Voting During COVID-19

Voting During COVID-19

Casting your ballot in-person on Election Day might be how you’ve always voted. However, we’ve also never seen a global health pandemic like the coronavirus, which could in all likelihood be a real obstacle to in-person voting come the November election. Luckily, that does not mean you should expect any difficulty in voting.

Did you know that in 36 states you don’t even have to turn out to the polls on Election Day to cast your ballot? Instead, a growing number of states are going to great lengths to protect voters, expand access, and ensure everyone can vote regardless of who you are or what your barriers to in-person voting are.

Making voting easier for everyone isn’t a partisan issue. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have been elected in states that allow for no-excuse/absentee mail balloting.

If anyone wants to make the false claim that “convenience voting” favors a particular political party, then they aren’t being honest. “Convenience voting” favors voters. Period. It can be confusing to think about all the different ways Americans vote. But, finding out how you can vote most easily isn’t difficult at all!

In fact, the USW has developed an easy online tool for our members and families to find out more information about voting in your state. You can link to this tool and search for your state by going to www.uswvoices.org/state-voting-information

If you have any difficulty using the above link for any reason, you can call the Int’l SOAR Office toll-free at 866-208-4420, and we would be happy to assist you.

Julie Stein, SOAR Director

Hold on to Your Wallet

Grab Your Wallets and Pocketbooks and Hold Tight!  

Mitt Romney is aiming to get back on the national stage, and this time Little Lord Fauntleroy is threatening our Social Security and Medicare to accomplish his goal.

  

Earlier this month, the Republican Senator from Utah, convinced three other members of the Senate to join him as co-sponsors of his TRUST (Time to Rescue United States Trusts) Act. The bill is falsely aimed at reducing the federal deficit.  “Falsely” because even as the guru of trickle-down economics, Ronald Reagan once declared, “Social Security has nothing to do with the deficit.” The Gipper went on to say that the retirement savings trust is a pay-as-you-go program, which is supported by payroll contributions made by workers and their employers.  It has never added a penny to the national debt, but for some reason many right-wing politicians run with the false narrative that the answer to fixing the national debt is found in reducing Social Security.

But truth be damned, Romney charges on telling anyone who will listen to his baseless claim that, “If you ever want to see a balanced budget, if you ever want to get out of debt, you have to deal with these trust funds. The trusts that the Senator refers to are: Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance, S.S. Disability Insurance, Medicare Hospital Insurance, and the Highway Trust Fund.

Most Steelworkers are aware of the Social Security trusts.  However, some may be unfamiliar with the Highway Trust. The fund is a federal program that is funded by fuel and other related excise taxes. It is actually two accounts. One account provides dollars to support mass-transit expansion and development; while the other supports improvements of surface transportation and infrastructure repairs.  

So, how would the Romney TRUST Act work?  If the bill is passed, the U.S. Treasury Department would have 30 days to prepare and deliver a report to Congress on the status of the trusts. Congressional leaders would then form a “rescue” committee for each trust fund.  Those committees would be made up of at least two members of each political party. They would meet to develop legislation to repair the funds’ solvency and identify other improvements.

Finally, any qualified legislative proposals arising from the committee process will get expedited consideration before the House and Senate.  Critics are concerned that the expedited process is akin to “FAST TRACK!”  They fear that proposals would get hammered out in closed-door sessions. Once they were approved by the rescue committee, they would be sent for a floor vote of yes or no.  There would be no hearings, no debate, and no amendment. If that process sounds familiar, it’s the same process used to pass every failed trade agreement the country has ever entered into, and we have all seen how well that worked out!

Romney’s TRUST Act is a ploy being perpetrated in the name of bi-partisanship. Its real goal is to cut benefits, raise the retirement age, and ultimately privatize the trusts working-class families have come to rely on.  These trusts have been disguised as fiscal responsibility. Don’t be fooled by gimmicky marketing, now is the time to expand Social Security and Medicare -- not to cut them!

Jay McMurran, District 2 SOAR Board Member

SOAR is Active and Involved

SOAR Active and Involved

Recently, SOAR has been involved in two USW sponsored conferences: During the third week of November, SOAR participated in a workshop and had an information booth at the first-ever Next Gen Conference, in Pittsburgh. During the last week of October, SOAR participated at the Rapid Response Conference, in Washington, D.C.  

At the RR Conference, 46 SOAR activists were involved in a rally and participated in lobbying our elected representatives on issues of importance to active and retired workers, as well as attending District meetings and general sessions of all those in attendance. 

Many seasoned SOAR members were teamed with first-time attendees and helped them navigate through the process of lobbying. Many of the SOAR attendees were there because of the generosity of their District Directors. Without their help and support, our numbers would have been greatly reduced. All of the SOAR members who attended the RR conference should make a point of thanking their local union or district director for providing the support to allow their participation. 

Participation by SOAR at the Next Gen Conference proved to be both energizing and educational. I believe SOAR and Next Gen have much to offer each other and can learn from each other if we choose to talk to instead of talking at each other. Many of our issues are different; but, we have common ground on many, and we should work hard to find the issues on which we can agree and work together on those issues. 

Four years ago, no one was speaking about SOAR and Next Gen and Rapid Response working together to address issues; and now today, we cannot think about conducting activities without the input and involvement of these resources. 

I think that is what I like most about this Union. The policy of the USW of inclusion and working together to help others is something we can and should all be proud of.

Bill Pienta, SOAR President

Oh Yes, We're Watching

Active and Retired Workers are Watching

Tuesday, November 5 marked another momentous election for union-endorsed candidates, with the two most notable demonstrations of the labor movement resurgence coming from Kentucky and Virginia.                                                                                            In Virginia, the labor movement and our union, specifically, will remember this election as a significant victory in our work to reverse the many ways Virginians have been hurt by the state’s so-called “Right to Work” law and the persistence of an anti-worker majority in the State House (1997-2019) and State Senate (2015-2019).   

Our union committed significant resources in this campaign with a core group of activists who knocked doors in addition to a targeted “Get-Out-The-Vote” mailing that hit mailboxes just before Election Day.  USW activists accounted for more walk shifts than any other affiliate that participated in the AFL-CIO program, which helped lift six union-backed candidates to victory in legislative districts previously held by anti-labor lawmakers (two in the State Senate and four in the House).   

This new pro-worker majority in the state legislature will be a welcome addition to the labor-friendly Governor, Ralph Northam, who we helped elect in 2017.  

In Kentucky, USW activists led the way in a labor-led victory for Andy Beshear, defeating incumbent Governor Matt Bevin who earned the ire of teachers and first-responders when he supported legislation that would force them to work longer before even being eligible for retirement, and enforce deep cuts in benefits for future retirees.  Additionally, Bevin reversed the state’s tradition of respecting union rights when he signed the so-called “Right to Work” law in 2017.  

On the promise to fight on behalf of retirees and workers in Kentucky, Andy Beshear pledged to work with labor to protect pensions, strengthen public education, and expand access to good jobs and health care.  

With 2020 on everyone’s mind, we should understand one thing very clear:  Active and retired workers are watching.  

Julie Stein, SOAR Director
Source: https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article208518614.html

We Thank You Congressman Visclosky

Rep. Visclosky to Enjoy Well-Deserved Retirement 

The American steel industry is losing one of its staunchest allies in Congress at the conclusion of the current session. 

U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) announced in early November that he will not seek re-election in 2020 after serving 35 years in Congress representing the popular steel mill district of Northwest Indiana just south of Chicago. 

Visclosky was born in Gary, Indiana and has been in office since 1986, making him the longest-serving member of Indiana’s Congressional delegation. He has fought tirelessly for the betterment of the American steel industry and USW members. 

Visclosky represents Indiana’s Congressional District 1, which is the largest steel-producing district in the country. U.S. Steel’s Gary Works and ArcelorMittal’s plate mill in Burns Harbor are in Visclosky’s district and the congressman has always stood front and center during the trying times in America’s steel industry. 

Over his long Congressional career, Visclosky has represented thousands of USW members and could always be counted on to voice the concerns of our union brothers and sisters. 

Visclosky was a leader of the Congressional Steel Caucus for many years and he fought for tougher trade enforcement rules. He has been a crucial voice in combating China’s “dumping” of cheap, state- subsidized steel into the U.S. He realized that steel production was the foundation of Northwest Indiana and the foundation of our national defense and national security. 

And he fought to provide and keep the well-paying, benefit-friendly steel mill jobs in the part of Indiana known as The Region. America’s steelworkers will be hard-pressed to find another ally in Congress as effective as Visclosky. 

The Alliance for American Manufacturing wants to thank Rep. Visclosky for his stellar career in support of steelworkers and manufacturing. We hate to see you go Pete; but, enjoy your well-deserved retirement. 

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer at the Alliance for American Manufacturing 

'SOAR'ing in the Iron Range

‘SOAR’-ing in Retirement

IRON RANGE — The first Wednesday of every month, a group of local silver-haired activists known as the Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees — known simply as SOAR — gets together for donuts, coffee and to dish on politics. “We have roughly 300-plus members, and they come from U.S. Steel, [former] EVTAC, Hibbing Taconite, and around the area,” SOAR President Sam Ricker recently told the Hibbing Daily Tribune. “It’s just about getting people together and to find out about political campaigns.”

The local SOAR chapter is part of a larger organization that was first established in 1985 to help strengthen the Steelworkers union by bringing together retirees to act as advocates, activists and volunteers in the communities where they lived. The members are comprised of former miners, their spouses and, according to Ricker, they’ve also opened up membership to non-Steelworkers who embody the same principals and values their group upholds.

According to usw.org, SOAR leaders encouraged chapter formations in 2011 to foster more direct communication between chapter leaders and their local unions. The idea was to help gain insight on negotiation issues regarding retirees. As the website states, “With the establishment of SOAR, our union solidified its focus on the unique issues impacting USW retirees and their spouses. Further, SOAR has been engaged in countless efforts to assure security for current and future generations of retirees, regardless of whether they belong to a union or not.”

Before Ricker became president of his local SOAR chapter, he was employed for 36 years at the former Eveleth Taconite Co. — aka “EVTAC.” The 1961 Nashwauk graduate was working in Minneapolis for Honeywell before he returned to the area and began working at EVTAC in the late ‘60s as a maintenance mechanic. Two years later, he became a machinist and would stick at that job for the next 34 years.

“It seemed to change over the years, as new management came in,” Ricker said, reflecting how the atmosphere shifted from “more personal” to “more business” during his time there. Ricker then retired in January 2003, mere months before the plant shut down which resulted in 450 employees getting laid off. Eventually, the closed plant would be purchased by Cliffs and would reopen as United Taconite, which celebrated 50 years of iron ore production at the Eveleth site in 2014. “I got involved with SOAR two years after I retired,” Ricker told the HDT. “A friend of mine mentioned they were having these meetings, and I was the president of Local 6860 for approximately 12 years. For the 36 years I worked, at least 30 I was in some kind of office or leadership-type role.” And in less than two years, he would be president of his SOAR chapter. Ricker noted that there are two other groups nearby — in Aurora and in Marble — but the Eveleth chapter meets at 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the Local 6860 office. Twenty “regulars” attend most meetings, though that number tends to increase the closer it gets to an election. A little, anyway. For the most part, the group engages in casual debates with discussions focusing in on which candidates to get behind the closer they get to ballot casting time.

“We do have our own endorsing system,” Ricker said. “When you meet with the active [Steelworkers], you may have a majority vote and it may happen to be the candidate we support. Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s the same, but there are sometimes that it could be a different selection.” When that happens, he said, SOAR members will default to the active union members’ majority vote so they can remain unified.

As for their activism on the local level, Ricker said that mainly comes down to making phone calls. “There aren’t too many who do that, but I guess I would be one of them,” he chuckled. “Otherwise, it’s just getting the word out and talking to people when attending different functions. Especially when the Steelworkers have a contract conflict — we’ll attend those meetings and hold a banner. We try to provide any assistance we can when they ask for it.”

Each July, the members from all three local SOAR chapters get together for a picnic. They take turns deciding who will host and extend invitations to local politicians. Their last event took place in Pengilly, where state Senator David Tomassoni and other politicians made appearances for the roughly 50 or so people in attendance, Ricker said. The group also walks in parades and shows up for their active Steelworkers when called upon. Mostly, however, Ricker insists their get togethers are of a casual nature — his favorite part being the conversations, which “never get too heated.”

“It’s more of a social club,” Ricker said, describing it as a place to chew about local news, politics and whatever is happening in their lives. “When there's nothing going on politically, we bring up things that have happened in the past, joking around in a nice format.” They also use the hour-long meetings to acknowledge and honor any members who have passed away. “Overall, it’s been pretty peaceful. Everyone pretty much as their own beliefs, and they’re all welcome,” Ricker added.

As for membership fees, Ricker explained that the first year is usually paid by the Local the retiree is from, after that it’s $12 for the member, and $3 for the spouse annually. Anyone interested in joining the Eveleth chapter of SOAR can contact Ricker at 218-744-4668. “They’re entirely welcome to come and voice their opinion and join in the conversation and enjoy some coffee and donuts.”

Carrie Manner, Staff Writer
Hibbing Daily Tribune

Social Security – What’s Open and Honest Behind Closed Doors?

Social Security – What’s Open and Honest Behind Closed Doors?

In a September 2019 town hall meeting in Emmet County, Iowa, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst complained, openly, that groups like SOAR are making her job more difficult than she would like.  

Regarding the future of Social Security, Senator Ernst said, “We do need to sit down behind closed doors, so we’re not being scrutinized by this group or the other, and just have an open and honest conversation...”  “The minute you say we need to address Social Security, the media is hammering you, the opposing party is hammering you — there goes granny over a cliff.” Senator Ernst continued, “We know that there is a point in time when we as Congress will have to address the situation, and I think it’s better done sooner rather than later, to make sure that we shored up that system.”

When you hear the words, “shore(d) up that system,” and “behind closed doors” – do you get the sense that Senator Ernst wants to expand the benefits of Social Security to more Americans? Do you think Senator Ernst wants to figure out a way for future generations of Americans to be able to retire with dignity?

Or, are you getting flashbacks to contract negotiations from your working years when management wanted to have closed-door talks so they could raid our pension or increase workers’ healthcare contributions? Do you get the sense, like me, that Senator Ernst believes Social Security is an entitlement and not something Americans have earned (even though we certainly have)?  

There is a reason Social Security is arguably the most popular legislative achievement in our history.  

For many Americans, particularly widowed women, Social Security is the last thing between living with some dignity and absolute poverty.  Social Security is a financial investment made by American workers held in trust to assure that retirees, the elderly, people with disabilities, or the children and families of deceased workers will not be abandoned by the richest nation on earth.  

If Senator Ernst gets her way, Americans will be having tough conversations with their spouses around empty kitchen tables for years to come. Not because Americans will be living longer lives, but let’s be  open and honest here, they won’t be living the lives they anticipated if Social Security is destroyed.

Julie Stein, SOAR Director

Know the Facts...Don't be Fooled About Social Security Cuts

Don’t Be Fooled...

This being the last opportunity before the November election that I can write to you, I thought it might be valuable to give you something to ponder. Retirees should not be deceived by a recent budget proposal that proponents falsely claim will be to our benefit. After years of fighting against the efforts of politicians who want to undermine Social Security, we’ve learned not to be fooled by coded language such as, “cutting waste” or “getting the Government out of your life.” We know such political speak is merely a ruse with the goal of privatizing or eliminating Social Security and Medicare!

All that glitters isn’t gold, and as more people enter retirement age, the Republican budget proposes to reduce funding for administrating area Social Security offices. When Social Security offices close, retirees will have more trouble accessing Social Security and other vital services. As a result, we will not be served as well and will start to believe their baloney that seniors
could be better served by the private sector. However, that simply is not true because Social Security administrative costs are one percent or less of budget costs. Try to name another company that offers what Social Security does at that minimal overhead.

To implement these budget cuts, five Social Security administrative offices in Pennsylvania would be closed along with 15 more offices in other states. Where will these retirees go when they need information on their Benefits, especially in Pennsylvania? Presumably, Republicans hope that retirees will rely on the internet for benefits information. But due to lack of knowledge and monthly income, it is hard for most seniors to navigate online, or to afford internet service.

SOAR members need to know the facts on this issue! This can only happen if we choose to remain silent or not get involved. We cannot sit back as an organization, and we will not allow our retirement security to be threatened without a fight.

Please keep up on the issues and inform our members; after that, the decision is theirs, but at the least, we can feel good about what we have done. Remember to vote on Election Day and get involved.

Bill Pienta, SOAR President

Pursuit of American Freedom

Lady Liberty and the Pursuit of American Freedom

I recently visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York and came away with some strong feelings on the present immigration issue. My grandfather came to the United States from Poland, alone when he was 17 without any other family members and no immediate family living in the U.S. We found the documents recording his arrival and saw some of the questions required to enter the country. He declared that he was not insane and was not a criminal. He also possessed no real skills. It was very emotional to see his name, where he ca I me from, the ship he was on and other information like his lack of knowledge of the English language in document form.

I felt something special when I was reminded of the rebuilding of Lady Liberty and the small role his descendants played in the rebuilding. His son and grandson worked at a mill that donated stainless steel rod towards the rebuilding of the Statue of Liberty to replace the old steel skeleton that had rusted.

I was less surprised to learn that two of the top three jobs held by Polish immigrants were working in mines and steel mills. My grandfather worked digging ditches and ultimately became a boss for a small gas company in Western New York. My grandfather’s legacy lives on through my grandchildren, who are the fourth generation of Americans born in this country. 

I wonder what would happen today if an unaccompanied 17-year-old boy who could not read, write or speak English, and had no identifiable skills, showed up at immigration and asked to enter our country to start a new life. 

Bill Pienta, SOAR President

Cadillac Tax Repeal

Repeal of Cadillac Tax Protects Affordable Health Care for Millions - Especially Retirees

by Robert Roach, Jr.

The House recently passed H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act. It repeals the 40 percent tax on employer-provided health care plans scheduled to take effect in 2022. 

The excise tax, commonly referred to as the “Cadillac Tax,” H.R. 748 passed by a wide margin with Republican and Democratic members voting for it. Now we need the Senate to pass it and send it to the president for signature. 

This excise tax is part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and it was initially conceived as a way to tax wealthy Americans’ high-premium plans to help provide coverage for uninsured individuals and families. In reality, the tax would disproportionately affect middle-class workers and families, and the labor movement has been working hard to repeal it for years.

If it goes into effect, the tax would affect private health care plans, which cost at least $11,200 annually for individual coverage and $30,100 for family coverage. 181 million Americans’ employer-provided health plans would be taxed. 

Experts say that employers will increase premiums and deductibles and even reduce health coverage to avoid paying it. 

Retiree health insurance plans would be especially hard hit. If the tax is implemented, employers could cut benefits for retirees younger than 65 and stop supplemental Medicare coverage for retirees 65 and over. 

Passage of this bill is long overdue and a rare bipartisan moment for the House. We must press the Senate to take action and kill this unfair tax immediately. 

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

What Can Labor Unions do for Veterans

USW Locals Resolve to Pay First-Year Membership Into SOAR

I Hope Some Local Unions Reconsider Their Policy

It’s a shame that we no longer have bulletin boards to post meeting dates and such to communicate with our chapter members. However, we do have the internet and a Facebook page for those who use a computer. Our SOAR in Action magazine also help to get information to our members by letting them know about serious legislation affecting workers and retirees. We also have this newsletter which gets posted to the Steelworker website for easy access.

That’s why it’s so hard for me to understand why many local unions don’t go by the intent of their resolve to provide the whopping first-year membership dues of twelve dollars for a retiree to be a member of a chapter; but, instead make the retiree go through hoops to get this meager retirement gift.

I’ve run across local union presidents that say such things as:

• “Oh yeah, we’ll provide the first-year membership dues by reimbursing the retiree when he joins the chapter.”
• “We’ll provide the first-year membership dues if the retiree attends the chapter meetings.”
• “We’ll provide the first-year membership dues if the retiree comes in to our office and asks us.”
• “We’ll provide the first-year membership dues if the retiree signs for his dues check off with the company.”

What they don’t seem to understand is that retirees get older each year. They become less mobile, they can’t always walk distances required for marches, and may not be able to stand for long lengths of time.  Gosh, many are in nursing homes or being cared for by a loved one or others. But, by golly, sometimes they are still able to write a letter, make a phone call, sign a postcard and vote in elections.

I’m so grateful that the two local unions sponsoring my own chapter (USW Locals 12775 and 13796) provide the first-year membership dues for their retirees and have done so for the past twenty years without any “ifs, ands, butts, or catches.” There is no need to join the chapter and then get reimbursed; no requirement to attend the chapter meeting (heck, we have members residing in twenty different states); no need to go to the local union office and ask them to provide the first-year membership; no need to sign a dues check off card. 

These retirees devoted their working lives to our union by paying dues for each hour they worked and faithfully supported their local union. I trust they will continue to help the union in any way possible. This is simply a reminder to local unions who read this that a retirement party is nice, a wrist watch is thoughtful, but a membership in a SOAR chapter is truly the gift that will keep on giving back to the union. SOAR is not only how retirees stay connected, but how they continue the fight for retired and working families, by helping to defend vital programs like Social Security and Medicare. 

Charlie

Make That Phone Call

Make That Phone Call!

By Jeff Bonior

Just when we thought an agreement between Congress and the White House to finally address America’s neglected infrastructure was about to happen, President Trump once again quashed the first steps of a deal.

On April 30, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer met with the President and had a productive conversation about a $2 trillion bipartisan plan. The sticking point, as usual, was how to fund such an ambitious project.

They agreed to meet three weeks later, on May 22, to discuss ways to fund the repair and rebuild of America’s crumbling infrastructure.

That meeting lasted less than four minutes as the President walked into the room and berated the Democratic leaders saying he would not negotiate with them until all the investigations into his personal dealings ended.

He is clearly playing politics, hitting back at Democrats for their ongoing investigations of him and his administration. 

Repairing and rebuilding our infrastructure is the one issue that an overwhelming majority of Americans agree upon. If our leaders cannot agree on this bipartisan issue, it is likely a divided Congress will not agree on passing any other meaningful, major legislation.

Meanwhile, Americans will continue to endure the burdens of inadequate roads, bridges, water systems, transportation systems, the electric grid and many more conveniences they rely upon daily.

An aggressive agreement on infrastructure would be a boon to the steel industry and create many thousands of well-paying jobs. A larger and stronger USW membership would be welcomed by SOAR members to help preserve pensions and healthcare.

It is now doubtful that a sincere infrastructure plan will materialize before the 2020 presidential election although the President promised to tackle this problem during his first year in office.

This is an issue that isn’t going away. Our failing infrastructure is making America less competitive and it is also becoming a public safety risk.

We urge you to reach out to your members of Congress and the White House to demand that plans for our infrastructure resume immediately. You can contact your members of Congress at their district offices or by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 where you will be connected to their Washington, D.C. office. To reach the White House and leave your comments call (202) 456-1111.

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Just do the Right Thing, already!!!

Just do the Right Thing, Already!!!

In this Connection newsletter, I wanted to share my thoughts about the Alliance for Retired Americans’ (ARA) annual congressional voting record that was released in May, which is recognized as Older Americans Month.  

The ARA has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the labor movement to assure all Americans the right to a secure and dignified retirement.   

Their report assesses votes taken between January 2018 and December 2018 that could impact the well-being of current and future retirees. (Any actions that have been taken by the newly-elected Congress in November 2018 will appear on the report that will be released by the ARA next year.)   

The ARA report shows what many Americans knew already:  that a vast majority of Congress was not looking out for the best interests of retirees. This explains why Americans voted to oust the largest number of incumbents since the Watergate scandal in 1974.  In fact:  

• Only 42% of Senators voted right on 100% of ARA-scored bills, compared to just 28% of U.S. House members; and, 
• Only 49% of Senators and 41% of U.S. House members voted right on 2/3 of the ARA-scored bills in 2018. 

All 41 of the U.S. House seats that flipped from Republican to Democratic control in the 2017 election were represented by a legislator who voted wrong on at least 50% of the bills scored by the ARA.  In fact, 12 of the 17 members who voted wrong 100% of the time were either defeated or retired in 2018.  Meanwhile, 99% of the members who voted right on all of the ARA-scored bills won reelection.      

So, if there are any members of Congress reading this who are concerned about reelection in 2020, I have one bit of advice that could go a long way...Doing right by retirees will help your chances more than you can imagine!

To see the full report, click here

Or, go to: https://retiredamericans.org/voting-record/

Julie Stein, SOAR Director

From Our SOAR President

SOARing Reports

This year, during the Rapid Response Conference, SOAR will hold their annual Executive Board meeting. This meeting will extend over 2 to 2-1/2 days, covering many topics of interest. At this meeting, we will plan our activities for the upcoming year and give reports on the activities and involvement of SOAR Chapters in each District. While we continue to talk about the “good-ole-days,” SOAR has long since transformed into an organization tackling many crucial issues concerning the need to maintain a well-earned, comfortable standard of living in retirement today and into the future.

SOAR Chapters also work hand-in-hand with their district or local offices, to aide in the fights that many of our locals face with greedy employers and branches of government that try to weaken Unions and/or suppress workers’ rights and benefits.  In our Districts, SOAR is working with other organizations that share our concerns and values, which makes SOAR an even more dynamic and respected organization within our community.

At the upcoming SOAR Executive Board meeting, when it is time for reports, what will your Executive Board member have to report regarding your SOAR Chapter? If your SOAR Chapter has not been as active as you would like, please raise the issue at your next meeting, in an attempt to stimulate discussion of ideas about how your Chapter can become more involved.

Please provide pictures and a short write-up of any activities that your group participated in to assist your EBoard member in their report.

On Memorial Day, please take the time to remember those that have made great sacrifices so we can continue to be who we are and do what we do.

Bill Pienta, SOAR President

Brilliant Speech by AOC

Frank Lumpkin receiving the Pioneer Award

Frank Lumpkin, USWA Founder

I’ll never forget the day (several years ago), when, after meeting with the SOAR Chapter that used to meet in the old local 65 hall in Chicago, I noticed the sign on the door of Frank Lumpkin’s SOJ (Save Our Jobs Committee).  I had to scratch my head trying to figure out why two retirees organizations were meeting separately, right down the hall from each other, while sharing the same building. 

After meeting Bea Lumpkin and Frank Lumpkin at an Alliance for Retired Americans Conference in Washington, D.C. and reading her book, “Always bring a crowd”, I realized that Frank Lumpkin was a Steelworker Pioneer and a Founder of our United Steelworkers of America Union.

This photo is of Frank being awarded the USWA Union Pioneer Award. What a privilege it was for me to present it. Later, the Save Our Jobs Committee merged with the SOAR chapter.