Call Your Senator Today

Call Your Senator Today

On Thursday, June 21, the Senate will vote on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).

Please call your Senators NOW and ask them to vote YES on the Employee Free Choice Act (S.1041)

Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 1-800-774-8941 and ask for the offices of your two senators.

EFCA will restore workers’ freedom to collectively bargain for a better life. Explain to your senators that by voting Yes on EFCA it will:

• strengthen penalties for companies that coerce or intimidate employees;

• establish mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers cannot agree on a first contract; and

• enable employees to form unions when a majority express their decision to join the union by signing authorization cards.

Let's Protect Workers

Protecting Dogs and Cats and Workers

In the year 2000, a major clothing company began importing coats made with the fur of dogs and cats for sale in the U.S. marketplace. When the public found out this was happening, they understandably went ballistic. They demanded justice. Congress immediately went to work and developed legislation that stated you cannot exploit dogs and cats in this way and expect to sell your products in our country. This bill called the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 sailed through Congress and was quickly signed into law. (View this bill and see how your legislators voted here: www.uswrr.org)

Rapid Response is now calling on Congress to offer the same protections to children and other abused workers across the globe that they have afforded dogs and cats.

A number of legislators have joined the fight. We have joined together to fight for passage of the “Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act,” also known as “The Anti-Sweatshop Bill.” We began fighting for this bill late last year and by the end of the last Congress, there were 61 sponsors or cosponsors in the House and six in the Senate thanks to the work of Rapid Response Teams across the country. The bill has now been introduced once again in the new 110th Congress (HR 1992 and S 367), and we are continuing the battle.

The Anti-Sweatshop Bill:

• Bans goods made by children from entering our country
• Bans sweatshop goods from entering our country
• Creates an incentive for businesses abroad to clean up their act
• Is based off established law: Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000
• Allows shareholders and competitors to file suit in federal court for enforcement

Rapid Response is gearing up for a major national action on HR 1992 and S 367. It is time we took the offensive to demand justice in the global economy, and this is our opportunity. Be ready in the coming days to join this fight for fairness.

USW Rapid Response (412) 562-2291 http://www.uswrr.org

Lynn Williams Street

Lynn Williams Street

Lynn Williams Street is named after one of Canada’s pre-eminent labour leaders. The street is located near the site of the former John Inglis plant, one of the major manufacturing facilities that laid the foundation for industrial Ontario.

Lynn Williams joined the United Steelworkers at Inglis in 1947 and in 1984 became the first Canadian elected international president of the union United Steelworkers of America.

Lynn Williams has always been a passionate advocate for industrial democracy and for the right of working people to have an effective voice in their place of work.
Presented May 7, 2007

Al Franken gets USW Support

District 11 Announces Candidate for the Minnesota 2008 U.S. Senate Race

For Immediate Release May 17, 2007

On May 16, 2007 in Minneapolis, the United Steelworkers District 11 screened the Democratic announced candidates for the Minnesota 2008 U.S. Senate race.

“We chose to endorse Mr. Franken for several important reasons.” said Bob Bratulich, Director of USW District 11. Among these were the following:
Al Franken is the only candidate running an aggressive, statewide grassroots’ campaign that has the capability of mobilizing working families in November, 2008.
Al Franken supports and when elected will co-sponsor the Employees’ Free Choice Act.
Al Franken supports “Fair Trade” that gives American workers a level playing field and enforces environmental and labor standards.
Al Franken understands the needs of working families including universal health care, early childhood education and retirement security.
In the last year or so Mr. Franken has traveled Minnesota widely. His closeness to working families and our issues is the reason why Al received the near-unanimous support of the USW District 11.

“We proudly, give our endorsement to Al Franken for U.S. Senate we know that he will stand up for working families and the things Steelworkers have fought for.” said Bratulich.

Contact: Bob Bratulich (612) 623-8045
Stan Daniels (612) 623-8045

Memorial Day Massacre Celebration

On May 30, 1937, striking Republic Steel workers and sympathizers attempted to establish a picket line at the front of the mill on Chicago's South side. The protesting marchers, including families from the surrounding area were halted when met by a line of Chicago police officers in a field north of the mill gate. Following a short standoff, violence erupted; 10 protesters died and approximately 90 were injured while retreating from police clubs, tear gas, and bullets. The episode stands as one of the most violent in the history of U.S. labor organization.

The ReUNION Project Invites YOU

To A Celebration You’ll Remember

To: All ReUNION Activists in the Chicago Area
RE: Special Memorial Day Massacre 70th Anniversary Celebration

Dear ReUNION Activist,

The ReUNION Project is coordinating with the United Steelworkers Union and various Community Groups to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Memorial Day Massacre. There is no cost to this event.

Date: Sunday; May 27, 2007
Time: 2pm
Place: Memorial Hall, 11731 Avenue “O”, Chicago, IL

Special Speaker: Leo W. Gerard
International President, United Steelworkers Union

Come – Enjoy – Bring Family and Friends – Learn – Participate

Make a Difference

A Project of The United Steelworkers and Participating American Steel Companies ReUNION is Non-Partisan and open to anyone interested in improving Trade policy, Retirement Income Security and Health Care.

INFOALERT from Rapid Response

May 21, 2007
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, DC ON TRADE

Recently, the House Ways and Means Committee announced that it had reached agreement with the Bush Administration on additional provisions to be added to free trade agreements the Bush Administration has negotiated with Peru and Panama. The description of the additional provisions appears to be a significant improvement since it calls for assurances of labor rights and environmental safeguards in the agreements. But the devil is in the details. No language has been released and enforcement is still in the hands of the Administration. Stay tuned.

However, regardless of how good the language might or might not be in those two agreements, nothing would change our opposition to the Columbia and Korea trade agreements. Columbia has been a killing ground for trade unionists, and it is hardly sufficient for the Columbian government to say, “Ratify the trade agreement, and we’ll try harder.” The Korean trade agreement, by the reports we’ve heard, basically sells out our U.S. manufacturing workers to gain some advantage for our agricultural industry.

Also, instead of reauthorizing Fast Track authority, which has allowed the Bush Administration to negotiate disastrous trade deals and ram them through Congress, it is time to fix the trade imbalance problem.

We should be concentrating on:

• Creating a climate to revitalize manufacturing in this country.

• Strengthening our trade laws so we can counter currency manipulation and foreign government subsidies which have been robbing American jobs.

• Improving the wholly inadequate trade Adjustment Assistance Act which has been a broken promise for displaced workers.

• Dealing with our health care system that is putting us at a competitive disadvantage in the global economy.

We need to solve the trade problem – not make it bigger!
Rapid Response will keep you updated. Be ready!

USW Rapid Response (412) 562-2291 http://www.uswrr.org

The First Union, a poem

By Charlie Averill

So often now we hear alot about the Middle East.
We wonder why they fight so much, and why it hasn't ceased.
Many books and writings, will help us with the quest,
but of them all I think I've stumbled on the very best.

Like many other questions, the answers we are liable
to find within the holy book, the one we call The Bible.
Even our Unions history, goes way far back you see,
to when the trodden Israelites were seeking to be free.

Ole Pharaoh thought he'd show em all by pulling dirty tricks,
and making them without no straw, just keep producing bricks.
But those folks said, "enoughs enough, our straw Pharaoh did rob",
and Moses told em, everyone, to sit down on the job.

So when the question comes "who was the first labor leader"?
You can feel mighty proud and sure to tell the reader;
Moses led the first sit down strike, and that ain't no jive,
and if you don't believe me look it up in Exodus five.
© Charlie Averill 1993

Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan

Anthem/Wellpoint CEO Larry Glasscock had a tough year, his salary fell 19% to only $12.8 million in 2006…

Meanwhile, 46 million Americans are uninsured….
Indiana leads the nation in medical bankruptcies…
and our health care costs are increasing at twice the national average

Had enough of the health insurance industry’s excessive profits and overpaid executives?

Think it’s time for universal insurance and people over profits? If so, join us in protest when the WORLD’S LARGEST health insurance company holds its annual shareholders’ meeting.

WHAT: Rally to call for universal health care and Congressional support for H.R. 676, legislation to extend Medicare to all Americans.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 16, 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Anthem/Wellpoint headquarters, 120 Monument Circle, downtown Indianapolis

Sponsored by Hoosiers for a Common Sense Health Plan
For more information: Julia Vaughn, 317-432-3264
jvaughngyure07@yahoo.com or www.hchp.info

Who is the real enemy?

Can you believe these people?
Ten billion dollars a month we spend in this stinking Iraq quagmire, ($424 billion so far).
Three thousand three hundred eighty one (3,381) servicemen and women dead so far.
The Iraqi government wants to take a two month vacation.
Republicans continue to support a sociopathic president bent on doing exactly what the enemy wants us to do, stay and bleed in Iraq.

Tell your Congressman to stop this insanity before we become a third world nation.
Charlie Averill

Global Union Solidarity

USW Signs Historic Global Union Solidarity Agreement

On April 18, the USW and Amicus-T&G of the United Kingdom signed an agreement that will prepare the ground for the creation of a global union. The Ottawa Accord, signed by myself, Amicus General Secretary Derek Simpson and Canadian National Director Ken Neumann (T&G General Secretary Tony Woodley will sign the agreement in June) during a ceremony at the Canadian National Policy Congress, sets up a merger exploratory committee to lay a foundation for a legal merger within one year. Our new union would represent more than 3.4 million members in North America, the UK and Ireland, and will set the stage for an even larger union representing additional millions of workers throughout the world.
Source: USW website

Joe Donnelly, Champion for Working Families and Retirees

The second congressional district in Indiana now has a true champion in Congressman, Joe Donnelly. Joe is keeping his promises to working families and retirees.

Needlessly Into Combat

Steelworkers Summer 2007

What is Steelworkers’ Summer 2007?

Steelworkers’ Summer is an educational and training internship in which participants develop skills useful for union organizing by experiencing firsthand the kinds of struggles workers face while trying to win a voice at work. It is also designed to give participants an understanding and appreciation of the positive impact the union has had on their parents’ working lives.

Internships are open to young adults, 18 years of age or older. Selection preference is given to children of members of the United Steelworkers International Union.

Steelworkers’ Summer is committed to uniting students, workers, and community activists to bring about social justice through work place and community organizing.

What kinds of qualifications are needed to participate in Steelworkers’ Summer?

Applicants should have a strong commitment to social and economic justice, as well as openness to working with a broad cross section of people. This includes people of various races, ethnicities, religions and orientations. Participants need to be people-oriented, enthusiastic, energetic, flexible and willing to work long hours on an unpredictable schedule. A college degree is not required. Previous union experience is not necessary. Volunteerism or activism is a plus.

For more information, click here.

One Strong Voice

USW, Weirton Independent Union Sign Merger Agreement

In the Bible, Jeremiah 29, verse 11 offers a message of optimism: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Members of the former Independent Steelworkers Union say the message reflects how they feel now that they are members of the United Steelworkers. Leaders from the unions met Friday in Pittsburgh to sign a merger agreement.

The ISU and its 1,150 members at Arcelor-Mittal’s Weirton, W.Va., mill are now USW Local 2911, named for the Bible verse.

“When you read it, it’s hope for the future,” said Mark Glyptis, former president of the 56-year-old ISU and now president of the new USW local. “We certainly believe this gives (our members) hope.”

Glyptis said he and his members were elated about the merger, approved 913-89 by ISU members last month. It means workers can speak with one voice in bargaining with Mittal, the world’s largest steel company.

“It’s a historic day,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard, who noted the Weirton union’s strong record of battling for its members and the industry. “We’re proud of the history, the tenaciousness, the respect that people have for the ISU.”

Glyptis said members will benefit from greater financial, legal, mobilizing and lobbying strength, a message echoed by USW District 1 Director Dave McCall.

Joining forces “gives us more power, more energy,” McCall said.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, a Democrat from West Virginia, spoke to the gathering by telephone from Washington, D.C., saying he believes the merger is good news for Weirton workers.

“They’re joining a very strong force in the labor movement,” Rockefeller said, promising his support.

“If I’m not in a fight for people producing steel, I feel like I’m neglecting life _ I’m part of you, you’re part of me,” he said to loud applause.

The decision to merge the ISU with the larger USW followed profound changes in the management of Weirton, which has gone from an employee-owned corporation to part of Arcelor-Mittal.

Gerard and Glyptis vowed to work hard on several issues, including having a say in the sale of Arcelor Mittal’s Sparrows Point, Md., plant where the USW represents some 2,100 production workers.

The ISU and the USW have worked together on the Stand Up for Steel Campaign, retiree health care and pension issues.

Hoisting their joined hands in the air after signing the merger agreement, Gerard and Glyptis promised to build on those efforts.

“We’re going to fight together,” Gerard said.

“Absolutely,” Glyptis said. “And we’re going to win.”

United Steelworkers POWERcast

Everyone that has internet access on their home computer should have the program iTunes installed. Everyone.
If you don’t have iTunes, you can download it free by going to http://www.apple.com/itunes/.
You can receive free automatic downloads of the Powercast through itunes.
Please do our union a big favor.
If you have iTunes, or once you have it downloaded and installed on your computer, search for Steelworkers POWERcast in the iTunes music store, subscribe to it, and post a favorable review.
If we would all do this, the POWERcast would be featured in the podcast section and would entice more people into accessing the POWERcast through iTunes.
If we can get it more prominently displayed, more people outside the union might listen.
While you’re at it, how about subscribing to the Steelworkers SOAR Podcast by going to http://web.mac.com/soar3

New Steelworkers

Congratulations to the workers at the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana. The results of their vote to organize themselves was 60-25 in favor of unionizing.
These workers are now members of the largest industrial union in North America. They overcame all the obstacles that management threw at them and are now proud Steelworkers and have a family of over a million workers and retirees on their team.

"If you destroy a man's dignity, you will lose his respect. Power can be purchased, respect must be earned." Author Unknown

Need for Change

On March 26th, Steelworkers and SOAR members joined in solidarity with workers at the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana, on the eve of their vote to organize their own union.
It's a crying shame that workers in America have to undergo this outdated process of putting up with an employers intimidation, hostile union-busting tactics, to simply choose to organize themselves.
These workers had to attend half hour meeting each day while the employers unionbusting consultants pounded with anti-union speeches.
Workers should have free choice to organize themselves. An employer should not have the right to coerce them into opposing unions with bribes or special favors, or threaten them in any way.

Urge your U.S. Senators to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act

We Need You!

Organizing Election Rally

Where?
484 E. 1400N.
Wheatfield, IN. just south of RMSGS

When?
Monday March 26th
6:00 AM - 7:15 AM.
&
6:00 PM. - 7:15 PM

The workers a Georgia Pacific Gypsum in Wheatfield, Indiana need your support!
Having filed for a Union election in February, they have endured a brutal campaign
by their employer to crush their effort to join the USW and gain their rights
to Union recognition.
On Tuesday March 27th, they will vote in an NLRB election. The workers there are holding strong,
but they need the support of all Steelworkers and SOAR members in our area to show their employer they will not be denied the
RIGHT to ORGANIZE!

Please plan to attend one or both of the rallies on Monday March 26th,
the day before their election, and show your support!
Their fight is OUR fight!

from the Gary/Portage area: take 80/94 east to Hwy 49 South,
Or US 30 east to Hwy 49 South
Go South on 49 to 1400N. Turn East on 1400N.
the plant is at the end of the road. approximately 1/4 mile

ARA Supports Employee Free Choice Act

Resolution

Workers’ Right to Organize

Adopted September 6, 2006

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 states: “Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests;” and

Whereas 11 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates have called upon every nation, including the United States, to protect and defend workers’ rights, including the right to form unions and bargain collectively; and

Whereas 73 percent of the American public say laws protecting the freedom to join unions are important; and

Whereas only 12.5 percent of U.S. workers belong to a union; and

Whereas nearly 6 in 10, or 59 percent, of American workers would be in a union if workers could choose freely; and

Whereas 57 million nonunion workers say they want to join a union; and

Whereas employer attempts to obstruct unions is widespread and escalating; and

Whereas over half (52 percent) of private-sector U.S employers, when faced with employees who want to start a union, threaten to shut down or cut back operations if mployees join a union; and

Whereas a quarter of employers illegally fire at least one worker for union activity during organizing campaigns, and three-quarters of employers hire consultants or union-busters to help them fight union organizing drives; and

Whereas more than 20,000 American workers are illegally disciplined or fired for engaging in union activity annually, up from 6,000 in 1969 and under 1,000 per year in the 1950s; and

Whereas 45 percent of workers who win a union election still don’t have a union contract two years later because of employer delaying tactics and unwillingness to bargain in good faith; and

Whereas employers regularly use an array of administrative and procedural delays in the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) representation election process and in court proceedings; and

Whereas employers engage in unfair labor practices with impunity because the 1935 National Labor Relations Act’s penalties are weak and infrequently enforced; and

Whereas Human Rights Watch in 2000 reported that U.S. labor laws were grossly out-of-compliance with international human rights norms and were failing utterly to protect workers’ basic freedom to form unions and bargain collectively; and

Whereas the Government Accountability Office in 2002 estimated that 32 million U.S. workers lacked even the minimal legal protections to form unions and bargain collectively; and

Whereas since taking office, President Bush and his NLRB appointees have stripped federal labor law coverage, and hence protection, from graduate student employees, certain disabled workers, and employees of temporary help agencies; and

Whereas governors in Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri recently rescinded collective bargaining for state workers and half the states continue to deny public employees the basic right to bargain collectively with their employers.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Alliance for Retired Americans supports passage of bipartisan legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696) introduced by Senators Edward Kennedy and Arlen Specter, and Representatives George Miller and Peter King respectively, which:

• Provides for the certification of a union when a majority of the employees at a workplace has signed written authorizations stating they wish to have union representation;

• Gives both employees and employers access to mediation and binding arbitration to reach an initial collective bargaining agreement on a timely basis; and

• Imposes stiff and quick enforcement of penalties for illegal employer conduct violating workers’ rights.

Be it further resolved that the Alliance for Retired Americans supports efforts to protect public sector workers from federal workplace rules or gubernatorial orders that undermine collective bargaining agreements and any attempts to privatize public sector jobs.

The Alliance for Retired Americans is a nationwide organization of three million retirees and other older and retired Americans working together to make their voices heard in the laws, policies, politics and institutions that shape our lives.

815 16th Street, NW, Floor Washington, DC 20006 (202) 637-5399 (888) 373-6497
www.retiredamericans.org

End the War in Iraq

Resolution to End the War

The American people voted overwhelmingly in 2006 to end the war in Iraq. Over 60% of the people want the war to end as rapidly as possible. But the Bush administration has made it clear that they will not respect the majority opinion.

The war cannot be won with military force and only serves to put our troops needlessly in harm’s way and wastes billions of dollars that could be much better used at home to solve problems like health care and Social Security.

We call on Congress to continue their oversight responsibility and to work to bring the troops home and end the war as rapidly as possible.

We also call on Congress to really support the troops by guaranteeing full and increased funding for veterans benefits and health care. We call on Congress to enact a new GI Bill that will truly provide funds for returning veterans for education, home ownership and financial help for restarting their lives and taking care of their families when they come home.

Resolution passed by SOAR Chapter 31-9

How War Mongers Support our Troops

Continental Tire, Shame Shame

Mixed feelings about UNC sports

By Mark West
Larry Little is an avid basketball fan in general, and a huge UNC
Tarheel fan in particular. He has videos of UNC games dating from 1979.
In October Of last year, Larry got a rare opportunity to visit the
hallowed halls of UNCs home court, the Dean Smith center. I was with
Larry on that occasion, and I witnessed the excitement of his thrill of
a lifetime. Larry was as giddy as kid on Christmas morning. The pictures
on the walls in the hallway of the Dean Smith center came to life for
him. I, not being as big of a fan, was Larry's classroom and he was the
instructor.

He tells me about this guy and that guy. "This is Michael Jordan" he
says, he played on the 1982 championship team. This one played in 1987,
here's Julius Peppers who now plays football for the Carolina Panthers,
"He played both basketball and football for UNC in 2000" Larry says, and
"UNC went to the final 4 that year, what a great athlete Julius Peppers
is" he says. In the trophy room of the Dean Smith center is where Larry
took over one hundred pictures of the history of UNC basketball,
including pictures of the bust of the great Dean Smith himself.

Although Larry is still a fan of UNCs sports, and is proud of UNCs
success in making it to basketballs NCAA tournament this year, and is
cheering for them in the ACC tournament, the business of UNCs sports
sponsorship has a bitter taste for him. You see the reason that Larry, a
retiree with 32 years of service with Continental Tire in Charlotte,
North Carolina, was visiting UNC in October of last year, was that he
was part of a group of former Continental Tire employees, and retirees,
that met with UNCs athletic director, and some of the UNC athletic
department's staff, to ask them to disassociate UNC with Continental
Tire.

On September the 6th 2006, Continental Tire announced a sponsorship
agreement between UNC and Continental Tire. Travis Roffler, Continental
Tire's Director of Marketing stated that the sponsorship of the UNC
athletics program shows "Continental Tire's commitment to the Carolinas,
our dealers and their communities". In July of 2006, Continental Tire
laid off hundreds of Carolina workers, sent their jobs to cheap labor
countries such as Brazil and Mexico, implemented a healthcare plan for
retirees forcing them to either pay up to $1600 per month or loose their
healthcare.

Larry, along with myself, a former Continental Tire employee, wonder how
a company can put its retirees in such dire straits, and send jobs to
Mexico and Brazil be committed to the Carolinas? Larry has visited UNC
several times since that initial October visit. He hasn't been inside
the Dean Dome again, but has been on the outside with his fellow
retirees and former co-workers passing out information at basketball
games to fans, exposing the black eye on UNC.

Larry is torn between his passion for UNC and his misgivings about UNCs
association with Continental Tire. He wonders if the basketball net that
UNC just scored on is bought and paid for, at his and his fellow
retiree's expense. He wonders why a University will continue to accept
sponsorship money from a corporation that misrepresents itself, and in
essence is using the UNC Tarheels to bolster an untrue image on the
backs of blue collar Carolinians. Larry simply asks why?

Mark West is a member of USW Local 850 and former CTNA employee. For
more information on the Steelworker's struggle at Continental Tire, check out www.SolidarityAtConti.org

EFCA Passes in the House

The Employee Free Choice Act Passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. It gives workers, not corporations, the right to decide how to vote for a union. It makes it harder for employers to interfere and places real penalties on those that do. Finally, it provides first contract arbitration for employers who seek to stall and delay negotiations for wages and benefits.

In our country, a person isn't fired because he joins a church, or the VFW, or the Masons. Well, he shouldn't be fired for joining a union either, but that in fact is what happens.

Now if we can get our U.S. Senators to vote the right way on this legislation, our country will be much better off. It's the right thing to do.

Unfortunately, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar hasn't seen the light yet and hasn't cosponsored the bill.
He needs an awakening.

Employee Free Choice Act

Indiana Nursing Homes

Indiana nursing home residents are at risk of death and injury by fire due to inadequate fire safety protection in our state’s nursing homes.

Unbelievably, Indiana laws and regulations do not require all nursing homes to be fully sprinklered and to have smoke detectors in resident rooms – two of the most basic fire safety measures.

1. Nursing homes before 1986 do not have to have automatic sprinkler systems. Twenty-seven (27) homes in Indiana are NOT fully sprinklered. In fact, 10 of those homes are completely unsprinklered!

1. Even though most fires start in residents' rooms and the leading cause of death from fire is smoke inhalation, approximately 95% of Indiana nursing homes do not have to install smoke detectors in a resident’s room. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to harm from fires due to physical and mental disabilities that limit their ability to run, walk, or even follow instructions in an emergency.

Call on your state legislators to pass Senate Bill 93 & House Bill 1243 which would:

• Require all nursing homes to have an automatic sprinkler system throughout the facility within 5 years.

• Require smoke detectors in each nursing home resident’s room.

• Require the state department of health to include information for consumers on their website about whether a facility is sprinklered and what type of smoke detector it has if any (hardwired or battery operated).

Source: United Senior Action

Norman the Scumbag

EFCA

Typical Company in the U.S.

Employee Free Choice Act Hearing, 02/08/07

Our President

George Becker

In Appreciation

George Becker
1929 – 2007
So Long, George.

George Becker, who was president of the United Steelworkers of America for seven years, died on February 2 at the age of 78. He was a great friend and supporter of EPI. We, and the world, will miss him.

George was an American original. A laborer in a steel mill at 15, a marine in both World War II and Korea, and a life-long trade unionist who rose to the top of one of the country’s great labor organizations. But more than just his resumé, George had the qualities that reflected the best people our nation produces. He was tough and fearless, and at the same time remarkably gentle, modest and decent. He was serious and thoughtful and had a blunt common-sense way of speaking. I never felt that he came into the room to hear himself speak. He sized you up carefully, and if he decided that you were on the side of those who worked for a living, you had his ear – and his heart.

George loved the steelworkers, and was proud of how the union had allowed them to work their way into the middle class and provide their children the opportunities that the working class had never before had. And he hated the political establishment whose trade policies had cynically sold his workers’ future down the river.

Like other recent leaders of his remarkable union, George believed in the power of ideas, and he respected his members’ intelligence and their capacity to learn and grow and understand the world around him.

When he was first elected president of the Steelworkers, he asked me to come to their convention and deliver an “economics lesson” to the several thousand delegates. Instead of the usual slogans or pictures of the leaders that adorn the walls of the typical convention, George put up ten or so 12 foot charts showing trends in wages, employment, productivity and other economic facts. He said that he wanted the members to look at these for several days and then have me come in and explain them. When I was just about to go out on the platform, he whispered to me, only half-kidding: “Listen, this is my first convention. And my job depends on how you do.”

After the session, I asked him what he meant. “A lot of people told me not to do this,” he said. “They said the members would be bored with some lecture on economics. But this is about their future. Why wouldn’t they be interested?”

George Becker never stopped learning, asking questions and fighting for the working class. His life is an inspiration to us all.

Jeff Faux - Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. – February 7, 2007

You can view a Memorial Video "You Led The Way" by clicking HERE

Does NiSource prey on seniors?

The reasons I ask this question are as follow:

1. A NiSource owned company seems to be refusing to pay a death benefit to a NIPSCO widow whose husband passed away over seven months ago. How can a company cobble up something as simple as this, you ask.....well, NIPSCO and NiSource have outsourced so much work that deals with real people, to either out of state or out of country companies who seem to only be in it for the buck and the language barrier is proving to be overwhelming to seniors.

2. In the Bremen, Indiana area, as I understand it, NIPSCO mailed out flyers advertising their so called Price Protection Service (PPS) and stating that anyone interested in more information would have a chance to win a colored television set. In this particular instance, the elderly customer mailed back for more information, hoping to win the television. A couple of weeks later, on a Sunday afternoon, a salesman from the U.S. Energy Savings Company came to her home and persuaded her to sign the contract.

3. As I understand the latest fiasco, in Ohio, customers were required by a NiSource Company to pay for the riser connecting the gas service to the meter which was installed by outside contractors. Now, so many of them leak and have to be replaced, the NiSource Company wants the customers to pay for the shoddy workmanship.

4. If I have the story straight, at least three NiSource owned companies are attempting to take away medical insurance benefits from retirees.

New Flag for NIPSCO

In 2005, Robert C. Skaggs, Chief Executive Officer of NiSource Inc. raked in $1,756,152 in total compensation including stock option grants from NiSource Inc..
And Robert C. Skaggs has another $32,935 in unexercised stock options from previous years.

You know what? I don’t give a rip how much this guy needs to have joy and happiness in his life. Heck, it’s a dog eat dog world out there, but you would think that someone worth this much would at least see to it that the widow of one of his deceased retirees would receive some explanation as to why a lousy $10,000 life insurance claim is taking so long to be paid to her husbands beneficiaries. Seven months seems a bit too long to me.

This Skaggs fellow has allowed the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) to outsource so much of what used to be done by usually efficient Hoosiers at NIPSCO to places such as Costa Rica. This is causing so much confusion among management and labor at NIPSCO, that I’m wondering if this guy really is worth this much.

Workers have a right to know who the hell is in charge of the place.

NIPSCO doesn’t know up from down, left from right, or even right from wrong anymore.

Get on the ball, Skaggs, and treat your retirees and their widows right, and start bringing those NIPSCO jobs back to Indiana. We’re Americans, not Costa Ricans. And while you’re at it, see to it that the deceased retiree gets his due.

source for compensation: AFL-CIO Executive Pay Watch

Charlie Averill

POWERcast Episode 1

POWERcast is the United Steelworkers’ internet radio program, a fast new way to provide union news and reports of interest to all working families.

Episode 1 - January 29, 2006

This week, POWERcast features an interview with USW President Leo W. Gerard about the crucial role of solidarity in the Goodyear strike late last year.

Also, U.S. Rep. George Miller, the California Democrat who introduced the minimum wage increase in Congress and got it passed Jan. 10, talks about the Senate Republicans’ demand that the measure include tax breaks for small business.

We’ve got a special treat for you at the end of our POWERcast. We call it Creep of the Week. Here’s a clue about our winner: do you think you could screw up at work then get your company to hand you $210 million buckaroos to quit?

Click Here to listen to this POWERcast

NIPSCO Pay Your Bills

Hey NIPSCO! When people get their NIPSCO bill, you expect them to pay the damn thing or risk being shut off.
Well, how about paying your own stinking bills. What's the matter with you?
Your retirees have life insurance policys which were negotiated. Why put a widow through the hassle of waiting and waiting for you screw balls to pay up.
Either pay the stinking insurance claims, or tell people your just not going to pay, so they can sue your butts.
You got the most screwed up system I've ever heard of.
You didn't used to have this problem, but now you have so much work outsourced to out of state and out of country companies that it's no wonder your employees and retirees are upset.

Even your own management knows how screwed up you are.

Do I have to call Lou Dobbs or 60 minutes or the newspapers or what?

Pay up!

Charlie Averill

Bush Health-Care Proposal

For Immediate Release: January 24, 2007

Contact: Gary Hubbard, 202-778-4384; 202-256-8125

USW Rejects Bush Health-Care Proposal

Tax scheme fails to expand coverage for all, erodes employer plans

Pittsburgh (Jan. 23) – Leo W. Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers (USW), said American workers know a raw deal when they hear one and tonight’s State of the Union proposal by President Bush of a so-called standard tax deduction for health insurance doesn’t set any benchmarks for covering the uninsured while “sticking it to workers who have employer health care coverage.”

“Congress should reject this plan out of hand,” Gerard said. “It not only erodes employer coverage, where two out of three Americans now receive their health benefits, it’s a back-door attempt to saddle union workers with a tax for the health care benefits they negotiate through collective bargaining.”

“This proposal makes it more apparent than ever,” Gerard added, “that the Bush Administration doesn’t have a clue about how to address the needs of middle class and working Americans, who are being hammered by health care costs running totally out of control.”

The USW president said Americans are ready for big ideas to the health-care crisis, yet this Administration seems “obsessed with policies that widen the growing gap between the wealthy and the great majority of working Americans.”

The USW is a North American union representing 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, paper, rubber, utilities and chemical industries, plus the health-care and business service sector.

NIPSCO Cheats Widow

What Do I Have to Do?

My Dear Husband, David Letts, a retired NIPSCO employee, passed away on June 14, 2006. The following week I called the Benefits office in Orlando, Florida to see what I must do to have the $10,000 life insurance policy dispersed to his 5 children. David told me that he had changed the beneficiary listing to the five children after his divorce.

A nice gentleman, by the name of Steve, said that I would have to supply them with a death certificate and a listing of the children’s names, addresses and Social Security numbers. Within several days I received copies of his death certificate and typed up a listing of his children and all of their information, and sent it to Orlando.

Now, after over seven months since my husband’s death, I still can’t get any information as to why these claims have not been paid. I gave up writing down the dates and times of phone calls made to the Benefits office after the number reached ten. All I hear from them is that they are “waiting for approval from Corporate”.

However, I had been told by the Insurance Committee Chairperson for USW local 13796, that I should call Prudential since the policies were through Prudential. Through the number that I was given, I called Prudential and they said that they never heard anything about a policy concerning my husband.

Alas, I am no farther along than when David passed away. So, remembering that I am a member of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, perhaps I needed to turn to other resources. Charlie Averill, president of my SOAR chapter, has come to my rescue, or at least he is trying to. He gave me the name and phone number for the Insurance Committee Chairman for USW Local 12775, who in turn gave me the name of Lois Olson, from NIPSCO, whom I have contacted and still am getting no results.

My husband has been gone over seven months and NIPSCO is refusing to acknowledge it and pay the rightful insurance claim to his children. David spent 35 years at NIPSCO, and they can’t find approval for issuance of the insurance proceeds? Do I need to send someone a copy of his ID card to prove that he truly did work for NIPSCO?

David had been receiving his pension payments without a problem. But now NIPSCO can’t find approval for his final insurance payout. How much more money do they have to cheat their employees and retirees out of before they are really, truly happy?

It is bad enough to have lost my husband, David, but now his children are being cheated out of what is rightfully theirs.

Marlys Letts, irate widow of NIPSCO retiree

Which Marriages do better? Republican or Democrat?

I’ve just had an epiphany. At least I think that’s what they call it.

When I was working for NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company), occasionally, some boss would be so belligerent and bone headed that often times someone would say, “How would you like your daughter to come home with someone like that?”.

This (what I’m calling an) epiphany came to me last week while watching the modern Republicans in congress whining about increasing the minimum wage, and having Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for our retirees and seeing how hard headed and belligerent they were.

All of a sudden it hit me.

Since George Bush refuses to negotiate with our enemies, and since the Republicans in congress refuse to negotiate with the Democrats, and since so many companies don’t want to negotiate with their workers, how in the world could people like this ever find a spouse, and when they do, how could they ever live together in peace and harmony?

As an example, NiSource, although a fortune 500 company that pays out millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses to their top executives, are failing to negotiate in good faith with the workers at several companies that they own and are demanding gigantic concessions from their workers.

So, where’s the epiphany?

Here it is.

Now, having been married for 41 years, I know that for a marriage to succeed, some negotiations must take place on occasion. I know that a person’s politics doesn’t necessarily dictate how successful a marriage will be, but I do realize that sometimes, give and take is required to keep a marriage intact.

The question I’m pondering is this:

Are the marriages composed of Republicans more or less likely to end in divorce than marriages composed of Democrats?

My guess is, that although Republicans claim to have a monopoly on “family values” and call themselves “compassionate conservatives” and seem to think that God is also a Republican, they, at the same time, are so intolerant, and have personalities and dispositions that are not really all that conducive to the making of a happy marriage.

If anyone has made a study of this, I sure would appreciate your conclusions.

Charlie

Hillary is "IN"

Senator Hillary Clinton has opened a presidential exploratory committee in her first step toward a run for the White House.

She has a great website displaying among other things, a photo slide show and several video clips. It’s certainly worth a look see.

I remember shortly after 9-11 being in Washington D.C. with a number of Steelworkers and members of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees. We had great difficulty in finding our legislators as they were all in hiding from the anthrax scare. While walking to one of the Senators offices, we saw Hillary and asked if she would consider getting her photograph taken with us. She took time out of her busy schedule to do just that, however, when the photo was about to be taken, our photographer realized that he was out of film.

Later in the week, we again saw Hillary. She stopped to speak with us and then said, “Say, let’s take that picture again”. You can view that photograph here.

So, I can say that not only am I impressed with Hillary's performance so far in the U.S. Senate, but I also know that Senator Hillary Clinton is also a very understanding and friendly person.
Take a look at her website here.

Charlie Averill

The Good and the Bad

How did our Congressman in northern Indiana vote when they had a chance to help workers?

Pete Viscosky voted to increase the minimum wage.
Joe Donnelly voted to increase the minimum wage.
Mark Souder voted against workers.
Steve Buyer didn't vote.

How did our congressman in northern Indiana vote when they had a chance to help retirees?

Pete Visclosky voted to have Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for retirees.
Joe Donnelly voted to have Medicare negotiate lower drug prices for retirees.
Mark Souder voted against retirees.
Steve Buyer didn't vote.

hmmmmm.....I think I see a trend here.

Which congressman in northern Indiana has signed on to the Employee Free Choice Act?

Pete Visclosky is cosponsor to the Employee Free Choice Act.
Joe Donnelly is cosponsor to the Employee Free Choice Act.
Mark Souder...........nothing
Steve Buyer.............nothing

Workers and retirees, let us remember. Souder and Buyer are on their way out.

Goodyear Tires get the OK

The scab, temporary replacement tire builders at Goodyear plants have been canned.

Goodyear tires are now being built by experienced members of the United Steelworkers and have been removed from my personal boycott list.

My next set of tires will be Goodyear tires.

Charlie

Republican Colors

The right wingers in the U.S. House of Representatives once again displayed their true colors yesterday as they did their best to persuade their colleagues to vote against requiring Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with the drug companies to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

All day long they called upon their “free market god” to save the drug company donations in their pockets.

I wish I had a dollar for every time they said "let the free market take care of it." What the heck is a free market, anyway?

It’s funny that we don’t hear them call for the free market when it’s time to hand out no bid contracts, or to provide corporate welfare, or subsidies to their corporate pals.

They’ll do anything to hurt seniors. I think it has something to do with their family values. Or is this what they mean by compassionate conservatism.

Maybe they get it from one of the ten commandments. The one that says, “Honor your father & mother”.

Anyway, the bums lost their argument, and H.R. 4 passed, requiring Medicare to negotiate drug prices with the drug companies.

Find out how your Representative voted on this important issue. If he/she voted against it, fire him/her next chance you get.

I did learn one thing, and I’m glad I did. Not all Republicans are evil. There are a few good ones. Not many, but a few.

Another good thing might come out of the day. The Republicans brought to light how miserable a prescription drug program our veterans have. Maybe they will introduce legislation to fix that program as well.

We’ll see.

Message to U.S. House Republicans

What a sham.
Listening to the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives speak against raising the minimum wage is simply discusting.
I contend that they are not genuine Republicans.
They want us to see that they are cheap, stingy, and cruel, and mean spirited when it comes to helping the "least of these".
One even suggested that a person who receives the minimum wage, should get a "real job".
Many of this type Republican bit the dust in the last election. If those remaining don't change their ways, they'll also be looking for another job.

110th Congress Takes Office

Press Release

January 4, 2007

Washington, DC -- "I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

With these words, the Members of the 110th Congress took the oath of office today – marking 218 years of uninterrupted elected national government under the U.S. Constitution.

The House of Representatives proceeded to elect its officers:
· Speaker – Hon. Nancy Pelosi (California)
· Majority Leader – Hon. Steny Hoyer (Maryland)
· Republican Leader – Hon. John Boehner (Ohio)
· Majority Whip – Hon. James E. Clyburn (South Carolina)
· Republican Whip – Hon. Roy Blunt (Missouri)
· Clerk – Hon. Karen Lehman Haas
· Sergeant at Arms – Hon. Wilson S. Livingood
· Chief Administrative Officer – Hon. James M. Eagan, III
· Chaplain – Hon. Daniel P. Coughlin

Congratulations Joe Donnelly, Congressman, Indiana 2nd Congressional District

Thanks to USW-Goodyear Strike Supporter

MEMORANDUM

TO: USW-Goodyear Striker Supporter
FR: Leo W. Gerard, International President
DATE: December 22, 2006
RE: Goodyear

On behalf of 15,000 brave workers who courageously battled to last one day longer that the company, their families and more than 30,000 Goodyear retirees and surviving spouses, allow me to thank everybody who contributed to this victory.

We thank the entire labor movement, activist communities and progressive groups from all over North America for its unprecedented solidarity and acknowledge the efforts of fair-minded representatives of the media and financial communities, who took the time to understand the critical issues in this conflict.

As we said from the beginning, this contract campaign went far beyond a labormanagement
dispute. It was a battle to make a company live up to its commitments to past and current employees, and to secure a future for manufacturing in North America.

The support we received from the communities where our plants are located was extraordinary and included efforts by church and community groups as well as public officials, ordinary citizens and local businesses.

We are happy to provide you with some of the highlights from the Tentative Agreement that our bargaining reached with their counterparts at Goodyear Tire and Rubber late today. While no settlement is ever perfect, we all deserve congratulations in successfully working together to resolve the critical issues that confronted us when the bargaining process began.

Thank you again.

Tentative Agreement with Goodyear

USW, Goodyear Reach Tentative Agreement

For Immediate Release December 22, 2006

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company today reached tentative agreement on a new three year contract that the union said “secures retiree health care benefits and dramatically increases Goodyear’s investments in union facilities.”

“This agreement validates the solidarity of our members and their families, who wouldn’t allow the company to walk away from obligations earned through a lifetime of hard work and loyalty,” said USW President Leo W. Gerard.

“We owe a debt of gratitude,” he added, “to the entire labor and activist communities, which rose with unprecedented solidarity to challenge Goodyear’s assault on our members.”

“By securing solid medical and drug benefits for current members and retirees in the midst of today’s health care crisis,” said Thomas Conway, USW Vice President and the Chair of the union’s Goodyear negotiations, “our bargaining committee was able to drive the proverbial wolf away from the door for tens of thousands of retirees and thousands more workers who are nearing retirement.”

The Tentative Agreement was endorsed by the USW’s Goodyear Policy Committee, made up of local union leaders from the company’s master contract facilities throughout the U.S. Members at these locations will vote at ratification meetings in their communities on December 28.

Although details of the tentative agreement will not be released until USW members at Goodyear have voted in a ratification election scheduled for next week, the union said that the agreement addresses three crucial areas of concern by:

Establishing an innovative company-financed trust of more than $1 billion that will secure medical and prescription drug benefits for current and future retirees;
Enhancing the ability of USW-represented plants to meet the challenges of global competition by having Goodyear triple its capital investments to at least $550 million in those plants; and,
Maintaining affordable, high quality medical and prescription drug coverage for active members and retirees.
In addition, the tentative agreement requires Goodyear to rescind its demand for immediate closure of its Tyler, Texas plant, and instead provides for a one-year period of transition during which workers will have the opportunity to take advantage of sizeable retirement buyouts.

The Tyler plant came out of the 2003 negotiation as the one unprotected facility, but despite determined efforts by international and local union leaders and strong support from the community, plant security could not be won beyond the end of 2007.

“Though we’re not entirely happy with the outcome at Tyler,” Conway said, “we were able to ensure that as long as Goodyear stays in the market for the tires built at Tyler, those tires will have to be produced at USW-represented plants in the U.S. The company simply won’t be able to outsource that work or service this market segment with imports from China or anywhere other than a USW facility.”

“What we achieved would never have been possible if we hadn’t struck.” said Ron Hoover, USW Executive Vice President

Negotiations between the USW and Goodyear began in June of this year. With a contract expiration date of July 22, 2006 approaching, a day-to-day extension agreement was reached that gave both parties the option of terminating the agreement upon delivering 72-hour notice. Lack of progress in bargaining talks forced the USW to delivered notice on October 2 and 15,000 USW members in 16 plants throughout North America struck on October 5.

The ratification vote will be taken following informational meetings at each location. A majority of the majority principle applies meaning that a majority of the locals as well as a majority of the overall membership must vote to accept the Tentative Agreement as the new contract.

The USW represents more than 850,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. Some 70,000 are employed in the tire, rubber and plastics industry.

CONTACT: Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444

Enough is Enough!

Grinch of the Year

With 52% of more than 10,000 votes cast, Goodyear won the 6th annual online "Grinch of the Year" election sponsored by National Jobs with Justice. Nominated by the United Steelworkers, the company is criticized for forcing 15,000 US workers out on strike on October 5th. Despite concessions given by workers in the last round of contract negotiations that led to a billion dollar turn-around, Goodyear wants to close plants, off-shore jobs, and gut retiree health insurance.

"Goodyear truly is the Grinch Who Stole Christmas from working families this year" said Fred Azcarate, Executive Director of National Jobs with Justice. "15,000 families have been living on strike pay and their savings for almost three months, and their health benefits are set to expire on January 2nd."

Smithfield Tar Heel Division Chairman Joseph Luter III came in second place with 39% of the vote. Smithfield was nominated by the UFCW for paying workers poverty wages, failing to provide adequate medical care to injured workers, and suppressing workers' right to organize a union. The additional 9% of votes went to write in candidates. The most popular write-in candidates were Wal-Mart (winner of the 2005 and 2004 Grinch elections), the Bush administration (2003's Grinch winner), McDonalds, and Starbucks.

The 'Grinch of the Year' awards began locally with Jobs with Justice Coalitions around the country highlighting the greedy grinch in their hometowns. That tradition has remained in many areas with the Valley Park Board of Alderman winning the St. Louis Area Grinch of the Year Award for their anti-immigrant ordinance and Tacoma Macy's Vice President winning the Pierce County, WA Grinch award for promoting credit-card debt, failing to raise most workers' wages for 3 years, shifting health care costs to workers, and yelling at workers for excercising their legal right to organize a union.

Jobs with Justice is a national campaign for workers' rights. Around the country, local Jobs with Justice Coalitions unite labor, community, faith-based, and student organizations to build power for working people.

Source: JWJ

Save The Date!

SAVE THE DATE

FRIDAY, JAN. 19, 2007
AKRON, OH
1:30 P.M.

(specific location, transportation and other arrangements to be announced soon)

USW members on strike at

GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER

will be joined by their

BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
RETIREES AND ALLIES

to bring to Goodyear’s Corporate Headquarters

our fight for

JOBS . . . STRONG COMMUNITIES . . . DECENT HEALTHCARE

For more information,
check the USW website at:
www.usw.org/goodyear

Goodyear Screws U.S. Troops

Production Shortage Affects Military Shipments

Goodyear rebuffs influential congressman

Overview

Although Goodyear continues to claim that it is meeting the military’s production needs, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee tells the company that with production levels reduced there is a shortage within the military.

Production Levels Reduced By 35%

Yesterday, Rep. Hunter announced a significant shortage of tires for Humvees, the workhorse vehicle in Iraq and Afghanistan. He requested the return to work of 200 skilled union workers in Topeka, Kansas to fulfill military needs that current replacement workers cannot meet.

Goodyear Has Repeatedly Refused USW Offers To Insure Military Supply

The USW has made numerous offers since the beginning of October to work with the company to ensure that the supply requirements of the military are met. Since Hunter’s call for a solution yesterday, the USW has twice offered a solution to the shortage. Not only has Goodyear rejected all USW offers, it has also called into question the veracity of the Chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

Goodyear Risks Ruining Its Relationship With The US Government

Beyond the obvious public relations nightmare created by Goodyear’s abandonment of our service members fighting overseas, Goodyear risks losing the United States government as a future customer by denying production problems and undermining its credibility with elected officials.

For more information on this and other investor concerns, please visit: www.goodyearalert.org

Goodyear Screwing its Investors

Goodyear management provoked a labor dispute with the United Steelworkers by demanding tire building be done by workers making only 42 cents per hour.
Goodyear will not win this fight because the American people won't allow it.
In the meantime, investors will lose their shirts.

Enron......Goodyear.....What's the Difference??

NASCAR Should Buy American

Sweatshop Man of the Year? We'll see.

Dr. Martin C. Jischke became Purdue University's 10th president in August 2000. A Chicago native, he received his bachelor's degree in physics with honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and earned his master's and doctoral degrees in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A very smart man, no doubt. An educated man at least.

I wonder if he's smart enough to know what's best for his country.

As I understand it, Purdue University students are on a hunger strike while this guy says he needs more time to figure out whether or not to continue to purchase Purdue apparel items which are produced in sweatshop factories.

I hope he makes the right dicision. If not, I hope everyone boycotts Purdue.

Goodyear Investor Alert #6

Yes, We Have No Tires

Strike Impact on Goodyear Customers Grows

• Overview

Since the beginning of the strike Goodyear has been telling its customers and shareholders that it will be able to continue to serve its customers. The Union has cautioned investors that Goodyear’s pre-strike reserves would soon run out and that the Company would lose business and important customers. Public comments by tire dealers can settle this debate.

• Tight Market Even Tighter

According to an article in Modern Tire Dealer this week, in order to get tires, dealers have to “say some prayers and pull some teeth,” and the tires that they are getting are ones that were sitting in the warehouse from before the strike. Goodyear’s largest OTR customer, Purcell Tire & Rubber Co. has not received a shipment from Goodyear since the strike began. Another customer has had to substitute Goodyear tires with another brand.

• Market Share Will Slip

Dealers selling consumer replacement tires have not fared much better. Reports of shortages started almost immediately after the strike began.

On November 22, Kevin Tynan of Argus Research Group told the Fort Wayne Journal that it is unlikely that Goodyear will be able to get to the production level they need to meet demand. “In the near term, if the supply is not there, people will not wait.”

Les Garland, owner of Garland Brothers Tire & Alignment, said in late November that the word “shortage” would be a drastic understatement. “I’m having to bring in other lines just to sell tires. You can not sell from an empty wagon, and the Goodyear-Kelly wagon is empty.”

November was not a great month for Mark White of Discount Tire either, but he anticipates the real problems will start in January and February, when inventories will become depleted. White said that he will recommend other brands when Goodyear tires run out.

• A “Little Bit Of A Shortage”

In November Ed Markey, Goodyear’s spokesman, admitted “In certain sizes and types of tires, there is a little bit of a shortage…” We could quibble about the meaning of the word little, but it is the first shred of truth we have heard from the company about the issue. Some of the states that have contracts with Goodyear got a little bit of truth from the company in October, when Goodyear notified them that as a result of the strike it was invoking the “force majeure” clause of its contracts to supply them with tires. Goodyear did not offer details as to when curtailment would begin, but the letter tells a different story than the one the company tells publicly.

• Word From The Street

Two days ago, Analyst Rod Lache from Deutsche Bank upgraded Cooper Tire & Rubber stock from Hold to Buy. According to Lache: “The Goodyear strike, now entering its 8th week, has also begun to translate into a near term boost to volume.” We take this to mean that Cooper is selling to Goodyear’s customers, and investors seem to agree – Cooper stock has climbed
almost 50% since the strike began.

All of this confirms what reports from the picket line and good common sense tells us must be true: you can not build tires when your tire-builders are standing at the front gate of the plant.
Goodyear may have tires that we do not know about, but unfortunately for Goodyear, their dealers do not seem to know about them either. For more information on this and other investor concerns, please visit:

www.usw.org/goodyearalert

It Takes a Craftsman to make a Tire