1997, a poem

The folks in Indiana at the end of 80's May,
were enjoying labor efforts in the North.
Then a company called NIPSCO picked a fight with workers there
and the great Steelworkers took the battle forth.

A strike was called and workers fought a long and bitter war;
and they sacrificed to keep their dignity.
Eight months later, this great union through its solidarity
won the longest utility strike in history.

Although we won the battle and benefits were saved,
we just couldn't give the company our trust.
But by 1997, after 17 long years
it was thought in our best interest that we must.

So we sought a transformation which might meet the company's needs
with deregulation barking at our heels;
but also help our members who have sacrificed so much,
just to bail out the company's bad deals.

So the workers took a chance by letting all by gones go by;
and NIPSCO said they'd change their ways as well.
We began to work together all the way to contract time
when the company said, ------ "go right straight to hell."

So the members starting picketing to stop the corporate greed
and to show the public NIPSCO was a hog.
And it wasn't long fore NIPSCO learned a lesson centuries old
"It's not the dog that's in the fight but it's the fight that's in the dog."

Our goal was clear to everyone, we knew what must be done ;
to show this company that we were here to stay.
So by the thousands workers marched to show their solidarity ;
and got a contract, God bless the USWA!

© Charlie Averill 1997