conference
Hyatt Regency, 333 West Kilbourn Avenue • Milwaukee, WI
WOS Lobby Day (Wisconsin)
Concourse Hotel, 1 W. Dayton Street • Madison, WI
1–2
Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SMI)
Village Conference Center, 1645 Commerce Park Drive • Chelsea, MI
JUNE
7–8 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NMI)
Great Hall Banquet & Convention Center, 5121 Bay City Rd • Midland, MI
9–10 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SMI)
Village Conference Center, 1645 Commerce Park Drive • Chelsea, MI
14–15 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NWI)
5–9
USW Civil Rights Conference
Sheraton Birmingham Hotel - Birmingham, AL
6
WOS Lobby Day (Michigan)
MI State AFL-CIO Office, 419 Washington Sq. S., Suite 200 • Lansing, MI
9
WOS Quarterly Meeting
USW Dist. 2 Southern MI Office, 20600 Eureka Rd., Suite 300 • Taylor, MI
Riverwalk Hotel, 123 E. Wisconsin Avenue • Neenah, WI
This schedule is designed to assist in planning this year’s events. However, there is a possibility dates and/or locations coul
couldd change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please watch your mail and email for notices as each event draws near. An upup-toto-date calendar can be found on our website and will be published monthly in our electronic newsletter.
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 4
This Month in History • Part 2 of 3
— continued
They simply sat down on the job (and you thought it was the Flint strikers that came up with that idea).
Refusing to work and refusing to leave the workplace represented a new problem for employers.
With workers occupying plants, sometimes even chained to machinery, employers risked damaging the
facility if they sent in replacement workers or goons to remove strikers. Workers in the Akron
“Sit Down Strike” were further aided by law enforcement officers who refused the mayor’s orders to move on
the plant. The standoff ended with Goodyear recognizing the United Rubber Workers and negotiating a
first basic bargaining agreement.
In contrast, the Steelworkers Organizing Committee (SWOC), which had successfully organized workers
at the giant U.S. Steel, was engaged in a campaign to form Unions at smaller steel manufacturers called
“Little Steel”. On Memorial Day, 1937, workers at Republic Steel in Chicago had struck the company for
recognition and were gathering at Sam’s Place (the SWOC headquarters at the time) preparing for a parade
to the company’s gates - a short walk across the prairie. As they processed, Chicago Police formed a line to
block their path. Unionists at the front of the line began to argue that they had a right to continue the
march. The bantering caused some cops to panic and fire on the crowd. As marchers fled the scene, police
bullets and clubs killed 10 activists, permanently disabled 9 and caused serious head injuries to another 28.
The strike was broken and the organizing drive halted.
It should be noted that SWOC was formed by the United Mineworkers and its President, John L. Lewis. The Mineworkers fronted SWOC with
a $50,000 start-up loan and sent its Vice President, Phillip Murray, to serve as SWOC President.
Also, in 1937, the International Association of Oil Field, Gas Well, and Refinery Workers of America, which was established in 1918, changed its
name to the Oil Workers International Union and became the first affiliate of the newly formed Committee for Industrial Organizations. It would
later become the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers (one of the most progressive Unions in the country) and still later merged with the Paper,
Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers (PACE). Ultimately, PACE merged with the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) to form the
United Steelworkers (USW), the largest industrial Union in North America.
In 1938, labor, again, turned its attention to Washington, scoring several important legislative victories. The biggest was the passage of the
Fair Labor Standards Act, which established the 40-hour workweek, created a national minimum wage and brought about the prohibition of child
labor. That same year, John L. Lewis was named President of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, a labor federation formed to serve the
needs of industrial Unions.
On May 22, 1942, delegates to the Steel Workers Organizing Committee Convention met in Cleveland to formally create the USWA and
to approve the formation of 39 Districts to represent Steelworkers at a regional level. Delegates also elected Phil Murray to serve as the
Union’s first International President.
Delegates had no sooner arrived back home when the newly formed Union issued a national press release. In that release, the USWA Executive
Board announced it had approved a merger between the Steelworkers and the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers.
The AA, which is what it was known as back then, was established in 1876. Its first President, William Silvas, was an innovative labor activist
who pioneered many Union programs and policies, including some of the financial reporting practices still in use today. Two years later,
on June 30, 1944, the Aluminum Workers of America became the second Union to become Steelworkers.
In 1941, the United States entered World War II. By 1943, the war effort created a steep labor shortage
as young men were pressed into military service overseas. The shortage prompted the U.S. government to
begin recruiting women to fill vacated jobs. That effort resulted in over 19,370,000 women, or 37% of
American women of working age, employed in war industries. Thankfully, the war ended in 1945. But, as
Johnny came marching home again in 1946, returning veterans were demanding better pay and benefits.
Those demands led to the largest wave of labor strikes in U.S. history. After five years of fighting Nazis,
Americans were now fighting for their fair share of the wealth they were creating.
Also in 1946, Republicans won control of the U.S. House and Senate and used their newfound power to weaken growing labor. The Taft-Hartley
Act was passed by Congress in early 1947. The bill was sent to President Harry S. Truman, who took office on April 12, 1945, upon
the death of Franklin Roosevelt. Truman vetoed the legislation calling it the “Slave Labor Act.” However, the GOP convinced several
“Blue Dog Democrats” (conservatives who ran as Democrats in order to get elected in the pro-Democrat south) to vote their way and the
veto was overridden on June 23 of that year. The law created Right to Work, outlawed secondary boycotts, prohibited Unions from contributing
to political campaigns, and required Union leaders to affirm they were not supporters of the Communist Party.
That pledge came about as a result of the Senator Joe McCarthy (R-WI) hearings and the subsequent “Red Scare” that swept the nation.
The leadership of the CIO turned on its own and in 1949 drummed out the first two of eleven Unions to lose their charters due to alleged
communist influence.
While the impact of Taft-Hartley was not immediate, it slowly began to do what Republicans meant it to do, slow the growth of Unions
in America. The U.S. Labor Movement reached its peak membership in 1957 at a rate of 33% of the private sector workforce. Because
of Taft-Hartley, other Republican-passed anti-Union legislation, and failed U.S. trade policy, Union membership has shrunk every year since then.
Next month, I’ll wrap up this journey with a look at the most memorable moments in modern labor history. I hope you’ll take a look at it and
that you have found these first two parts to be informative.
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 5
Open Letter from the United Steelworkers’ Leadership
On Tuesday, voters across the country took advantage of the hard-fought right to cast their ballots. The election is
over and Donald Trump will be our next President.
The USW endorsed Hillary Clinton. We believe she exhibited the qualities and experience most needed for our next
president. She outlined a detailed set of policy initiatives on jobs, trade, infrastructure, education, health care, race
relations and immigration that would not only move our nation forward, but expand opportunity for all.
We fully recognize that the members of our union were divided this election season. While our nation’s economy
has begun to grow after the devastating economic collapse during the Bush years, it has failed to grow quickly
enough. And, as the members of this union know better than anyone, the growth has failed to stimulate the
manufacturing sector because of our nation’s failed trade policies which grows out of both our political parties.
Donald Trump used our own words to speak to these problems, and to the real suffering, fears and anxieties that so
many feel.
Today I am sending a congratulatory letter to President-Elect Trump indicating that we will work with him to
advance the interests of our nation and our members. On trade law overhaul, infrastructure rebuilding, and job
creation we expect to work with his transition team and his administration to reclaim American jobs, revitalize
manufacturing and rebuild our communities and nation.
The letter also indicates that “we will disagree where we must”. We expect that we will not be able to support
many of his campaign promises. On issues such as worker rights, collective bargaining, health care, harsh
immigration tactics, race relations, respect and equity for women, criminal justice reform, safe workplaces and a
healthy environment as well as the Supreme Court, we will fight. We need to build bridges both literally and with each
other, not walls. We need to unite our nation and our union, not create deeper divides. America and the USW are
better than that.
In the coming days, we intend to work to achieve our common goals and promote the well-being and livelihoods
of our members and all Americans. Those who work hard and play by the rules are due all of the greatness that this
nation can offer.
Sincerely,
USW Local
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 6
USW Congratulates Trump; Calls for President-Elect to Address Crisis in Jobs and Trade
(Pittsburgh) - United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard sent the attached letter on November 14 to Donald J. Trump
following his election last week as the next president of the United States. Gerard writes:
USW Local
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 7
About the Jefferson Awards - Why USW Cares
The Jefferson Awards Foundation
is the country’s longest standing
and most prestigious organization
dedicated to activating and
celebrating public service. Through
their programs, JAF trains and
empowers individuals to serve and
lead in their communities,
amplifying their impact through our
vast network of media partners,
mentors and volunteers.
The Jefferson Awards Foundation was created in 1972 by the American Institute for Public Service. The Jefferson Awards
are given at both national and local levels. Local winners are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation
of recognition.
For many Steelworkers, lending a helping hand is part of being a member of our union. Outside of work, our members
are known for their quiet generosity in their neighborhoods. We aim to celebrate locals and members who donate their
time, money or goodwill to assist others. It may be a food collection or a children’s party. Maybe it’s assisting the elderly
and shut-ins or feeding those in need. Whatever it is, we want to tell your story. This isn’t about bragging for recognition,
but to show how we are a union that works in our communities.
United Steelworkers are dedicated to creating unity and strength for workers. Our members are leaders in their
communities and strive to help others in need. These unsung heroes deserve recognition for their commitment to creating
a better tomorrow through outstanding service. Nominate a USW member for a Jefferson Award for Public Service.
Guidelines for USW Nominees




Nominee must be a United Steelworker member or employee
Public service must be significant and documentable
No financial incentive or other benefits may be directly derived by the member in return for their service
You may self-nominate
● Submit application by February 1, 2017, to the USW District 2 Office: 1244A Midway Road, Menasha, WI 54952
● Visit this site to view and fill out a nomination form: http://www.usw.org/members/forms/champion-nomination-form
For more “Questions and Answers” about the Program, go to page 8
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 8
Questions and Answers about the Jefferson Award Program
 Can I nominate myself? Yes, self-nomination is accepted and encouraged! There is a “self-nomination” box that
can be selected when filling out the online nomination form.
 When is the deadline to submit an entry? The deadline for this year's entries is February 1, 2017.
●
Can I nominate non-union members? Our program was created to recognize our members only; however,
the Jefferson Awards has many branches and provides numerous ways to nominate people for their service. USW has
a page here that gives information about each of these programs. You can also visit the Jefferson Awards Foundation
website.
 What if I don’t know all of the required information about the person I am nominating? If you don’t know
some of the information on the form, it’s okay. You can call our office and Paulette will help you (412-562-2251).
 What happens if the nominee is selected as a winner? If the nominee is selected, they will be nationally
recognized for their service as a Jefferson Award winner. We will provide accommodations for them to attend the
National Gala in Washington D.C. where they’ll meet other people across the country who have dedicated themselves
to service.
 Can I nominate a group of volunteers for a Jefferson Award? Yes! You can nominate an organization to
receive the award but you will have to find out who the head of that organization is so that we can contact them. You
would fill their contact information in on the nomination form.
●
How will winning a Jefferson Award help my service mission? Being recognized by the Jefferson Awards
Foundation allows you to impact more lives by spreading your service message nationally. Regional winners will receive
a $500 donation toward their cause and the national winner receives $1,000.
The Deadline to Submit a Nominee is February 1, 2017
Send them to the USW District 2 Office: 1244A Midway Road, Menasha, WI 54952
An unlimited number of people may be nominated from each district. One (1) person from each of the 13 districts
will be chosen for a regional award. These winners will be chosen by the selection board. Each regional winner is awarded
with a cash prize of $500 to go towards their charitable cause. The national winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000 for
their cause and attend the Jefferson Awards National Ceremonies in Washington D.C. and will be chosen out of the
13 regional winners by the selection board.” Suggestion: “A national winner will be chosen from the 13 regional winners
by the Board of Selectors. The national winner will receive a cash prize of $1,000 for their cause and he or she will have
the opportunity to attend the Jefferson Awards National Ceremonies in Washington D.C. Nominees are evaluated based on
soon to be published Scoring Guidelines.”
USW Local 2-209 Member Wins “Werner J Schaefer Award” for Outstanding Community Service
On Wednesday, November 2, Amy
Cerar, the Recording Secretary for
Local 2-209 and head of their
Community Service Committee, won
the Werner J. Schaefer Award for
Outstanding Community Service.
Mark Eilers, USW Local 2-209
President, stated, “Amy has been very
instrumental in most, if not every,
fundraiser, sock drive, pop tab collection, and United Way
activity that USW 2-209 has been involved with for as
many years as I can remember.” He continued, “If I need
someone to organize, run, give up their free time to help
me with a charitable, or local event, Amy is that person. I
cannot thank her enough for all of the good she does for
my local. Amy is a special person, giving, and caring.
Local 2-209 is lucky to have her.”
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 9
USW Local 1299 President, Jim Allen, Introduces Hillary Clinton in Detroit, MI
USW Local 1299 President, Jim Allen, introduced Hillary Clinton
at Wayne State University on Saturday, October 8, where he
hammered Donald Trump on reports the real estate developer
U.S. steel for Chinese products on some recent construction
pditched
M (1886-195
projects.
Once Hillary Clinton took the stage she began stressing the need
for strong voter registration and turnout despite her lead in
Michigan. She also “slammed” her opponent for saying he’s going to
bring jobs back to this country while he uses steel and aluminum
from China. “When China illegally floods our markets with cheap
steel, and people like Donald Trump buy it, then it kills good jobs,”
she said. “It kills jobs here. It kills jobs in Michigan and lots of other
places.”
Jim read his introduction for the former U.S. Secretary of State to
an estimated crowd of nearly 5,000 cheering rally attendees.
Here’s Jim’s great introduction:
We are just a few short weeks away from perhaps the most important
election of our lifetime. The choice is very clear in deciding who will be the
next president of the United States.
On one hand, we have a candidate, Hillary Clinton, who stands with
working Americans and their families on all the issues.
She has a plan to revitalize manufacturing through an infrastructure
program that will grow our economy by creating and maintaining good jobs, raising wages and rebuilding struggling communities.
On the other hand, we have a candidate, Donald Trump, that talks about making America great by bringing back jobs even though he outsources
everything from his clothing lines to his hotel furnishings to the steel and aluminum he uses to construct his buildings.
That’s right – you heard me –instead of buying American steel and aluminum and keeping Americans working and their communities thriving, he bought
Chinese. Not only did he use foreign materials, but he also tried to conceal that fact by making the purchases through a series of shell and holding companies.
When it comes to worker issues, we have, on one hand, a candidate that will fight for collective bargaining rights and labor protections, as well as high
standards for domestic sourcing and ‘Buy American’ laws. A candidate that wants to increase the minimum wage. That’s Hillary.
Then, on the other hand, we have a candidate who has supported laws to weaken unions at every turn. In fact , he refuses to bargain with workers at his
own hotel in Las Vegas even after all the objections were either withdrawn or dismissed, and the union was certified as a bargaining agent.
And Donald Trump doesn’t want to increase the minimum wages; in fact, he’s against even having one.
Let’s look at another issue: taxes
The Hillary tax plan wants to have the very rich pay more as a way to pay for tax breaks and expanded benefits for middle-income families.
Trump’s tax plan would benefit millionaires and billionaires at the expense of the middle class where the top tenth of one percent would get more tax relief
than the bottom 60 percent of American taxpayers combined.
I could go on and on… but the choice is clear. We don’t want a president that is unqualified and hateful. We need a president with integrity who has vast
experience in both foreign and domestic policy, and a sense of duty and dedication to all Americans.
Trump represents everything that's wrong with our economy and the rigged system, from not paying his taxes to making his products overseas -- and now
we know he buys Chinese steel instead of American steel. That costs jobs and hurts communities and families.
We can trust Hillary to fight for us and for an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. She has a real plan to create jobs
It is an honor for me to introduce to you the next President of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
NOVEMBER, 2016 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 12, PAGE 10
Interesting: McConnell finally admits ending ‘war on coal’ might not bring back jobs — Josh Israel
He’s been falsely blaming Obama’s environmental policies for job losses for years.
In 2013, then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
(R-KY) took to the Senate floor to excoriate the
Obama administration’s environmental policy and its
impact of coal jobs in eastern Kentucky.
Noting a recent listening session in Pikeville,
Kentucky, McConnell sought “to put a human face on
the suffering that is being felt in Appalachia due in
large part to this administration’s war on coal.”
He displayed a photo depicting two of “over 5,000
Kentuckians who have lost their jobs in the war
on coal, two of the casualties from the president’s
war on coal.” The longtime EPA critic drew a direct
line between the agency’s emissions standards and
the loss of jobs for his constituents.
The claim — which was a major focus for McConnell throughout President Barack Obama’s second term and a frequent club for
his attacks on Democrats — was always unfounded. In September, the director of Harvard’s environmental economics program told
the New York Times that, the real “primary cause of the tremendous fall in coal employment is low natural gas prices, due to
increased supplies of natural gas from hydraulic fracturing.” But McConnell kept repeating it anyway.
President-elect Donald Trump vowed throughout the campaign that he would repeal climate restrictions and to “end the war
on coal and the war on miners.”
“If I win, we’re going to bring those miners back,” Trump said at a May rally in West Virginia. “All of it’s getting safe and as
it gets safe they’re taking it away from you in a different way. “These ridiculous rules and regulations that make it impossible
for you to compete, so we’re going to take that all off the table folks.”
Now that his endorsed presidential candidate is poised to deregulate energy, McConnell has already changed his tune.
In a Friday appearance at the University of Louisville, he tamped down any expectations that coal jobs would come back.
“We are going to be presenting to the new president a variety of options that could end this assault,” McConnell told attendees.
Then he added “Whether that immediately brings business back is hard to tell because it’s a private sector activity.”
McConnell also noted that he did not intend to spend any government dollars to help those who have lost coal jobs and may
not regain them. “A government spending program is not likely to solve the fundamental problem of growth,” McConnell argued.
“I support the effort to help these coal counties wherever we can but that isn’t going to replace whatever was there when
USW Local
we had a vibrant coal industry.”
USW District 2 Political Education and Get Out the Vote!
USW District 2 members handed out informational leaflets at plant gates and knocked
on doors to inform our members and the community about candidates that
support working class issues during the 2016 Political Season in Wisconsin and Michigan.