Bethlehem Steel operated the factoryfrom 1923 to 1991, when it was purchasedthrough a management buyout andrenamed JohnstownAmerica Industries.It became JohnstownAmerica Corp. in1999 and FreightCarAmerica in 2005.This is not the first battle to be waged

and won with management overemployee benefits. In 2002, the companyeliminated retiree insurance benefits whenBethlehem Steel went bankrupt andstopped reimbursing JohnstownAmericafor benefits. USW attorneys sued, and theretirees won a settlement in which thecompany reinstated benefits.This latest battle started in July of 2013,

when FreightCar informed the USW and

retirees that it intended to cancel contribu-tions for health and life insurance benefitsfor the Johnstown retirees.A final hearing will be held in January

2016. Once finalized, the settlement willcreate a Voluntary Employee BeneficiaryAssociation (VEBA) to administer thefunds. The VEBAwill provide assistancewith health care coverage for the approxi-mately 1,000 retirees and survivingspouses, as well as resume cash deathbenefits that were suspended bythe company.

For additional coverage on this story,please see the related article in thismonth’s USW@WORK.

10/4

Fall 2015

USW Reaches $31 MillionSettlement for FCA RetireesOctober 14, 2015—

Over 400 retirees whoworked for FreightCarAmerica Inc. attended

two meetings atAces Lounge in

Johnstown, Pa., to hearthe terms of a proposedsettlement to end years oflitigations over unlawfultermination of retirees’

medical and lifeinsurance benefits.

Oldtimer 3

I am very pleased to report to youregarding SOAR involvement, support andactivism this year. SOAR has established ourown Facebook page. I have asked our boardto try to boost our “friends” to 500. I amhappy to say that we have far exceeded thatgoal and with a little more effort from us allwe could reach 1,000 before the end of theyear! Please ask your friends to “Like Us”and follow SOAR on our Facebook page.SOAR has been an active participant

supporting the USWmembers in oil and steel, both on thepicket lines and as participants in numerous demonstra-tions in both countries. Do not kid yourself; our supportin the fight with U.S. Steel, Arcelor and others is for self-preservation. If U.S. Steel can eliminate their retireeobligations in the court room, as it is attempting to do inCanada, and if Arcelor and others can negotiate awaytheir obligations, as they are attempting to do in the U.S.;this will embolden other companies and/or groups to

reconsider their obligations to seniors in an attempt toincrease profits or reduce costs.SOAR has found ways to work with other coalitions, both

inside and outside our union, to build strength and increaseour members. Many other groups share our position onissues that impact our communities, our lives and our future.We need to continue to find ways to work with and growour relationship with these groups.Ask them to speak atyour SOARmeetings and ask them if you can speak at theirmeetings. By exposing ourselves to these groups, we mayget additional members into our chapter, who will share ourdesire to make a difference.We had many SOAR groups involved in recent Labor

Day parades and many of our members are taking an activerole in the upcoming elections.Thank you to all the SOARmembers who have promoted

activism in your chapters. Keep up the good work, and forthose who have not been as involved as you should be, nowis the time to start.We need you more than ever and if thereis anything I can do to help, feel free to give me a call.

BILL PIENTASOAR President

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

Activism

Asmost of you know, our union is having a difficult time reaching afair and equitable agreement with the steel industry. Ourmembers whowork atATI (formerlyAllegheny Ludlum) are currently locked out. Ourmembers atArcelor/Mittal andU.S. Steel, as well as ClevelandCliffs,are all working day-to-day on a contract extension, as we continue tobargain in hopes of reaching an agreement we all can livewith.I understand these are difficult times.What I don’t understand is the

mentality of the corporate leaders in this industry turning its back on itsbest resource, our members. It’s the hard work, dedication and ingenu-ity of our members that made these companies what they are today!Our union has stood side-by-side with these employers fighting unfair

trade and hostile public policy that threatened their very existence.Yet, the minute thegoing gets rough they turn on their workforce; and try to take away the gains that ourmembers have fought for and won over years of collective bargaining.These are not easy jobs. I worked in this industry. It’s a hot, dirty and dangerous

work environment. Each and every one of our members either have witnessed orknow someone who lost a limb or a life trying to earn a living providing for theirloved ones. No one should have to worry about coming home in one piece, or forthat matter coming home at all! However, in this industry and many others that ourmembers toil in every day, that worry is real!The CEOs and corporate elite have no idea what our members do every day that

allows them to live in the lap of luxury. It’s time for them to think about their lavishlifestyle and what they can give up in order for manufacturing to survive! Ourmembers have done their share and more!One day longer – one day stronger! I applaud all of our members involved in this

struggle and for standing up for what is right and just!You are on the right side of thisfight and history will bear that out!

JIM CENTNERSOAR Director

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

A Thought on Bargaining

Page 2 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

USW@Work (ISSN 0883-3141) is publishedfour times a year by the United SteelworkersAFL-CIO-CLC, 60 Blvd. of the Allies, 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., 60 Blvd. ofthe Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Published as an edition to USW@Workfor the United Steelworkers60 Blvd. of the AlliesPittsburgh, 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 Steelworkers60 Blvd. of the AlliesPittsburgh, PA 15222Send address changes only to:

USW Membership Department60 Blvd. of the AlliesPittsburgh, PA 15222When submitting address change, pleaseinclude address label from last issue.

by Bruce BostickDistrict 1 SOAR Board Member

As part of the GOPunion-busting media circus, thebillionaire Koch brothers brought theirAmericans forProsperity (AFP) convention to Columbus, Ohio, wherethousands of unionists and friends gave them a true“union-welcome” to our state!AFP has funneled millions from the Koch brothers to

finance campaigns to destroy unions, wipe out pensionsand bankrupt Social Security and Medicare. Ohioans took

the opportunity to let themknow that is not welcome inthe Buckeye state. Four thou-sand angry protesters took tothe streets, answering the callof the OhioAFL-CIO tostand up to the billionaires.SOAR mobilized and was amajor part of the upsurge!

“We had to show up,” stated Jim Reed, Cleveland SOARPresident. “People have fought too hard for too long to wingains that these arrogant billionaires are trying to wipe out.We’re fighting for everyone!”

SOAR delegations helped allies with the mobilizationeffort and brought in folks from Cleveland, Canton,Massillon, Youngstown, Warren and Columbus areas.“Ohioans voted

overwhelmingly toreject the messagethat busting unionsand enriching thewealthy would begood for us. We’returning out,” saidTim Burga, OhioAFL-CIO Presi-dent, “to let theKoch brothersknow this messagewon’t fly here. We’re here for economic justice for all.”In the aftermath of this huge, successful turnout, our

attention is returning to the Trans Pacific PartnershipAgreement. Congress must reject this lousy trade agree-ment, which requires a congressional vote to survive.Let’s bury it!

SOAR and Union Blast Koch Brothers

Retirees of the Northern IndianaPublic Service Company came togetheron September 13, 2015 to celebratetheir 17 years as a chapter. CharlieAverill, SOAR International Secretary-Treasurer who is a charter member ofthe chapter stated, “Since the company

service territory consists of the northernthird of Indiana, having any socialfunction to include our chapter mem-bers is very difficult; so this annualevent is very important to us,” he wenton to say, “Chapter President, DorineGodinez, and all of the reunion com-

mittee members, did a great job orga-nizing this year’s event that would nothave been possible without the strongsupport the chapter receives fromUSW Locals 12775 and 13796 thatrepresented the members while theywere working.”

Chapter 30-18 Holds Annual Reunion

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 3

New SOAR Chapter Establishedat Local 12136 at ABC COKEThe new charter was presented to Local 12136 in May at

their local SOAR meeting. USWDistrict 9 SOAR BoardMember Claude Karr and District 9 SOAR CoordinatorGreg England worked with Local 12136 President ArnoldBurton to establish the chapter for their local’s retirees.Pictured above with chapter members are the newly elected offi-cers: President, Jerry Whitehead; Vice President, Travis Beavers;Recording Secretary, Mark Brady; Financial Secretary, GregEngland; Trustees, Pat Carnes, Charles Brady and Larry Paul.SOAR Coordinator Greg England made the charter presentationon behalf of the district.

Local 983—International PaperReceives SOAR CharterMembers of Local 983, from the International Paper Mill

in Augusta, Ga., have a new SOAR chapter. Greg England,district coordinator presented the charter on June 16, 2015.SOAR Board Member Claude Karr worked with theLocal’s President, LloydAllen and Greg to get the chapterup and running.Pictured above with members of the chapter are the newly electedofficers: President, Billy Flanagan; Vice President, Carmie Bryant III;Recording Secretary, Selena Williams; Financial Secretary, HowardGriffin; Treasurer, Malcolm Hall; Trustees, Johnny A. Williams Sr.,Alphonso Wright Sr.; and, Fred Kelly along with CoordinatorGreg England.

SOAR Charter’s First Chapterin MississippiIn September, members of Local 759, who work at

Mississippi Polymers, became the first chapter in the state.Claude Karr, SOAR Board Member and Local 759President, Mark Casto, were instrumental in getting thischapter started. President Casto stated, “The local’s retireesare very proud of their new SOAR chapter.” “This SOARChapter will add to the activism in the fight for labor inMississippi,” stated District 9 Director Daniel Flippo, ….“and we are proud to have started SOAR’s first chapter inthe state of Mississippi.”Pictured above with chapter members holding the SOAR Flag are:Greg England, Coordinator; Scott Cox, District 9 StaffRepresentative; and, Claude Karr, Executive Board Member. Alsopictured are newly-elected chapter officers: President, RobertPalmer; Vice President, James Curtis; Secretary, James Blakney;Treasurer, James Yates; and, Financial Secretary, Paula Curtis.

Thanks to the commitment of District 9 DirectorDaniel Flippo and the district’s staff, SOAR hasexperienced unprecedented growth. In the last sixmonths we have chartered four new chapters.The district has organized nine new chapters in thelast 18 months.SOAR District 9 Executive Board MemberClaude Karr and Coordinator Greg England havebeen given free range of the district. DirectorFlippo has tasked them with the responsibility tobuild our retiree organization and has given themnecessary support to make it happen.Congratulations to all!

See more news from District 9 on page 15.

SOAR CONTINUES TO GROW IN DISTRICT9

Pictured manning theSOAR table at theDistrict 9 Conference inSeptember are: GregEngland, DistrictCoordinator; Jim Centner,SOAR Director andClaude Karr, DistrictExecutive Board Member.

Page 4 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 5

MEDICAREOn July 30, 1965 President Lyndon

Johnson signed the Medicare Act intoLaw. To mark this anniversary on Tues-day, July 28, four Granite City SOARmembers: Jeff Rains, George Schneider,Marleen Carey and Dennis Barkerdelivered a “Happy 50th Birthday toMedicare” cake to Illinois CongressmanMike Bost’s office in Belleville, Ill.While there the delegation reminded

the congressman’s staff that TheMedicare Modernization Act of 2003,which created the Part D drugprogram, explicitly prohibits the gov-ernment from negotiating lower pricesunder Medicare. They urged the repre-sentative to support RepresentativeKathy Castor (D-Fla.) and bill H.R. 2005that would require drug makers tonegotiate drug prices similar as whatis done for veterans under the VA ben-efit Program. The Congressional Bud-get Office estimates this proposalwould produce savings of $121 billionover ten years.They also asked the Congressman to

denounce remarks made by Jeb Bushrecently when he said, “We shouldphase out Medicare.” The fact remains,Medicare has never been stronger. Theanswer, it seems, for extending the lifeof Medicare was the passing of theAffordable Care Act. Before“Obamacare” was passed, Medicarewas projected to face a serious fiscalshortfall in 2017. Last week theMedicare trustees reported they nowbelieve the system is fiscally securethrough 2030.

July 7-10, 2015—SOARmembers were among the 400 activists that gathered inWashington, D.C. for theAlliance’s 2015 National Legislative Conference. Theactivists reached more than 150 offices on Thursday’s Lobby Day, when they metwith their members of Congress and Senators and voiced their concerns aboutretiree issues. Alliance members lobbied their elected officials with very specificgoals in mind, including: expand earned Social Security benefits; protect SocialSecurity Disability Insurance; preserve Medicare and allow no cuts to it; andoppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) TradeAgreement.“Acore part of being a lifelong activist is a commitment to lifelong learning.

We are never too old to keep learning new skills,” saidAlliance PresidentBarbara J. Easterling of the conference’s mission.Richard Trumka, President of theAFL-CIO, began the conference with a fiery

speech on Tuesday. Several elected officials addressed the attendees: HouseDemocratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.),Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and ElizabethWarren (D-Mass.) and RepresentativesKeith Ellison (D-Minn.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). OnWednesday evening, thePresident’sAward was presented to Judy Cato, Executive Vice-President Emerita,for her activism and years on theAlliance Executive Board.Max Fine, a member of President Kennedy’sWhite House Task Force on

Medicare in the 1960s, told the crowd what it was like to work on creatingMedicare with both JFK and President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Several otherspeakers, includingMark Dimondstein, President of theAmerican PostalWorkersUnion;Will Fischer, Executive Director of the Union Veterans Council; and manyothers brought enormous energy to the week’s events.TheAlliance offered 11 different action sessions throughout the conference,

including: TPP: Latest update and What We Do Next and Politics and Advocacyin Action.“Now, we must go home and educate our neighbors on how strengthening and

expanding Social Security would improve benefits for millions ofAmericans andensure the stability of the program for years to come,” said Jo Etta Brown,AllianceExecutive Vice President for CommunityAdvocacy in her concluding remarks.SOAR President, Bill Pienta who attended his firstAlliance Legislative Confer-

ence remarked, “What an impressive gathering of activists… these are people whofought for justice and dignity all of their working lives and continue to do so longinto their retirement. I am glad to have them on our side!”

Pictured left to right: Bob Adkins, District 8 Board Member and West Virginia Alliance VicePresident; Mike Pyne, District 2 Board Member and Wisconsin Alliance President; CharlieAverill, SOAR Secretary-Treasurer; Andres Rosas, Chapter 13-1 President; Jim Centner,Director; Bruce Bostick, District 1 Board Member; Bea Lumpkin, Chapter 31-9 Member,Bill Pienta, SOAR President; Carl Ramich, Chapter 10-6 President; Pam Landon; SOARMember; Steve Landon SOAR Member and Idaho Alliance President; Pat Lane Chapter31-13 Recording Secretary; Bill Gibbons, SOAR Board Member and Scott Marshall,District 7 Board Member. Missing from the photo is James Roberts, President Chapter 10-1.

The Alliance for Retired AmericansHolds 2015 Legislative Conference

HappyBirthday

SOAR was among 50 organiza-tions, representing over two mil-lion seniors, which staged eventsin major cities across Canada onOct. 1 to celebrate InternationalDay of Older Persons.International Day of Older Persons

was proclaimed in 1982 by the UnitedNations. SOAR members wereactively involved in most of theevents held in major Canadians citiesthis year. We celebrated the contribu-tions seniors have made and continueto make in our communities, and weraised awareness of issues importantto seniors.This year’s events in Canada were

particularly significant as they occurredin the midst of a federal election cam-paign, along with the fact that, for thefirst time in the country’s history

seniors outnumber children under theage of 14. Statistics Canada predictsthat by 2024 seniors will account for20.1 percent of the population.The 50 seniors’ groups involved in

this year’s celebrations agreed topoliticize four key issues: pensionreform; a national housing strategy(with emphasis on seniors’ housing);federal leadership on health carefunding, including a strategy forpharma care, dementia and homecare; and income inequality.

Here is a sample of events whereSOAR members participated:

� InHamilton, home to chapter 6-10,SOAR members were among 200people on hand for a public event atcity hall where speakers focused onthe four key election issues. The city’s

mayor declared Oct. 1 the Day ofOlder Persons.� Chapter 6-80 members in theWaterloo-Kitchener area attendeda public event and flag raising atcity hall.� SOAR chapter 6-02 held an openforum at the Steelworkers Hall inSudbury, where New DemocraticParty candidates Claude Gravelle(SOAR member) and Paul Loewen-berg addressed the four electionissues identified by seniors. The city’smayor issued a proclamation recog-nizing Oct. 1 as International Day ofOlder Persons.

Celebrating International Day of Older Persons

NEWS FROM CANADA

SUDBURY IDOP—From left to right: Peter Hunter,Julien Dionne, Roy Madalvee,Paul Loewenberg, Wyman McKinnonand Claude Gravelle.

SOAR FOOD BANK SMM—From left to right: Don Barill,

Chapter 17; Sandra Pold,Chapter 7; Joan Paquette,

Chapter 17; Val Barill,Chapter 17 and Bob Grant,

President Chapter 7.

Page 6 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

Lifelong SteelworkerArt Kube’s tireless activismon labour and seniors’ issues has earned him one ofhis country’s highest honors, the Order of Canada.Amember of SOAR Chapter 3-14 in Vancouver, Art has

dedicated his life to making things better for working people.In receiving the Order of Canada,Art has brought honor toSOAR and we congratulate him on this tremendous award.Art began his remarkable career in the trades, working as

a steel fabricator, heavy equipment operator and miner. Hiswork took him from Vienna, Austria, to the CanadianArcticandAlberta, Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia.In the 1960s Art became active in the Canadian Labour

Congress and over the next two decades he took on a vari-ety of positions advancing bargaining rights, labor educa-tion and organizing.From 1983 to 1986Art served as President of the British

Columbia Federation of Labour, at a turbulent time in theprovince’s history. The B.C. government under PremierBill Bennet’s Social Credit government introduced 26 billson July 7, 1983, slashing social services, public schoolsand trade union rights, sparking a huge backlash againstthe government.An organization quickly mobilized under Art’s

leadership, given the name “Operation Solidarity.” The

campaign pulled together huge protest rallies across theprovince, culminating onAug. 10, 1983, with 45,000 peoplerallying at Empire Stadium in Vancouver. Tens of thousandsof workers went on strike across B.C. before the governmentagreed to talk.Art’s leadership inspired an entire movement,leaving a legacy of determination and pride.Art’s commitment to community has continued in his

retirement with seniors’ organizations including SOAR, theCouncil of Senior Citizens of British Columbia, and theNational Pensioners Federation. He remains one of thestrongest voices on seniors’ issues in Canada.

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 7

Art Kube Brings Honour to SOARSOAR Chapter 3-14 member receives Order of Canada

TORONTO IDOP—Mohamed Baksh andGraham Dean, members of Chapter 6-01.

� In Toronto, SOAR chapter 6-01helped organize an event at QueensPark, outside the provincial legisla-ture, in collaboration with the OntarioHealth Coalition, nurses unions, pub-lic service unions, the SeniorsVote

group and other organizations, tocommemorate the lives and deathsof 10 seniors who were victims ofhomicide in long-term-care facilitiesin the decade.

Prior to going underground, miners would undergo amass “treatment” wherein canisters of McIntyre Powderaluminum dust would be dispensed via a compressed airsystem into the mine drys or specially constructedchambers. All ventilation would be stopped during the alu-minum dust dispersal and miners were instructed to inhalethe black fog of aluminum dust deeply to protectthemselves against silicosis.This practice was mandatory and was given without

medical supervision and without prior informed consent ofthe miners. Tens of thousands of miners would have beenexposed to McIntyre Powder during the 36 years that theprogram ran.McIntyre Powder aluminum dust was also used to “treat”

the employees of several non-mining industries in severalU.S. states and a few such industries in Canada. Theseindustries included pottery manufacturers, foundries, silicabrick manufacturers and refractories.Unlike the “mass treatment” method of aluminum dust

dispersal used for miners, the employees of these non-miningindustries were given individualized McIntyre Powderaluminum dust inhalation “treatments.” During an individu-alized “treatment” session, the employee would inhaleMcIntyre Powder through a mouthpiece-hose apparatusattached to a ball mill that ground the aluminum into a veryfine, respirable dust.The long-term health impacts on workers exposed to

McIntyre Powder are unknown, but there is reason forconcern. Clinical literature and research studies indicate thataluminum is widely accepted as being a neurotoxin (e.g.Kawahara & Kato-Negishi, 2011; Han et al., 2013). Animalstudies have shown that rabbits exposed to low-dosealuminum dust inhalation (one-twentieth of the ThresholdLimit Value) had nearly 2.5 times more aluminum in theirbrain than unexposed rabbits (Rollin et al., 1991).

A 1990 study by Sandra Rifat and colleagues on Ontariogold miners exposed/unexposed to McIntyre Powderfound statistically significant cognitive deficits in theexposed group, supporting the putative neurotoxicity ofMcIntyre Powder1.A 2013 longitudinal study by Dr. Susan Peters and

colleagues of WesternAustralia gold miners who wereexposed to McIntyre Powder found that aluminum dustinhalation did not protect miners from developing silicosisand that there was some indication of possible increasedrisk ofAlzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease for minersexposed to aluminum dust2.Despite these research findings, there has been no com-

prehensive investigation into the long-term health impactson workers who were exposed to aluminum dust under theMcIntyre Powder aluminum prophylaxis program. Thismakes it extremely difficult for individual workers to suc-cessfully pursue a claim for workplace compensation bene-fits for health issues that may be related to occupationalexposure to aluminum dust. In Ontario, for example, theWorkplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) establishedan Operational Policy that states:

NEWS FROM CANADA

Page 8 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

MCINTYRE POWDER PROJECTDocumenting health issues in workers exposed to aluminum dust

by Janice Martell

From 1943 to approximately 1979-80, miners employed primarily in gold anduraniummines and some base metal and radiummines in Canada, the UnitedStates, Belgian Congo,WesternAustralia andMexico were required to breathein a finely ground aluminum dust known as “McIntyre Powder” prior to eachshift, as a preventative measure (prophylaxis) against silicosis.

The Workers’ Memorial at Elliot Lake honors miners who have diedfrom injury or occupational diseases.

“Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and conditions withneurological effects are not occupational diseases or injuriesby accident under theWorkplace Safety and InsuranceActwhen they are alleged to result from occupational aluminumexposure. The available medical and scientific evidence doesnot establish causal associations between occupational alu-minum exposure and dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease orconditions with neurologic effect.”3This Operational Policy was established by theWSIB in

Ontario further to a 1992 Interim Report of the IndustrialDiseases Standards Panel (IDSP) on aluminum. The IDSPreport acknowledged that large amounts of aluminum can beneurotoxic and that further research was needed in order tobetter establish the potential impact of aluminum exposureon workers’ health. The IDSP report also determined that theonly way to conclusively assess the brain burden ofaluminum was through biopsy or at autopsy.This same conclusion was reached 13 years earlier in 1979

by Dr. Murray Finkelstein, in a consultation report for theOntario Ministry of Labour, which concluded with the rec-ommendation “that brain tissue obtained at autopsy be ana-lyzed for aluminum content. This would shed light on thequestion of aluminum kinetics and allow a re-analysis of thebenefit-harm equation.” 4However, since Finkelstein’s recommendation was made in

1979 (the same year that the McIntyre Powder program wasdiscontinued in most mines) there has been no systematicstudy at autopsy of miners exposed to aluminum dust throughthe McIntyre Powder aluminum prophylaxis program—and alarge proportion of those miners are now deceased.In a few short years, all of the “evidence” of the health

impacts of aluminum dust exposure on miners subjected tothe McIntyre Powder aluminum prophylaxis program will belost with the deaths of the remaining exposed miners. Theseminers and their families will not receive compensation ben-efits for any health effects that may be related to their occu-pational exposure to aluminum dust. The government bodiesthat sanctioned the establishment of the McIntyre Powderaluminum prophylaxis program and the mining executivesthat mandated its use will not be held accountable for anyhealth impacts on the lives of the miners required to inhalethis neurotoxin.I established the McIntyre Powder Project inApril 2015 to

challenge this injustice. I am the daughter of a retired Steel-worker and former underground miner, Jim Hobbs, whoworked in the nickel mines in Sudbury and the uraniumminesin Elliot Lake, Ontario. My father was diagnosed with Parkin-son’s in 2001 and I believe that his Parkinson’s is connected tohis workplace exposure to McIntyre Powder aluminum dust.I want to establish howmany other miners (or other workers)have/had neurological problems or other health issues whichmay be related to their exposure to McIntyre Powder.

The McIntyre Powder Project establishes a centralizedplace to document the number of miners or other workerswho were exposed to McIntyre Powder and who alsohave/had health issues, particularly neurological disorderssuch as Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),Multiple Sclerosis, other movement disorders, Alzheimer’s/dementia, brain cancers, etc.The Project is a voluntary registry for these workers or

their survivors to contact me and add their name and basicinformation to a list of fellow workers who were exposed toMcIntyre Powder aluminum dust and who have/had neuro-logical diagnoses or other potentially related health issues.Since many of these workers are deceased, hearing fromtheir survivors (spouses, children, grandchildren) is criticalto ensure that those workers are accounted for.If sufficient numbers are gathered to establish reasonable

concern about the incidence of neurological and other healthissues in workers exposed to aluminum dust, it will providethe strength in numbers needed for more research and topush for changes in the way that occupational disease claimsare handled.

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 9

1 Rifat, S.L., Eastwood, M.R., Mclachalan, D.R. Crapper, Corey P.N. “Effects ofExposure of miners to aluminum powder”; The LancetVolume 336, Issue 8724,November 10, 1990, pp. 1162-1165.2 Peters, Susan, Reid, Alison, Fritschi, Lim, de Klerk, Nicholas “Long-term effectsof aluminum dust inhalation”; Occup Environ Med., December, 2013 70 (12)pp. 864-868.3 WSIB Ontario Operational Policy “Occupational Aluminum Exposure, Dementia,Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Neurologic Effects”, Document 16-01-10.4 Dr. Murray Finkelstein (Medical Consultant, Health Studies Service, SpecialStudies & Services Branch, Ontario Ministry of Labour), “AReview ofAluminumProphylaxis for Silicosis”, October 18, 1979.

I invite any worker who wasexposed to McIntyre Powderaluminum dust (or theirsurvivors) to contact me toregister their information withthe McIntyre Powder Project.

Thank you for sharing yourvoices with me and for joiningthe fight for justice.

CONTACT: Janice Martell – McIntyre Powder ProjectE-mail: minersinfo@yahoo.caFacebook: McIntyre Powder ProjectWebsite: www.mcintyrepowderproject.com

REGISTER WITH THE PROJECT

SOAR Continues to ReceiveStrong Support from USWThe United Steelworkers continue to show strong support of our retiree organiza-

tion. This year SOAR had the opportunity to attend a number of the USW DistrictConferences all across our great union. When afforded the opportunity, SOARleaders attend these conferences to promote our organization and to share withlocal union leaders the value SOAR adds to our union.SOAR leaders and activist play a major role in promoting the union’s social, eco-

nomic, and political agenda. Our attendance at these meetings allows us to show-case our work. We are also provided a chance to address the delegates to explainthe structure of our organization and how to get a chapter up and running.A special thanks to the leadership of the USW! Our continued involvement in the

unions conferences and activities, play a critical role and our survival and growth.

Page 10 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

District 7 SOAR chapters continueto concentrate on building solidaritywith our union. Their latest focus hasbeen in basic steel and their long,drawn-out battle to obtain a fair andequitable agreement across the indus-try. SOAR has maintained a steadypresence with ongoing picketing andrallies at ArcelorMittal and U.S. Steelfacilities across the district. They havealso been working to build support forour members employed byATI whohave been locked out for over 60 daysat 12 locations across the country.To improve communication and

SOAR’s involvement on legislative andsocial issues affecting working familiesand retirees, the district establisheda new position within its structure.District Coordinator Phyllis Frost has

taken on the responsibility to serve asthe SOARRapid Response coordinator.SOARmembers continue to be

active in local politics supporting USWendorsed candidates. SOAR, workingwithAlderwoman Sue SadlowskiGarza (who SOAR/USWhelped electearlier this year), played a major role inthe effort to restart the annual LaborDay parade on Chicago’s Eastside.SOAR chapter leaders in Indiana

and Illinois remain active with theirstate Alliance for Retired American(ARA) organizations. Many of ourmembers in both states serve on their

boards. In Illinois, SOAR is helpingto establish a ChicagolandARA chap-ter that can unite community andfaith-based retiree groups with unionretiree organizations. These coalitionsare playing an important role in fight-ing to preserve and expand SocialSecurity, defend Medicare and othersenior issues.Due to the recent change in our by-

laws allowing like-minded retirees tojoin, many of our chapters that are nolonger connected to any current USWlocals (due to plant closings), are nowstarting to grow again.

September 1, 2015: District 7 SOAR mem-bers preparing to join the 3,500 supporterswho marched to ArcelorMittal headquartersin Burns Harbor, Ind. to demonstrate their

support for a fair contract.

District 7SOAR: Solidarity Continues

SOAR at District 4 Conference in Atlantic City, N.J.August 17-20, 2015. Pictured left to right seated:Jim Bickhart, SOAR Board Member; Bill Pienta,SOAR International President; Dianne Pavlik,

District Coordinator and Treasurer Chapter 4-6;standing: Al Polk, District Coordinator; Bill Pavlik,

member 4-6; Jim Centner, SOAR Director;and Bill McClellan, District Coordinator.

SOAR Director Jim Centner discussingSOAR with delegates at USW District 8Conference June 10, 2015, Blacksburg, Va.

SOAR at District 10 Conference in Hershey, Pa. August 3-6,2015. Pictured left to right seated: Jerry Green, President,Local 2599; Sandy Dedmon, Local 1940; standing: GeorgeEhret, Recording Secretary, Local 2599; Jim Centner,SOAR Director; Bob Henshaw, Local 2599; and RickBenson, Vice President, Local 9445.

The Granite City SOAR Chapter (34-2) held their6thAnnual “Jane Becker” Scholarship/AwardBanquet on Monday, August 10. The banquet waswell attended with over 175 members, friends,allies and elected officials in attendance.The SOAR scholarship has been named as the “Jane

Becker” Scholarship in honor of Jane Becker’s activism asa gifted labor and political organizer who mentored a gen-eration of activists. Jane was the wife and working partnerto the late United Steelworkers President, George Becker,but she built a reputation on her own as a tireless advocatefor working people and causes. She was one of the pioneerorganizers of SOAR, the Steelworkers Organization ofActive Retirees, and lent her time and expertise to numerousDemocratic political campaigns.SOAR awarded two $3,000 scholarships to the winners

of this year’s essay contest. The essay contest was on thetopic of “Right-To-Work.” The winners of the 2015 schol-arships wereMadisen Palmisano and Ashleigh Briggs.The keynote speaker was Illinois Representative Jay

Hoffman. Ike Gittlen, from the USWOrganizing Depart-ment, introduced Jay Hoffman with comments on thechallenges working families face in fighting the race tothe bottom with the constant attacks on the middle-classvalues we all cherish.Representative Hoffman talked about the battles the

Legislature is currently having with the budget and dealingwith Governor Rauner’s so-called “TurnaroundAgenda”which includes his desire to enact right-to-work zonesin Illinois.

Dr. Robert Daiber, Regional Superintendent of Schoolsfor Madison County presented the scholarship checksto the essay winners for the first installment of their schol-arship award.The chapter also recognized community leaders and

activist members.The annual SOAR award winners this year were:

Friend of SOAR—Jay Hoffman, Illinois Representative113th District.Labor Leader of the Year—DeanWebb, President of theGreater Madison County Federation of Labor.The 2015 Volunteer—Marlene CareyThe 2015Activist—George Snyder

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 11

2015 “Jane Becker” Scholarship Luncheon

August 18, 2015—Dianne Pavlik,District Coordinator and Treasurerof Chapter 4-6 in Lackawanna, N.Y.was recognized by USWDistrict 4 forher activism on behalf of retirees andworking families. Dianne is a tirelessadvocate for our members. She isactively involved in the union’spolitical/legislative programs. Shealso works with the Alliance forAmerican Manufacturing; supportinggood paying manufacturing jobs andpromoting fair trade policies here inthe United States.Pictured left to right: Jim Centner, SOAR Director, Jim Bickhart, District Board Member;

Bill Pienta, SOAR International President, John Shinn, District 4 Director, Dianne Pavlik,honoree, Lisa Husami, District Administrative Assistant to the Director and Del Vitale,Assistant to the District Director.

District 4 Honors SOAR Activist

Page 12 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

The U.S. and the 11 other nations involved in negotiating theTrans Pacific Partnership announced that they had reached anagreement on Monday, October 5. The TPPwould be the largestregional trade agreement in history. As the news broke,International President LeoW. Gerard shared that:“From what we know, the draft TPP threatens the future of production and employ-

ment. It compromises the so-called 21st century standards that were supposed to formthe foundation for this agreement. It will deal a critical blow to workers and theirstandard of living in the United States. This TPP deal shouldn’t even be submitted toCongress and, if it is, it should be quickly rejected.”As of press time, the final deal had not been released to the public. The following

are excerpted from theAFL-CIO’s Top 10 Unknown Things About the TPP.Read, print and share the full document by visiting the Rapid Response website atwww.uswrr.org.Will the TPPmake medicines more expensive? Will

the drug pricing provisions give foreign pharmaceuticalcompanies more leverage to force Medicare to covertheir products and pay higher prices for them?How will the TPP adequately protect local and national control over public

services? If important public services, including schools, libraries, the Post Officeand water systems aren’t completely carved out of the TPP’s obligations, Americantaxpayers may be stuck having to pay a ransom to wrest back democratic controlover expensive, low-quality, private contractors.Will the TPP ensure the United States “writes the rules” of trade? For example, the

reported weak rule of origin for automobiles ensures that China and other non-TPPcountries will be able to benefit from the TPPwithout ever joining. This means Chinacan still write its own rules. Americans need to know “who” is the “we” writing therules, because it doesn’t appear to be working people.How will the TPP fix our trade balance or create jobs when it contains no mecha-

nism to control currency manipulation?Addressing currency manipulation is proba-bly the single most effective way the United States can create jobs, as it allows U.S.products to compete on fair terms in the global marketplace. The promised TPP tariffbenefits could be undermined overnight if trading partners devalue their currency.Despite urging from Congress, all reports indicate no effective currency disciplinesare included in the TPP.Will the TPP adequately protect against unfair competition by state-owned

and state-subsidized companies? Such companies often operate at a loss simply todrive U.S. competitors out of business. They also may buy U.S. companiesin order to take technology to their home country, leaving U.S. workers holdingthe bag. It’s not clear how small U.S. businesses will be able to use the TPPto fight back.How will the TPP “help Americans buyAmerican?” The TPP will require

many government purchasing decisions to treat bidders from the 11 TPP countrieswith exactly the same preferences as U.S. bidders. Won’t this actually reducethe likelihood that Americans can use their own tax money to create jobs here inthe United States?

Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) isan increase in the benefit amountpeople receive each month. Bylaw, the monthly Social Securityand SSI federal benefit rateincreases when there is a rise inthe cost of living. The governmentmeasures changes in the cost ofliving through the Departmentof Labor’s Consumer PriceIndex (CPI-W).The CPI has not risen since the

last cost-of-living adjustment in2015. As a result, your SSI bene-fit rate and, for most people, yourSocial Security benefit amountwill stay the same in 2016.Other changes that would

normally take effect based onchanges in the national averagewage index also won’t begin inJanuary 2016. Since there is noCOLA, the statute also prohibitsa change in the maximumamount of earnings subject to theSocial Security tax, as well as theretirement earnings test exemptamounts. These amounts willremain unchanged in 2016.

No Cost-of-LivingAdjustmentfor 2016

What Does the TransPacific Partnership (TPP)Mean for Steelworkers

and Retirees?

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 13

The temporary, short-term extensionfor the fund that helps repair and buildour nation’s roads, highways andbridges will expire on October 29,2015. It was only a three-month exten-sion passed by Congress in July. TheU.S. Senate and House of Representa-tives are currently working on a bipar-tisan, six-year, $325 billion fundingbill but that appropriation is mostlikely targeted to be realized byDecember, 2015, if at all.Wewonder why this Congress can’t

seem to get anything done and the High-way bill is certainly a prime example. If,as expected, another short-term stopgapmeasure is put in place to keep the fundsolvent throughDecember, it will be the35th consecutive time Congress hasfailed to act on long-term funding since2008.Yes, 35 straight times Congresshas failed to pass anymeaningful, long-term legislation to rebuildAmerica’scrumbling infrastructure.“This is unacceptable: Congress is

ready to kick the can down the road oninfrastructure investment for the 35thtime,” saidAAMPresident Scott Paul.“The United States is long overdue for a

long-term, fully funded transportationbill.We currently rank 16th in the worldfor transportation infrastructure. One infive of our roads need major repair. Onein five bridges is structurally unsound.”Even though $325 billion over six

years is woefully inadequate to recre-ate the world’s top transportationsystem, it is a step in the right direc-tion. State and local transportationdepartments will be able to plan andcomplete future projects without theconstant worry of whether fundingdollars will be available.And in the export business, time is

money. Unsafe bridges and roads takea big bite out ofAmerica’s ability toexport and import products in a timelyfashion resulting in a loss of huge prof-its for Made inAmerica businesses.Every dollar invested in transportationinfrastructure returns $3.54 ineconomic impact according to a reportcommissioned byAAM and preparedby the Duke University Center ofGlobalization, Governance (CGGC).A fully-funded Highway bill will

also create U.S. manufacturing jobsand decrease the averageAmericansstuck-in-traffic commuter time ofmore than 60 hours per year. Every$1 billion spent on infrastructure willcreate more than 21,000 jobs. Accord-ing to the CGGC report, a low-endinvestment such as the one Congressis attempting to pass could createmore than one millionAmerican jobs.

On the high end of funding, a longterm transportation bill annually of$114 billion would create nearly2.5 million jobs for U.S. workers.When you factor in other essential

infrastructure improvements such aswaterways, ports, airports, railways,drinking water pipelines and the elec-trical grid, a long-term investment overthe next ten years approaches another$80 billion dollars per year according tothe CGGC study. Funding for thesenecessary improvements is not part ofthe Highway Trust Fund. Freight bottle-necks and other forms of congestioncosts theAmerican economy $200 bil-lion annually or 1.6 percent of our GDP.It’s time for a major investment in

American infrastructure to return theU.S. to previous dominance in movinggoods, services and workers across ourgreat nation. Contact your U.S. Sena-tor’s office or your local member of theU.S. House of Representatives and letthem know that this is money well spentand is a win-win situation for bothAmerican business and U.S. workers.

To reach your member of CongressinWashington you can visit theirindividual websites or call theU.S. Capitol switchboard at(202) 224-3121 and ask for yourrepresentative by name and youwill be connected to theirWashington, D.C. office.

It’s Time for aLONG-TERM FIX

For Our Infrastructure

A badly rusted, unsafe bridge inDawson, Pennsylvania—it is justone of the approximately 156,000deficient bridges in the U.S.

Deteriorating support structure of anAdirondack Northway bridge inupstate New York.

If you feel like you’ve alreadyread a version of Financing theHighway Trust Fund in theAlliance forAmerican Manu-facturing SOAR report space,you wouldn’t be mistaken.It’s an eight-year battle thatAAM has been fighting withthe United States Congress.

Learn more about American infrastructure and how to take action at www.americanmanufacturing.org.

Let’s Hear it for SenatorBarbaraAnnMikulski

While serving as theSecretary Treasurer of theConsumer Federation ofAmerica (CFA), I had therare pleasure to introduceRepresentative Mikulski toan audience of activists dur-ing our national consumerconference. Recognizingher height, about five feet

two inches, I requested a riser allow-ing her to appear above the lectern.Mikulski refused my assistance, andbefore being facially visible to theaudience stated, “Look at me. Do Ilook like big government?” Thatstatement captured the audience withapplause and laughter. She thenstepped on the riser, gave a rousingspeech including high praise to CFAactivists and pledged her support forour consumer issues.

Who is Barbara Ann Mikulski?

Having served in public office for30 years, she announced last Marchthat she would not seek reelection.But, what about this woman, she’sa first generationAmerican of immi-grant Polish parents, influenced bystrong women and a strong workethic. Barbara was a student of theSisters of Mercy and earned a degreein Sociology at Mount St. Mary’sCollege, where she developed a pas-sion for life-long learning. She wenton to earn her Master’s Degree at theUniversity of Maryland, while devel-oping a strong social consciousnessfor serving others.

Barbara became a social worker, acommunity leader and led a bitterfight against the City of Baltimoreleaders to stop a 16-lane highwayfrom being built through an olderestablished residential area. Homeowners would have been evicted,(Imminent Domain) no moving bene-fits were going to be provided andtheir properties undervalued. The cityleaders harassed her stating “you can’tdo this.” “Why don’t you go homeand shut up.” To their amazement,Mikulski won that battle with the helpof her coalition, the Southeast CouncilAgainst the Road (SCAR).Soon after, she ran for and won a

seat on the Baltimore City Council.In 1976, she won her first election tothe U.S. House of Representatives.In 1986 Mikulski became the firstwoman Democrat to win a Senate seatin her own right and became the firstfemale Senator to Chair the SenateAppropriations Committee. Today,Mikulski is the longest servingwoman Senator and the Dean offemale legislators.

Her Congressional Record

During her 30 years in Congressshe truly left her mark! She was aconsistent supporter of family and

workers’ issues. She advocated forwomen’s issues, for affordable healthcare, nutrition programs and nursinghome care. She fought for State Chil-dren’s Health Insurance programs,consumer issues, voting rights, educa-tion, justice and equal rights for all.Barbara was a champion for olderAmericans, fighting to protect SocialSecurity, Medicare and Medicaid. Herlifetime voting record on issues listedby the AFL-CIO is 95 percent favor-able. Likewise, her voting record onsenior citizen issues listed by theAlliance for Retired Americans(ARA) is 96 percent.Outstanding! You can bet the house

on it. Her retirement in January, 2017,will leave a gaping hole not easilyfilled. However, there are those thatbelieve Senator Mikulski will notretire and drift into the woodwork.An interviewer asked about her retire-ment. Her response was typical stat-ing, “Do I spend my time raisingmore money (for elections) or do Ispend my time raising hell?”Senator Mikulski will be missed.

She waged the good fight, thepeople’s fight. We recognize andapplause her record of many accom-plishments and her high standard ofethics. We wish her well as she startsthe next chapter of her life!

By Ken KovackSOAR Legislative DirectorWashington, D.C.

Page 14 USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015

WashingtonWrap

by Robert Roach, Jr.

On October 15, the Social SecurityAdministration officially announced a zeropercent cost of living adjustment (COLA)in 2016 for Social Security beneficiaries.

The zero percent COLAalso triggers a huge increase incosts for nearly one-third of all Medicare Part B recipientsin 2016. For 16 million people with Medicare, the Part Bpremium will increase by 52 percent, to $159 per month.Deductibles will increase from $147 to $223 for everyperson with Medicare.Here’s why: when seniors don’t receive a COLA, a provi-

sion known as “hold harmless” protects 70 percent of benefi-ciaries from higher Medicare Part B premiums. This wascreated to ensure that seniors’Social Security checks do notgo down from one year to the next. Those beneficiaries heldharmless will continue to pay $104.90 for their monthly pre-miums. Unfortunately, 30 percent of seniors and personswith disabilities are not protected. These include newMedicare beneficiaries, public sector retirees not receivingSocial Security, higher income beneficiaries and low-incomebeneficiaries who have both Medicare and Medicaid. The

beneficiaries who are notprotected will have to pickup the cost for all those whoare held harmless.Alliance for RetiredAmericans

activists are extremely disappointedabout the Social Security COLAannouncement. We willtake immediate action to limit the damage by addressing theeffect this news will have on Medicare beneficiaries.Legislation has been introduced in Congress to address

the problem: the Medicare Premium FairnessAct of 2015(S. 2148 and H.R. 3696), recently introduced by Sen. RonWyden (Ore.) and Rep. Dina Titus (Nev.). This bill willprevent next year’s massive spike in out-of-pocket Medicareexpenses for seniors and people with disabilities. TheAlliance is working hard to try and pass this legislation.Please call your Representative and Senators at 202-224-3121 and ask them to support these important bills.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance forRetired Americans. He was previously the GeneralSecretary-Treasurer of the IAMAW.For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Zero Percent Social Security COLA in 2016Will Affect Medicare Beneficiaries

USW@Work/SOAR Fall 2015 Page 15

Greg England Receives Lynn R. Williams AwardSeptember 1, 2015: Greg England was honored for his commitment and dedicationto SOAR at the District 9 Education Conference held in Destin, Fla.Pictured presenting the award are from left to right: SOAR Director, Jim Centner; District 9Director, Daniel Flippo; Greg England and SOAR District 9 Executive Board Member ClaudeKarr. The Lynn R. Williams Award for Service is given to a SOAR member who demonstratesexemplary leadership and commitment to the mandate of SOAR. This award is the highesttribute a member can receive from the International Executive Board.

District 9 Adds Another Chapterin TennesseeLocal 1155L, which represent the members at the Bridgestone/Firestone facility in Morrison, Tenn. is the latest local to establisha SOAR chapter in the district. The organizing effort was led bylocal union President Billy Dycus, who stated “he is happy to seethe chapter is up and running and gearing up for future actions.”District 9 Director, Daniel Flippo said, “Local 1155L has alwaysled in activism.” He went on to say, “We are certain that thischapter working with the local, will lead the way in strength andactivism going forward.”

SOAR CONTINUES TO GROW IN DISTRICT9

Pictured above receiving their charter from DistrictCoordinator, Greg England and Board Member Claude Karrare: Chapter, President David Amado; Local 1155L President,Billy Dycus; Past President and ICD Coordinator, Ron Viningand Area 2 Divisional Stewart, Tom Westlake.

Oldtimer 3

USW Membership Department60 Blvd. of the AlliesPittsburgh, PA 15222