USW@Work—SOAR in ACTIONPublication OfficeP.O. Box 22010Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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A December 2006 national surveyby Peter Hart Research found:

� Even before the present economic crisis, half ofAmericansreport having just enough to get by. Ten percent are fallingbehind. The numbers are worse today and we can be surethey will be even worse tomorrow.

�More than two-thirds of those polled believe unions canmake a positive difference in the lives of workers oftoday. Fifty-three percent said they would join a unionif they could.

� Seventy-seven percent ofAmericans support strong lawsthat give workers the freedom to choose, without inter-ference from management, whether to have a union intheir workplace.But the system is badly broken. Employers routinely

harass, intimidate, threaten and fire workers who try toform unions. Employees are fired in one-quarter of private-sector union organizing campaigns. Seventy-eight percentof private employers require supervisors to deliver anti-union messages to the workers whose jobs and pay theycontrol. Even if workers are successful in forming a union,one-third of the time they are unable to get a first contract.Tragically, the National Labor Relations Act has been

turned on its head and used as a hammer to obstruct work-ers from forming unions. With the complicity of theNational Labor Relations Board (NLRB), board-run elec-tions have become a one-sided process where the employercontrols most of the information a worker can receive androutinely poisons the process through harassment, intimi-dation and coercion. The penalties for employer violationsare so insignificant that they are simply shrugged off as acost of doing business.

Unions and their allies, fighting to overcome the devas-tating effects of the decline in union density, are advocatingfor the enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act(EFCA). Passage of EFCAwould unshackle the millionsof American workers who want to form unions to get theirfair piece of the pie. EFCA has three important provisions:� It strengthens penalties for companies that illegallycoerce or intimidate employees in an effort to preventthem from forming a union.

� It brings in a neutral third party to establish a firstcontract when a company and a newly certified unioncannot agree on a contract after three months.

� It provides that when a majority of its employees sign unionauthorization cards, validated by the NLRB, the companymust recognize the union.The Employee Free ChoiceAct passed the House of

Representatives in 2008 but could not overcome the 60 votefilibuster rule in the Senate. President-elect Obama has indi-cated his support for EFCAbut the battle in Congress will bebrutal. The U.S. Chamber if Commerce, the National “RighttoWork” Committee, Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax lobbying groupAmericans for Tax Reform, and a frontgroup known as the Center for Union Facts have mounted aferocious attack on EFCA. They will be mobilizing their ownemployees and the public to contact their elected representa-tives to block its enactment. The pressure on the new Presi-dent and members of Congress will be intense.

Reprinted with permission from an article written by RobbyStern published in the “The Retiree Advocate” a publication ofthe Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans.

Volume 71/Number 1 Winter 2006 4/1

It’s TimeFor Congress to Unshackle UnionsEconomic justice and workers’ rights to join unions are on the line as Congress goes into sessionin 2009. The growing wealth gap in our country is directly tied to the attack on unions byemployers and government. Working women and men can best close the gap by uniting withtheir coworkers to bargain with their employers for better wages and benefits.

LARRY SPITZUNION PIONEER; SOAR BOARDMEMBER EMERITUSLarry Spitz, long-time SOAR activist

and one of the early organizers of thelabor movement has died. He was 96.Larry began his labor career inNew

England as an organizer for theUnitedTextileWorkers ofAmerica in 1933. In1936 hewas actively involved in creatingthe Committee of Industrial Organiza-tions (CIO) andwas appointed by JohnL. Lewis to lead the organizing drive for

the CIO in the State of Rhode Island.Upon his return from military service in 1946 United

Steelworkers of America President Philip Murrayappointed Larry to the position of Sub-district Directorin Providence, Rhode Island and he occupied that posi-tion for 19 years. In 1965 he became the USWADirectorof the Wage Policy Division and moved to Pittsburgh,Pa. In November of 1966, he left the Steelworkers andbecame Director of Community Progress, Inc. inNew Haven, Connecticut.

In 1968 Larry returned to the Steelworkers and workedas the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary-Treasurer Walter J. Burke and on special assignmentsfrom International President I.W. Abel. He representedthe Steelworkers at a number of International labor con-ferences in Europe and the Caribbean; guest lectured atthe University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica;and, was on the faculty for specialized programs of theRutgers University Extension Division.He is listed in “Who’s Who in the East” and was

awarded an honorary degree (Doctor of Laws) by BrownUniversity in 1976. In that year he also retired to SunCity, Ariz. and with help from his close friends, I.W.Abel andWalter Burke, organized 13 Union Clubchapters with over 7,000 members, giving voice tounion retirees and forming a strong support group forthe labor movement.In 2000, Larry was inducted into the Rhode Island

Heritage Hall of Fame. He was a founding memberof SOAR and was an instrumental leader from its incep-tion. Larry continued to be actively involved in SOARand was an unrelenting advocate, fighting for the rightsof working families and retirees right up to his death.

Page 2 USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2009

USW@Work (ISSN 0883-3141) is publishedfour times a year by the United SteelworkersAFL-CIO-CLC Five Gateway Center, Pittsburgh, PA15222. Subscriptions to non-members: $12 forone year; $20 for two years. Periodicals postagepaid at Pittsburgh, PA and additional mailingoffices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:USW@Work, USW Membership Dept., 3340Perimeter Hill Rd., Nashville, TN 37211.

Published as an edition to USW@Workfor the United SteelworkersFive Gateway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15222

Winner of ICLA’sjournalistic competitionawards for General Excellencein 1986, 1990 and 1993

Jim Centner, Director/EditorGeorge Edwards, Associate EditorColleen Moore, Copy Editor

Address editorial material to:Editor, USW@Work, SOAR in ActionUnited SteelworkersFive Gateway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15222-1209

Send address changes only to:

Steelworkers Oldtimer PublicationP.O. Box 22010Pittsburgh, PA 15222

When submitting address change, pleaseinclude address label from last issue.

SOAR Chapter 34-2 in District 7 heldits second blood drive of 2008 onDecember 22. They collected 27 unitsof blood for use in area hospitals. Anumber of members donated blood onbehalf of Hannah Bromley, the grand-daughter of a SOAR member who hasbeen diagnosed with leukemia andneeds blood frequently while undergo-ing treatment for her illness.Chapter President Jeff Rains said,

“This is just one small way of givingback to our community. Sponsoring ablood drive provides us an opportunityto provide a much needed resource toour area’s hospitals at a time when it issorely needed.”The chapter worked in conjunction

with the two active USW local unionsfrom the U.S. Steel facility in GraniteCity, Ill. The drive was held at theVenice Social Club in Pontoon Beach,Ill. where the chapter holds itsmonthly meetings.

SOAR Chapter SponsorsBlood Drive

Larry Spitz1912-2008

SOAR Chapter 34-2 PresidentJeff Rains with one of the shirts thedonors received for participating inthe event.

I N M E M O R I A M

By Denise Edwards

BRADDOCK, Pa.—Although U.S.Steel likes to take the credit, the truthis, generations of Steelworkers at thecorporation’s Edgar Thomson Worksbuilt and helped financially maintainBraddock Hospital, the only facility inthe community. When the largest healthcare company in the region, Universityof Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC),took over operations of Braddock, itannounced that they were axing theHouse of Hope, a highly successfulprogram that treated substance abuse,saving dozens of babies andmoms andre-uniting families. SOAR leadersMarie Malagreca andGeorge Edwardszipped up their winter coats, grabbedtheir umbrellas and picked up theirpicket signs.The House of Hope program is

unique because it not only providedmedical attention to addictedmoms,protecting their babies, but it broughttogether entire families. It worked. Thatdidn’t stop UPMC from protecting itsbottom line at the expense of mothersand children. Malagreca and Edwards got

on the phone to their SOAR friends.“Some issues are very popular,” says

Ms. Malagreca. “Everybody wantshealth care. But we have to stand up forthose who are disadvantaged. We are ourbrother’s keeper. That’s what unions areall about.”Amid a bone chilling drizzle, SOAR

leaders andmembers joined over 100 ofthe families saved by the House ofHope, community residents, clergy,elected officials and health care activiststo protest at Braddock Hospital. Mr.Edwards rejects the idea that retirees arenarrow-minded, only paying attention

to “senior issues.” “We are just likeeveryone else,” he said. “We care aboutour communities; about what is goingon in the world. What UPMC did waswrong, so we acted.” Letters to the edi-tor, phone calls, e-mails and a rally onits door step forced UPMC to backdown, and the House of Hope willremain open.“SOAR made some friends, the

union made some friends andwe coun-tered some stereotypes about seniorsbecause we did the right thing,” saidMr. Edwards.

By George J. Kourpias

President Obama and the new Congress mustseize this historic moment and fix our health caremess. They must act soon, before the specialinterests—who make big profits off the statusquo—get their way.Retirees can influence this year’s debate

by educating people about Medicare.Medicare is an American success story, helpingmillions live longer and better lives. Thisshows the strong, positive role government canplay in ensuring health care for all.We must make Medicare even better by giving early retirees

the option to get affordable coverage, and also by eliminatingthe “doughnut hole” in Medicare Part D which forces someretirees to pay full price for their medicines while continuingto pay their monthly premiums.

Lately, it seems Medicare is taking better care of drug andinsurance companies than retirees. We can change this byfinally allowing Medicare to negotiate volume discounts withdrug manufacturers. Savvy seniors know you should pay lesswhen you buy in bulk. We must endwasteful taxpayer subsi-dies to the insurance companies who run Medicare Advantageprograms at a cost nearly 20 percent higher than traditionalMedicare. We must stop a law, set to take effect in 2010, thatwould turn even more of Medicare over to private companies.

Because of you, we achieved great success in 2008.But all this guarantees us is an opportunity, nothingmore. We cannot rest on our laurels. We must dowhat we have done all of our lives—educate,mobilize, and fight one day longer—to make

reforming our nation’s health care system our generation’slasting legacy.George J. Kourpias is the president of the Alliance for RetiredAmericans, www.RetiredAmericans.org. He is the formerpresident of the Machinists Union.

USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2009 Page 3

2009: TheYearWe FixOurHealthCareMess

SOARLeadersKeepHopeAlive

Protesters brave the elements to save rehab program.

Constituents in Sudbury Nickel Belt have a new member ofParliament by the name of Claude Gravelle. Gravelle was along-time member of the Steelworkers and is an active mem-ber of SOAR Chapter 2. Gravelle is now also Nickel Belt’sNDP member of parliament after soundly winning the ridingin the recent federal election. He received 46.5 percent of thevote compared to the Liberal candidate’s 26.2 percent and theConservative candidates’ 21.7 percent.

From 1968 to 2003 Gravelle worked as amachinist at INCO (now Vale/Inco). Forseveral years he chaired the local’s politicalaction committee.Gravelle knows what issues are important

to ordinary Canadians and is prepared tospeak on their behalf.“I definitely know what my role is going

to be: speaking for the working Canadian,”he said. “I’m just an ordinary Canadian.I’m not a lawyer or an accountant. I carried alunchpail for 34 years... I will show up towork, speak for Nickel Belt, vote for NickelBelt, work for the people of Nickel Belt.”

NEWS FROM CANADA

Protect Pensions for CanadianWorkers and Retirees

In partnership with the CLC, SOAR isdemanding that the current conservativeFederal government to take strong andeffective action to protect the livelihoodsof Canadian workers and retirees. TheUnited Steelworkers along with SOARand its labour partners recommendthe following:� Phase in a doubling of payouts fromthe Canada andQuebec pension plans andimmediately increase OldAge Security(OAS) benefits for all retirees.� Protect pensions by creating a pensioninsurance fund and increase OldAge Secu-rity to protect the interests of retired people.� Encourage the creation of large, multi-employer, defined benefit pension plans toprovide more security.�Regulate financial products to ensurethat risks are reasonable and clear to all

investors, and to ensure that rating agen-cies are truly independent.�Regulate pension fund investments inrisky financial instruments and prosecuteany cases of fraud.�Regulate pension funds for solvency inorder to secure promised pension benefits.� Provide temporary solvency funding reliefto employers in serious financial trouble ona case-by-case basis only, with approvalrequiredby the workplace bargaining agent(the union), or a majority of pension benefi-ciaries (in a non-union workplace).�Applications must be approved by theworkplace bargaining agent (the union),or a majority of pension beneficiaries(in a non-union workplace).� Increase access and benefits to employ-ment insurance benefits and providebetter training programs for new jobs.

Claude Gravelle: Parliamentarianand SOAR Chapter 2 Member

SOAR Chapter 10Coffee Can Donations Yield$372 for the CommunityWhenever SOAR Chapter 10 holds a meeting, members are

encouraged to make a donation to the “coffee can” so that by yearend the chapter will have some funds to support the community.This year, the chapter presented Darrel Skidmore, CEO of

UnitedWay, with a cheque in the amount of $186. The remaining$186 was given to “Women of the Moose” who used the moneyto purchase Christmas gifts for residents of Rygiel Housein Hamilton.The chapter also collects toys and non-perishable food. These

were donated to St. Matthew’s House which runs a food bankand Christmas toy drive.

SOAR Chapter 10President LenaSutton presentsWendy Roy ofSt. Matthew’sHouse with toysand food items.

Page 4 USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2009

Not only has the current recession hit our manufacturing and forestindustries hard, it has also profoundly affected investments of all kinds —including pension funds. To help protect workers’ retirement savings,SOAR is calling for a national pension insurance fund.

National PensionInsurance FundA national pension insurance fund

would ensure that workers’ pensionsare protected when a company closeswithout enough money in its pensionfund to cover all the obligations, orwhen the investments made by thepension fund drop.In Canada, only Ontario has such a

fund but the cap of $1,000 per monthis much too low andwoefully inade-quate to meet the needs of retirees.National pension insurance fund pro-ponents recommend an increase to$2,750 per month and extension ofthe fund to be made available for allworkers across the country. (The U.S.has such a plan that covers more than$4,000 per month.) Financing thefund could be made through a smalltax on all financial transactions.

“I was going to vote NDPeven if Ihad to vote formyself.”With that VinceMaloney began his career as NewDemo-cratic Party candidate for the Kingstonarea in the 1963 provincial election.

Working three shifts at the Alcan plantmade campaigning throughout the sprawl-ing rural riding difficult. As the electionapproachedMaloney recalls that his cam-paign literature was still sitting in a backroom of a borrowed office. He and his wifeMargaret borrowed $200 for postage tosend out the pamphlets and signed apromissory note to repay the debt.

The outcome was 600 votes for Maloney.“That’s three votes for a dollar,” Maloneysays with a laugh. “That’s a prettygood bargain.”Maloney ran again in the next election

and receivedmore votes but not enough towin the riding.

To this day he remains a dedicated NDPsupporter and a committed SOAR activist.

By Lena SuttonPresident SOAR Chapter 10

Last November, all eyes of the world were focused on theUnited States and themaking of political history. It was aday that would change the political scene not only of theU.S. but of the world whenAmerican voters elected theirfirstAfrican-American president.I wish to thank the UnitedSteelworkers for giving me the opportu-

nity to be part of history by asking me to volunteer my time as amember of the Canadian team.I began my journey from my home in Hamilton, Ontario on

October 26, 2008, destination Erie, Pa. My assignment was to workwith the USW in contacting union members and retirees about theimportance of electing Barack Obama and to volunteer to help in thecampaign. After a three-hour wait and interview at U.S. Customs I wasclearedandon my way to Erie. I couldhardly wait for Monday morningto meet my union brother andSteelworker co-coordinator for Erie,Ron Oliver, and to get startedon the campaign.Ron picked up me andChris Winterburn, a member of Local 7135

in Hamilton and took us to the union campaign headquarters, wherewe were introduced to the key people from many different unions.This election campaign was different from the Canadian campaigns

that I was very used to working on. The first difference was in havingtwo different campaign headquarters. One was the Obama headquarterscomposed of Obama staff and volunteers from different regions of theU.S. andCanada. The other was the union headquarters made up ofmany different union members and retirees from the U.S. andCanada.In the union campaign we didmany plant gates and door-to-door

canvassing of union members and retirees. It didn’t matter what unionthe members belonged to, we all had the same goal to elect Obama.We spent many hours on the phone calling union members andretirees to identify the vote for Obama as well as for Democrat KathyDahlkemper who was running for a senate seat.I learned a lot about U.S. elections in my 10 days in Erie. I was

amazed at how some voters could support McCain (Republican)for President and Dahlkemper (Democrat) for Senate or Obama(Democrat) for President and English (Republican) for Senate. InCanada you support the party, you only vote for the person (couldbe NDP, Liberal or Conservative) to represent you in Ottawa from

the geographical area riding that you reside. You do not directlyvote for the Prime Minister and, of course, the Canadian senate isappointed by the government, not elected.I met many trade unionists and retirees from different parts of the

U.S. who are suffering and facing the same problems as workersand retirees in Canada. Bad governments make bad decisions forretirees, working people and their families.Election night in Erie was one of the most memorable and

touching parts of my trip. A celebration of history in the makingbrought people young, old and from many different culturestogether to celebrate the election of the first African-American pres-ident. People hugged one another, cried tears of joy, and proclaimedthat all of our hard work had paid off. Suddenly the big room fellsilent as people listened as Barack Obama made his speech ofvictory thanking voters of America for electing him.I would like to once again thank the United Steelworkers,

Ron Oliver, his family and the executive board of Local 3199 forinviting me to Erie to work on the election. It was an honour be apart of history.

Vince Maloney, seated front row center,joined members of USW Local 343 and SOARChapter 6-16 at last year’s Labor Day festivi-

ties in Kingston, Ontario. Pictured left toright, front row: Percy Froats, chapter mem-

ber and Jane Clark, Treasurer. Back row:Peter Radley, Local 343 honourary steward;Don Arkell, Chapter President; Bob Jewel,Trustee; and Don Clark, Vice President.

SOAR Chapter 10 President Lena Sutton and Chris Winterburn ofLocal 7135 join Cindy Purvis, democratic candidate for Senator inPennsylvania’s 49th District, Ron Oliver, Local 3199 and son Chrisin pulling the vote for Obama.

CANADIANS INVADE U.S. PRESIDENTIALELECTION 2008

USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2009 Page 5

SOAR Activist VinceMaloney Recalls His NDP Political Campaign Roots

Page 6 USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2009

By Denise Edwards

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—For the first time, the USW and SOAR directly contactedmembers in several states to find out the impact of the economic crisis andwhat weneed to do about it. Layoffs, plant closings and reduced hours get headlines and pressreports, but retirees report families doubling up, reducing grocery spending, postpon-ing repairs on their homes and canceling that trip or escape from winter’s blasts.Working and retiredUSWmembers agreed that government action to create jobs,

open closedmills and auto-related plants and insure pensions has to happen—now.Bailing out banks, with no accountability, drew fury from many members who thendemanded intervention to safeguard the taxpayers’money. Halting the shipment of jobsoverseas and bringing jobs already shipped out back home represented common groundfor working and retiredmembers.Results from the random survey are still being tabulated, but a preliminary evalua-

tion shows members, active and retired, willing to act. The financial crisis is compli-cated, but the results are simple. Ask Geraldine Selicky, age 83, who lost her home. Itis a web of tangled ownership as to what financial corporation actually ended up withMs. Selicky’s loan. What is clear is the Cleveland senior is living in a trailer on prop-erty she and her husband bought as a vacation get away. “I’m over 80. I can’t go backto work,” she said. “We always paid our taxes, our bills and never missed a loanpayment. We have a lawyer, but I am out of my home.”Once the Selicky’s raised seven children in a small Cape Cod home on Mr. Selicky’s

pay from American Steel andWire, they decided to fix up their house. With an A-1credit rating they took out a home equity loan for energy-saving improvements likewindows, siding and a furnace. Cancer took Mr. Selicky in 2001, but with socialsecurity, family help and a little savings, Ms. Selicky kept up the payments. Mean-while, the loan was apparently sold to several financial institutions, many times.Attorneys are sorting out the mess.During the summer of 2008, Electric Data Systems sent Ms. Selicky a letter

announcing they were calling in the loan, immediately. That was followed by a letterfrom the city saying that foreclosure proceedings were underway. “I lost my lifesavings, my home,” she said. “I’m not asking for sympathy, but where are the laws?These big companies and banks, who is watching them andwhat they’re doing?”The Selicky family and their attorneys are in court to try to recover their home.The USW and SOAR are on the job. The December survey is just a small but

important part of a campaign to turn the economy around.

Corporate Greed+

ABillion-Dollar Union-BustingBusiness

+An Employer-DominatedOrganizing Process

+Firings, Harassment and Intimi-dation of Pro-Union Employees

+Other Violations ofWorkers’

Rights to Organize

What’s it all add up to?=

Fewer People Getting the UnionTheyWant and aWeakened

MiddleClass thatHurts America’sWorkers, Retirees and Families

It doesn’t have to bethisway.

Join Rapid Response in turningthis failed system around by mak-ing a call to your senators and ask-ing them to support the EmployeeFree Choice Act. With a new presi-dent and pro-worker majorities inthe House and Senate, this is ourbest chance to pass this bill intolaw. Retirees have a critical voicein this fight. Our senators need tohear from us because CorporateAmerica and their anti-workerallies are dumping millions intostopping this bill.

Dial the Capitol Switchboard toll-free today at: 866-203-4960

Remind your Senators:�When people can form unions,we all benefit from the betterwages, better access to healthcare and more secure retirementsthey help gain for their membersand retirees. This means strongerfamilies, stronger communitiesand a stronger country.

�We need to pass the EmployeeFree Choice Act!

What’s Going on with the Economy?USW/SOARAsk the Rank-and-File

SOAR Leader Recognized as Hometown Hero

Huntington, W.Va. – SOAR Chapter 8-23-4 President Ron Ferrell recently receivedthe Hometown Hero Award presented by television station WSAZ Channel 3, theHuntington NBC affiliate, for outstanding community service. Ron, who is aVietnam veteran, lobbied the state legislature to honor fallen heroes: militarypersonnel who lost their lives in service to our country by dedicating area bridgesin their name throughout the state.Each year, a new bridge is dedicated in honor of a soldier who lost his or her life

while defending our freedom. Ron works tirelessly on planning these events. Hearranges for guest speakers, prepares the press releases andmakes sure the ceremonies go off without a hitch.So far Ron has succeeded in getting eight bridges named

and continues to work on getting more each year. In accept-ing his award, Ron stated, “I don’t think you can ever honorsomeone for giving their life fighting for their country, butthis is about as close as you can get. I am just happy tobe a part of it.”

AAMAction, the field arm of theAlliance forAmerican Manufactur-ing (which is a joint effort of theUnited Steelworkers and leadingdomestic manufacturers) carried outpublic educational and lobbyingcampaigns over the past severalyears that have been aimed atinforming voters about the seriouschallenges involved in electing acongress and president more attunedto the plight of manufacturing in theUnited States. With the election ofBarack Obama, AAM andAAMAction are shifting gears to a legisla-tive and policy agenda that will bringrelief and grow the economic recov-ery and jobs for our nation’s produc-ers and workers.

First up on the AAM Action Agenda is support for an eco-nomic stimulus package that will realistically help manufac-turing, support good jobs and assure retirement security forthose who depend on manufacturing firms. Three basic princi-ples need to be in any stimulus package for it to have a long-term impact on manufacturing. First, it must have asignificant spending provision for rebuilding the nation’sinfrastructure. Second, the money needs to be spent in thedomestic economy, so strong “Buy American” provisions needto guide the allocation of these dollars. Lastly, the moneyneeds to be seen as both a short-term kick-start for the econ-omy and as much as possible an investment in the future ofmanufacturing. That means that in addition to shoring upexisting manufacturing, projects should keep an eye toward“green” jobs. There is a very real danger that the huge stimu-lus spending (now estimated to be in the trillion dollar range)

will not achieve its goal ofeconomic health if themoney is spent on foreign-produced goods or wasted onone-time expenditures that donot build toward a fundamentally sounder economy.Beyond the initial stimulus package are a number of initia-

tives on issues like trade, health care, carbon emissions, etc.,in which the AAM andAAM Action will be asking ouractivists to get involved. AAM has commissioned a numberof public policy studies on some of these issues which will bereleased in the first quarter of 2009. These reports will supportthe adoption of policies that can help solve some key prob-lems we all face as Americans in a way that supports theretention and growth of our manufacturing sector.This is both a difficult and exciting time for our nation andits people. On the one hand, we are seeing economichardships that hark back to near depression levels. Realpeople are being financially squeezed and crushed every-day, everywhere. On the other hand, we have a politicalclimate that seeks to aggressively address the underlyingreasons for these problems andmakes significant changesto achieve solutions. If there ever was a time for Ameri-cans to pay attention, mobilize andmake sure the voicesof working families and retirees are heard, now is thattime. As we saw with the automobile loan debate, thereare powerful forces that would like to turn our economicsituation on its victims and halt any significant change.The new president, the new congress and our nationneed people who will stand up and insist that wemove forward.

AAMACTION Shifting Gears

AAM Action sign-in tables at AAM townhall meeting at Lambeau Field Atrium,Green Bay, Wis. on October 28, 2008.

USW@Work/SOAR Winter 2009 Page 7