“It’s critical that the experience and voices of ourSOAR members are a core part of our union’s leg-islative work. Our retirees know the issues. They’velived through NAFTA. They’ve seen our MiddleClass shrink. They know the impacts,” notes Jim Centner, Director of SOAR.The necessity of partnering across generations for our fights was underscored

in the workshop, Getting Everyone Involved: Partnering with Other USWPrograms to Maximize Our Voices. The panel featured SOAR, Women of Steel,Next Gen and Civil Rights representatives. Through the discussion, the panelistsnoted how we can work together to ensure that all our voices are utilized tomaximize our strength and potential for success.The final day of the conference, that sentiment was put into action as

Steelworkers joined environmentalists, religious activists and other unionmembers for a 1,200-strong rally on Capitol Hill opposing Fast Track.

20 Years of Rapid Response Activism

The final evening of the conference commemorated 20 years of RapidResponse activism within our union. A feature presentation included the memo-ries of active and retired members during the two decade span of the program.Presenters shared stories about the first trainings held for Rapid Response, the

challenges of getting a new programstarted and even the comparisons intechnology considering that RapidResponse information was first sharedby fax machine.From the first days to the present,

the core values and need for broad-based involvement remain.Greg England, former District 9

Rapid Response Coordinator, sums upthe need for sustained engagement,“Activism can’t stop when your timein the workplace ends. It just marks anew phase and we have to continue tospeak up and speak out.”

Pairing Up to TackleLegislative Challenges

10/1

Active and retired Steelworkersjoined forces at the 2015 RapidResponse and LegislativeConference to get educated,empowered and engaged in thecritical issues facing our union.For three days in April, over600 Steelworkers—includingalmost 20 SOAR members—heard from legislative leaders,attended workshops,conducted meetings onCapitol Hill and more.

Oldtimer 3

I am sick and tired of listening to politi-cians and retirement planners, as well asAARP, maintain a position that peopleshould delay collecting Social Securityuntil age 70 to increase their retirementincome. I am also tired of hearing politi-cians maintain we need to reduce benefitsto preserve Social Security. What a crock!Now I am sure, there is an exception to

every rule but can you imagine a countryof 70 year old people in the work force. Sure there arejobs you can work until you die. But how many peoplecan perform their jobs if they worked in a paper mill orsteel mill at 70? Thirty-five or forty years on those jobswear the body out. I would not want a 70 year old police-man or fireman answering my distress call. Would you?Many jobs do not allow us to physically perform them

in later years. Working in a coal mine or working as aniron worker at 70 would be extremely difficult for most.

Millions of people have jobs that limit their physical abili-tiy to perform them in the later years.Working longer is not an option for many. Increasing

the cut-off for Social Security contributions from wagesis. According to IRS figures, approximately 14 millionpeople did not pay Social Security tax on a portion oftheir income. Eliminating the cap would produce signifi-cant income to the fund. Increasing the minimum wagefor millions of workers would also generate revenue forthe fund. It would be nice to see our elected representa-tives passing pro-worker legislation to encourage union-ization instead of Right to Work for Less Laws. I thinkthat might help to increase wages and an increase inrevenue to the fund would be the end result.I think it is criminal to say that an average Social

Security benefit of $1,331 needs to be reduced. It needs tobe increased and I just explained how to pay for it. Nowall we need are the right people elected to office that payattention to us instead of the big corporations.

BILL PIENTASOAR President

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T ’ S D E S K

Sick and Tired

When I pay close attention to the noiseout of our nation’s capital about the budgetdiscussions and deficit, it reminds me of the1993 comedymovie with Bill Murray,“Ground Hog Day.” For those of you notfamiliar with the film;Murray plays Phil anarrogant Pittsburgh TVweatherman who,during an assignment covering the annualGroundhog Day event in Punxsutawney,Pennsylvania, finds himself in a time loop,repeating the same day again and again.

That is exactly what is happening in the political theaterinWashington, D.C. The U.S. House and Senate beganreleasing and debating their respective budgets withRepublicans and some Democrats calling for a return ofthe “Bowles-Simpson” commission, which would cutcritical programs for children, veterans, retirees and dis-abled workers. This approach plays right into the hands ofWall Street billionaires who have been demonizing earnedbenefits with the hopes of getting their hands on ourretirement income.If you remember, the Bowles-Simpson commission was

created by an executive order in 2010 to find solutions toour nation’s mid- and long-term fiscal challenges. In real-ity, it was nothing but smoke and mirrors. Its members

made a big show of laboring over “painful” choices andconsidering all options in their quest to bring down thedeficit. But the commission’s real goal was to reduce thedeficit on the backs of the old and the poor, through cutsto Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It was com-monly referred to as the “Cat Food Commission” sincethat’s what its victims would have been forced to eat oncethey got done slashing away at retiree’s modest earnedbenefits which they wrongly titled entitlements.We need to get Congress out of its “time loop” and back

to reality. They need to debate real issues not the comedyof errors of the past. Social Security never contributed onepenny to the deficit and should be taken off the table.Medicare has preventedmillions of retirees from falling

into bankruptcy. Before the enactment ofMedicare, only 50percent of seniors had health insurance and 35 percent livedin poverty. That was a timewhen even aminor illness orinjury could bankrupt olderAmericans and their families.It’s time for our representatives to get serious about our

nation’s debt. They need to pass legislation that createsjobs, stop negotiating trade agreements that takes ourmanufacturing base off shore and increase taxes on thefilthy rich. Social Security and Medicare should bestrengthened not destroyed for the benefit of the wealthy.The time has come for them to pay their fair share.

JIM CENTNERSOAR Director

F R O M T H E D I R E C T O R ’ S D E S K

Groundhog Day

Page 2 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015

The two major health care providersin Western Pennsylvania have been ina two-year battle for dominance in themarketplace. The end result of thisfeud has been mass confusion anddeep concern on whether bills will bepaid. While these two giants slug itout, our members are very confusedon whether their physicians, hospitalsand testing facilities are “in-network”or out-of-network.” As you all know,an “out-of-network” provider placesa huge financial burden on thefamily budget.Al Brezezinski, president of Chapter

10-8 in Leechburg, Pa. called a meet-ing to try to clear up some of the con-fusion on this issue. Over 80 retireesshowed up at USW Local 1138’sunion hall the morning of March 30,2015 to get some answers. WayneDonato, USW Servicing Representa-tive was there to provide some guid-ance. He walked those in attendancethrough a Consent Decree that thetwo health providers agreed to earlier

this year. That document outlined whoand what facilities would be coveredas in-network for this group ofretirees. He also cautioned them toprotect themselves they should alsoask every time they make a doctor’s ormedical appointment, to ask thatprovider, if they accept their insurancecoverage as in-network to eliminateany surprises down the road.The retirees also heard from SOAR

Director Jim Centner. He discussedwhy it’s important to continue to beconnected to the union in their retire-ment. He also discussed the real harmto Social Security and Medicare if thebudget Bill the Republican led Houseof Representatives recently passedbecame law. He cautioned our mem-bers “to pay very close attention tothe budget discussions in Washington,D.C. …They have your benefits intheir sights and they want to cut themto give tax breaks to those on top andbig corporations.”

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

Published as an edition to USW@Workfor the United SteelworkersFive Gateway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15222Winner of ICLA’sjournalistic competitionawards for General Excellencein 1986, 1990 and 1993

Jim Centner, Director/EditorLee Etta Hairston, Copy EditorAddress editorial material to:

Editor, USW@Work, SOAR in ActionUnited SteelworkersFive Gateway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15222-1209Send address changes only to:

USW Membership Department3340 Perimeter Hill DriveNashville, TN 37211When submitting address change, pleaseinclude address label from last issue.

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015 Page 3

Chapter Calls MeetingOver Provider Feud

District 10 staff representativeWayne Donato discussing insuranceissues with Chapter 10-8 members

and Local 1138 retirees.

Indianapolis, Ind.—Over 30 SOAR activists were amongthe more than 400 active and retired Steelworkers partici-pating in the annual USWDistrict 7 Lobby Day on March16, 2015. The lobbyists participated in a morning session,conducted by District Director Mike Millsap and RapidResponse Coordinator Jerome Davison, which preparedthem to discuss their issues of concern with the electedrepresentatives of the General Assembly.

The delegation fanned out through the State Capital inIndianapolis. They met with their representatives andvoiced their concerns about the continuing attacks out ofthe state capital on the working class and poor. They voicedtheir strong opposition to Indiana’s Right to Work law andlobbied vigorously to get it overturned.“This was a great event,” stated Victor Storino from

Chapter 31-9, “...they knew we were here!”

USW/SOAR Lobby Indiana State Reps

District 7 SOAR members from sixchapters in Illinois and Indiana orga-nized a day of action at the Chicagoauto show February 21, 2015; to callattention to the dangerous workingconditions our striking members dealwith in the oil industry. The t-shirtssaid it all, “Hey BP, Safety Matters”on the front and, “SOAR Supports BPOil Workers” on the back.The District’s SOAR members have

been working closely with USWLocal 7-1 at the Whiting BP refinerysince the strike began. They designeda leaflet that explained why plantsafety is not only important to theworkers, but to the communities in the

area. The flyers were well receivedand got a great response from workersand the huge crowd at the show. Manyof the show’s attendees asked forleaflets so they could share them withfriends and neighbors.However, the SOAR members were

not treated as well from the oil com-pany’s big shots. Judging by the sternand panicked looks from executives atthe Shell Oil display booth, they fig-ured their time at the show would belimited, and sure enough, a short time

later, security kick our folks out.Fortunately, the guards were sympa-thetic to our cause, as soon as ourmembers were out of sight of theexecutives; the security guards toldthem to walk slower so more of thecrowd could see them.It was a good day! Our members

passed out several hundred leaflets andtalked to a lot of people. BP knew theywere there, other oil companies knewthey were there and they made it clear,“One Day Longer, One Day Stronger!”

Hey Chicago Auto Show: Oil Worker Safety Matters

Youmight say District 7’s newestSOAR chapterwas born in fire.Chapter 7-PC-6 burst on to thescene in full fight-backmode;offering unified strike support fortheir home Local, USW7-1 at theBPOil Refinery inWhiting, Ind.On March 25, 2015, District 7

Executive Board Member ScottMarshall journeyed to Whiting topresent our newest chapter with theirofficial charter. As was fitting, theygathered at the plant gate whereChapter President, Ed Hamilton,Vice President, Mike Hill, and theirmembers often staff the picket line insupport of the striking members.The new chapter sets the standard

in their support and has been instru-mental in building support for thestrike from other chapters and SOARmembers from across the District.The strike rat was on hand and

joined in the presentation.Special thanks to SOAR Executive

Board Member, Bill Gibbons andDistrict 7 SOAR Coordinator JerryBrooms Jr., who worked closely withthe local union and retirees to get thechapter off the ground.

District 7’sNewestSOAR Chapter

by William Gibbons, SOAR Executive Board Member

While there are many important issues to write about, includingthe recent planning by the Republicans to attack and dismantleMedicare and Social Security, I feel it’s important to writeabout the dedication and activities of our SOAR leaders andmembers in District 7.As you all know, our Union has been engaged in tough bargaining and

an unfair labor practice strike at a number of oil/chemical companiesacross the country. One of these facilities is the BP Refinery in Whiting,Indiana, represented by USW Local 7-1. They have been on strike sinceearly February.A call to action for SOAR members was made by SOAR Chapter

7-PC-6, President, Ed Hamilton, also known as “Bone.” Ed and his wife,Kate, worked tirelessly to aid the strikers. They manned the picket line onnumerous occasions picketing all night along with other officers, membersof their chapter and other SOAR members from across the district. Inaddition to their picket duty, they also coordinated the effort to collectdonations and fire wood to provide some comfort to our members picket-ing in one of the coldest Februarys on record. District 7 SOAR ExecutiveBoard member Scott Marshall, Chapter 31-9 Officer Emeritus, VicStorino and members of his chapter were frequent visitors to picket linesto lend their support to Chapter 7-PC-6 efforts.On March 19, 2015 the union sponsored a rally and demonstration

in front of the BP offices in Chicago, Ill. SOAR members from acrossthe district were among the hundreds on hand to show their support.Ninety Seven year old Bea Lumpkin from Chapter 31-9, and Dan andPhyllis Frost from Chapter 31-5 were among the many SOAR membersin attendance.I found this whole experience very inspiring and what a great example

by all of these individuals and so many others not named that joined thepicket lines, made contributions and engaged in other activities on behalfof SOAR and our members. I truly apologize for not being able to men-tion everyone’s name. But please know this, your contributions werenoted and appreciated by the striking members and our union.

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015 Page 5

I N S P I R I N G

NEWS FROM CANADA

Doug Macpherson, National Coordinator

Canada has a growing and agingpopulation. In 2014 there weremore than six million Canadiansaged 65 or older representing15.6 percent of the population.By 2030, seniors will numbermore than nine million and makeup about 25 percent of thepopulation.

Health Care Reform

At a time when Canada needs a national strategy andleadership on health and aging, we find the governmentmoving away from funding our cherished national, univer-sal health-care system, which was based solely on need andnot how much money one had.At one time the envy of the world, Canada’s health-care

system is slowly being eroded and privatized. March 31,2015 marked the one-year anniversary of the DEATH OFTHE NATIONALHEALTHACCORD. This article shouldbe edged in black to commemorate that date in 2014 whenthe federal government allowed the 10-year health accordto expire and refused appeals by provincial and territorialleaders and many in the health community to renegotiatean accord for the next 10 years to provide nationalstandards and secure funding going forward.

Instead the Conservative government left it open for privateclinics and even some hospitals to begin charging for serviceson the pretext that the money is just not in the system.Recent studies by the C.D. Howe Institute and the

Wellesley Institute confirm that a government-fundednational pharmacare program would ultimately be morecost-effective than our current system. They conclude overtime that the increase in government spending would bemore than offset by savings to patients, employers andindividuals who are obliged to purchase stand-alone privatedrug coverage. If implemented, the program would savethe Canadian health-care system several billions of dollarsannually, money that could be reinvested in much-neededservices for homecare, dementia care, etc. Canada remainsone of the few G7 nations that do not have a nationaldementia strategy.We need federal leadership in health care. The federal

government must work with the provinces and territories tocreate a national pharmacare plan with the ultimate goal ofeliminating copayments and deductibles.We need the federal government that will work with the

provinces to fund and set standards to improve access,affordability and quality of post-acute and chronic care; inthe home and in the community, with particular focus ondementia care.

Pension Reform

We need federal leadership in pension reform to ensurethat people do not outlive their savings. We need to expandand increase the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) as proposedby the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), restore the Old

SENIORS’VOTE Let’s Make It Count

Kay Noonan Vice President SOAR Chapter 3-14 and Fred GirlingRecording Secretary Chapter 3-14 join with Canadians acrossCanada to mourn the death of the health accord on March 31,with others in Surrey BC.

Page 6 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015

Should Employers Share TheirProfits With Their Employees?by Ken Munro, Chapter 6-1Should employers share their profits with their employees? If the employ-

ers can enhance the lives of their employees, don’t the employers have amoral obligation to share their wealth? After all, a happy employee is a pro-ductive employee. One who is less likely to book off sick, less likely tosteal!It just makes good economic sense.But more importantly, by not sharing their profits, is it not some form of

abuse?Since neglect is a form of abuse, isn’t the employer guilty of such abuse

when he could share his profits but refuses?If the employer can abuse his power by not enhancing the lives of his

workers, what other forms of abuse should be tolerated?Should the employer, for example, be allowed to use derogatory names

that would be an insult to his employees’ sex, faith, skin colour, sexual ori-entation, etc?Abuse is abuse.

S.O.S. A Better Mental Health Systemby Ken Munro, Chapter 6-1The mental health system is broken and in need of great repair.There really is no place, no “home” that truly empowers those suffering

from mental health illnesses. This is especially hurtful for seniors.Most agencies cater to the marginalized. Those with very little

confidence. It’s difficult to maintain any self worth when one is only a stepaway from living on the street.Some, who fight for patients’ rights and needs, are a radical breed who

believe mental illnesses are a myth. Or, want you to adopt their terminology.They fight suppression but now become the suppressors. They believe oneis better in a prison than a hospital.Some mental health care attempts to address the patients’ brain chemistry

by popping tiny pills to neutralize the patients’ pain. Though meds have aplace in recovery, they are a “bandage solution to a cancer tumour.”Meds do not give wisdom to patients. Only people who can empathize

with the hurting do.Meds do not give patients purpose. Only people who are compassionate to

the needs of the patients do.Meds do not love patients. Only people with caring hearts do.Mental health care must address the entire needs of the patients and not

just the illnesses. The system must address things like faith, hope, love, asense of purpose, etc. Patients have very low self esteem. And these valueshave a positive effect on the patients’ illnesses.But the mental health system often is reluctant do to this: it would interfere

with the use of meds since the drug companies sponsor much of the research.Dr. Jerome Frank, anAmerican psychiatrist, once said that “any treatment

that does not minister to the human spirit is grossly deficient.”

Age Security (OAS) eligibility age to65 from 67, increase the earningsexemption for Guaranteed IncomeSecurity (GIS) and increase theamount of OAS and GIS for low-income Canadians.

Support for Seniors

Seniors call for action on thefollowing:� Increase financial support and pro-vide workplace protections forcaregivers.

�Work with provinces to ensureevery Canadian has access to hous-ing appropriate to need, includingaffordable and supportive housing,and assisted living services.

�Work with provinces to reform thetax code in a way that addressesincome inequality.More and more seniors are falling

below the poverty line. Seniors arealso concerned that too many of ourchildren and grandchildren are facingprecarious work and a bleak financialfuture.It does not need to be this way.

Seniors vote in greater numbers thanother demographic groups. Seniorsare the most committed voters—65percent or more of older voters turnout to vote regularly, so there is anopportunity this October for us asseniors to tell the politicians what wewant from future federal and provin-cial governments.Recently, representatives of national

and regional senior organizations,retirees, professional and advocacygroups called Seniors Vote haveagreed to work collaboratively onissues that affect seniors. We demandbetter, not only for ourselves but forfuture generations coming behind us.We can do better. It is time for real

change. Seniors vote, let’s make itcount.

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015 Page 7

Page 8 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015

by Joe ThomsonWHILE IT MAY SOUND LIKE ATROPE ripped from the

most uninspired Canadiana, 90-year-old labour activist DanielMcNeil has indeed come a long way since working the coal minesof Cape Breton. At 16, McNeil began work in the same coal minewhere his father was killed eight years earlier. It was a way of lifeback then, he says. There were several mines in the area, and it

was a given that young men would starttheir first job in one of them. Close to eightdecades later, McNeil remains taciturn on thesubject of his father’s death. When asked ifhe was afraid to work in the same minewhere his father died, McNeil echoes thestoicism that is deeply ingrained in manymen of his generation. “No, no,” he says.“Look everyone gets almost killed in themine, one way or another. You survive it,and it’s just another miracle. I’ve had somevery close calls like everybody else in thecoalmine but I survived.”

While it’s easy to forget now, unhealthy and immediately dan-gerous workplaces like those coal mines were once considered justa part of life. Workers today can thank people like McNeil thatsuch working environments are no longer the norm. As stoic ashe is on the subject, McNeil’s early experiences proved to himthat, above all else, unions are an important part of industriallife—workers need them to protect their safety. “The big thingwith unions is safety first,” McNeil says. “Inspections of plantsand the working conditions? Well, that doesn’t get done wherethere’s no union.”McNeil first became involvedwith union advocacy when he

moved to Toronto at age 27 to work as a labourer at Stelco’sSwansea plant. While at Stelco he became politically active throughthe UnitedSteelworkers, serving on the union’s political actioncommittee and, as a lifetime New Democrat, eventually managedseveral campaigns for candidates at the provincial and federal level.Political icon Tommy Douglas, the man who introduced universalhealth care to Canada, knew him by name, something McNeilhumbly points out as an afterthought, preferring to attribute it toDouglas’ generosity. “He was quite a guy,” McNeil says.Before he officially retired in 1984, McNeil held just about

every position a person can in the union—except for financial sec-retary. (“I stayed away from the money,” he quips.) Even today, hehas continued to work tirelessly for labour rights, actively partici-pating as a member of the Ontario Health Coalition and theNational Seniors Citizens Coalition. He was a founding memberof the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada, andwas appointedan emeritus boardmember of the Steelworkers Organization ofActive Retirees with which he is still active.

“We’ve tried to get across to retirees, as well as the workingpeople,” he says, “that there’s still quite a lack of social justiceout there.” AndMcNeil firmly believes that any time institutionsare not doing what’s best for the people they are behavingunjustly. “It’s funny, you can’t get it across to everybody, but Ijust think unions and labour parties are better for the people.” Andit’s that straightforward sentiment that has led him to fight forthose that produce in this country—an idea that often gets muddledby ideology and the type of politics that preys on the fears andprejudices of the working class.McNeil has watchedCanada slowly become agnostic on the

issue of labour, a product of half a century of eroding union cul-ture, or at the very least an erosion of the recognition that a strong,organized labour force is an essential right for citizens. McNeilsays he understands the changing nature of the global market andthe pressure it puts on companies to compete for cheap labour, butstill urges service and part-time workers in this changing economyto organize. “I think there’s a big difference today and I don’t knowwhy it is,” he reflects. McNeil cites WorldWar II and the immedi-acy of its tragedies as an impetus for his generation to getorganized and protect their rights with the collective energy that thewar inspired in them. “People came back and realized, you’ve gotto get organized.” Even now, you can still hear the excitement inhis voice rise when he speaks about getting organized—andwhywouldn’t he be? McNeil has seen Canadian workers go from riot-ing over inhumane working conditions in the 1930s to havingunprecedented rights and a seat at the bargaining table. He has seenthe rise and the backslide and he believes it will get better.His wife, Ruth, trumpets his accomplishments endlessly when

I speak with her, showing off the type of fierce loyalty that 65years of marriage will create. She makes sure I mention he wasgiven the Union Pioneer Award from the USW, and then tells mewhy Dan continues to inspire her. “He really believes in what he’sdoing and he promotes it all the time,” she says, “for the goodwill of people that are left by the wayside. He’s always fought forthe underdog and I admire that in him. I admire his persistence.”

From the editor: Dan joined SOAR as a Charter Member in 1985and has served as District 6 Executive Board Member. He was instru-mental in the creation of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada(CURC) and served as 1st Vice President and President. He recentlystepped down from the Presidency and now holds the position ofImmediate Past President.Dan relinquished his position as District 6 Board Member upon his

appointment as Emeritus Member of the Board in 2011. In 2012, Danreceived the Lynn Williams Award. This award was created by a reso-lution passed at the 2011 International SOAR Conference. It isawarded to a SOAR member who demonstrates exemplary leadershipand commitment to the mandate of SOAR. It is the highest tribute amember can receive from the International Executive Board.

NEWS FROM CANADA This article was first published in THISMAGAZINE Jan/Feb 2015.

HISTORYOFWORKNow 90 years old, labour activist Daniel McNeil has no plans to quitfighting for workers’ rights and safety.

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015 Page 9

The Greater Madison CountyFederation of Labor presented theKaren Brown Heart of the Commu-nity Award to our Granite City SOARChapter 34-2 at their 26th annualawards dinner March 26, 2015.Dennis Barker accepted the award

on the chapters behalf and stated he“was proud to accept the award forour SOAR Chapter in recognition ofour membership’s continued commit-ment in giving back to our community.”Pictured left to right: SOAR members JimChilders, Marlene Carey, Dennis Barker;Gene Hudson, United Way Labor Liaison;Dean Webb, President Greater MadisonCounty Federation of Labor; and RozSherman-Voellinger, Greater St. LouisUnited Way Labor Liaison.

Certainly, if we’re all playing by the same rules, we’d havemore parity. The U.S. trade deficit would not be climbing,and our economy would be on the rebound, creating jobsinstead of offshoring them. But often weak economic andenvironmental standards in the countries we trade withchallenges the notion that trade works for everyone. Byallowing trade cheats to skate, we’re encouraging a globalrace to the bottom in wages and quality of life. That’s not arace America’s workers want to win.�When trade is distorted, jobs are lost.

Japan ships 1.5 million vehicles to the U.S. annually,while we ship 20,000 to Japan. Over 900,000 U.S. jobswere lost in 2013 due to the trade deficit with them.

� When the environment is exploited,our health is at risk.

As much as 25 percent of the particulate matter airpollution over Los Angeles can be traced back to China.

And in China, 250,000 people will die prematurely due tohigh levels of unchecked industrial air pollution.

�When workers are viewed asdisposable, poverty runs rampant.

The average manufacturing worker earns just $100 amonth in Vietnam. The United States is currently negoti-ating a trade deal that includes the Vietnamese govern-ment, but improved labor standards will be incrediblydifficult to enforce there.

Continuing down the pathof “free trade” only exac-erbates a system that isn’tworking for workers.Join us, instead, to work for fair trade and fullenforcement of our trade laws.http://goo.gl/7Vg8Pm

Fair Trade–Not FREETrade!The global economy connects us to markets all over the world, but it also poses achallenge to our ability to make trade fair. Many of America’s chief trading partners,using various deceptive and unethical methods, have manipulated the global economy todisadvantage workers everywhere, often leading to crises for American families simplytrying to make a living.

SOAR Chapter 34-2 Honored

The IncomeGapIn 2013, the CEO-to-

worker pay ratio was 331:1and the CEO-to-minimum-wage-worker pay ratio was774:1. America is supposedto be the land of opportu-nity, a country where hardwork and playing by therules would provide work-ing families a middle-class

standard of living. But in recentdecades, corporate CEOs have beentaking a greater share of the economicpie, while wages have stagnated andunemployment remains high.Highly paid CEOs of low-wage

employers are fueling this growingeconomic inequality. In 2013, CEOsof the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500Index companies received, on aver-age, $11.7 million in total compensa-tion, according to the AFL-CIO’sanalysis of available data from 350companies.Today’s ratio of CEO-to-worker

pay is simply unconscionable. WhileCEO pay remains in the stratosphere,production and nonsupervisory work-ers took home only $35,239 on aver-age in 2013, and a full-time workermaking the federal minimum wageearned only $15,080.Even as companies argue that they

can’t afford to raise wages, thenation’s largest companies are earninghigher profits per employee than theydid five years ago. In 2013, the S&P500 Index companies earned $41,249in profits per employee, a 38 percentincrease.It doesn't have to be this way. Politi-

cians should raise the minimum wage.

Corporations should pay theiremployees a living wage. And work-ers should have a collective voice onthe job to demand their fair share.Currently, United States income

inequality ranks around the 30th per-centile globally; meaning 70 percentof other countries have more equalincome distribution than the U.S.A.Income inequality must be reversed.WorkingAmerica needs a substan-tial wage increase.Consider the following examples

from theAFL-CIO PayWatch. In2013 the average workers hourlywage was $16.94 the average CEOmade 331times more than the averageworker.In 2014, Michael T. Duke, CEO,

WALMART, received a compensationpackage of $5,643, 677, 160 times theaverage worker’s pay. If the minimumwage increase would have kept pacewith productivity gains since 1968 theminimum wage would be $18.30. If itwould have kept pace with theincome gains of the top one percent,the minimum wage would be $31.45.Why has this been allowed to hap-

pen?Alan Krueger, former economicadvisor to President Obama, statedthat inequality in incomes is creat-

ing an unhealthy division in opportu-nities and is unhealthy to our

economic growth. A report by thenon-partisan Congressional Budgetoffice offers readers a comparison ofhow tax cuts have contributedsubstantially to income growth of thetop 1 percent wage earners and verylittle to the bottom 20 percent. Taxreform cries out for equitable growth.The Republican passed budget is a

disaster. Eliminating the AffordableCare Act, changing Medicare as weknow it into a more costly voucherprogram is reprehensible. Congressmust renew the Older Americans Actand the Elders Justice Act (EJA is partof the Affordable Care Act). Othersafety net programs are also at risk.Our voices must be raised and heardin the Congress, including tax reformthat will be fair and equitable.We must take every opportunity to

organize new members into SOAR. Itis not a choice, it is a necessity. Morevoices, more power. All retirees, non-members included, have so much tolose if Medicare vouchers becomelaw and Social Security benefit calcu-lations are changed. The difference indues of one dollar a month comparedto losses of SS income and risingMedicare care costs should be a suffi-cient cause to join SOAR. Too muchis at risk to consider otherwise.

By Ken KovackSOAR Legislative DirectorWashington, D.C.

WashingtonWrap

Page 10 USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015

By Barbara J. Easterling

A recent report from the NationalInstitute on Retirement Security(http://tinyurl.com/okcuygf) computesthe dwindling retirement savings in the

U.S. The report states that the median retirement accountbalance for the average working household is only $2,500.Along with that, the median retirement account balancefor a near-retirement household is $14,500.In addition, 62 percent of working households between

the ages of 55-64 will be unable to maintain anything closeto the same standard of living they currently have in retire-ment, because their retirement savings are less than onetimes their annual income.Even if we calculate retirement savings in an overly

generous manner by including the entire households’ networth, 66 percent of these working households are stilldetermined to fall below the conservative retirement savingstarget, based on their current income and working until 67.The good news is that public policy can play a major

role in securing retirement savings for working households

across America. Bystrengthening and expandingSocial Security, increasingaccess to low-cost, high-qualityretirement plans, and helping lowincome workers and families save moremoney, we can make sure that hard-workingAmericans aregetting the dignified retirement they deserve. If SocialSecurity is strengthened, it will help increase earned bene-fits for even the most vulnerable households.This report shows us that we need to continue fighting

for policies that allow workers to save more and ensure thatthe earned benefits for which have been working theirentire lives are protected. But it all starts with good jobs.After all, you can’t save what you don’t earn!

Barbara J. Easterling is president of the Alliance forRetired Americans. She was previously the secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America.For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.orgor call 1-800-333-7212.

National Institute onRetirement Security’sNewestReportShowsLargeDeficiency inRetirement Savings

SOAR Director Visits Chapter 23-9 in Martins Ferry, OhioThe chapter invited Jim Centner,

SOAR Director to attend their meet-ing onApril 1, 2015. Director Centnerupdated the over 50 members inattendance on the status of the organi-zation and discussed the continuingsaga of our do nothing Congress inWashington. John Saunders, whoserves as a trustee on the retireesVEBA (Voluntary Employee BenefitAssociation) updated them on the sta-tus of the fund and discussed the chal-lenges the trustees face in securing thebest benefits for our members, whileensuring the fund’s ability to sustainitself over the long haul.

USW@Work/SOAR Spring 2015 Page 11

Pictured left to right: Ross Campbell, chapter treasurer; Ron Gildow, president; BenBlair, recording secretary; Ron Holzopfel, trustee; Carl Brown, trustee; Frank Papini,vice president and Jim Centner, director.

Editors note: Shortly before going topress, long time Chapter President,Ron Gildow, pictured here passed awayApril 15, 2015. Ron was a dedicatedunion/retiree activist and will be missedby all who knew him.