United Steelworkers: SOAR News Articles

SOAR Chapter Connection

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600

SOAR members want to hear from their union, especially on issues that directly concern items of interest to retirees. To assist with providing additional communications, SOAR Chapter Connection has been introduced.

SOAR Chapter Connection January 2012

SOAR Chapter Connection November/December 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection October 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection September 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection July 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection June 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection May 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection April 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection March 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection February 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection January 2011

SOAR Chapter Connection November 2010

SOAR Chapter Connection October 2010

SOAR Chapter Connection September 2010

SOAR Chapter Connection August 2010

SOAR Chapter Connection July 2010

USW Lauds Legislation that Would Adjust Consumer Price Index for Elderly

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600

Cost of Living Adjustments for Social Security Beneficiaries Would Accurately Reflect Higher Heath Care and Every Day Costs

The United Steelworkers (USW) today strongly endorsed legislation by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) that would adopt a much more accurate consumer price index for elderly consumers (CPI-E). Developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this index would base its calculation on a market basket of goods purchased by retirees.

It is well understood that retired Americans spend much more of their financial resources on health care and housing than the general population. The current formula for calculating the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security beneficiaries, however, does not accurately reflect their everyday costs, understating in particular, health care costs that are rising well beyond the rate of inflation ... more

SOAR Executive Board Elected

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

by Jim McKay, USW Communications

Delegates attending this year’s conference of SOAR, the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, unanimously re-elected retired District 9 Director Connie Entrekin as its president for another three years.

Also re-elected before the conference closed on Saturday were Harry Hynd, vice president; Al Becco, vice president West; and Charlie Averill, secretary treasurer.

Delegates elected the following district representatives: District 1, Willie Moore; District 2, Mimi Rinna; District 3, Gerry Edwards; District 4, Jim Bickhart; District 5, Robert Saumure; District 6, Doug MacPherson; District 7, Steve Skvara; District 8, Jack Casparriello; District 9, Don Badie; District 10, Denise Edwards; District 11, Dave Trach; District 12, Bob Rankin; and District 13, Jack Golden. Bill Gibbons was elected PACE representative.

Emeritus members include SOAR President Emeritus Lynn Williams; George Edwards and Dan McNeil.

Below are photo galleries from the 2011 SOAR Conference. Click on the photo to view the gallery.

2011 SOAR Conference-FINAL		2011 SOAR Conference		2011 SOAR Executive Meetings

SOAR Convention Opens With Call to Activism

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

by Jim McKay, USW Communications

SOAR, the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees, opened its two-day constitutional conference Friday in Las Vegas with a call to arms from International President Leo W. Gerard.

Gerard urged the 164 delegates to the conference to “take to the streets” to defend social programs in both the United States and Canada that are under attack by conservative political parties in both countries.

“We need to show our anger,’’ Gerard said as he urged retirees to continue their activism to protect health care, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from the budget-cutting process underway in Washington, D.C.

“You have the credibility as seniors to demand fairness, to stand up and say Social Security is not an entitlement,’’ Gerard said to applause. “You paid for it every day you went to work.”

Since its inception, SOAR has been a major part of the USW’s ongoing fight for a better deal for workers and retirees. It has long fought for the preservation of Social Security and Medicare.

“The reality is that SOAR chapters in the United States and Canada continue to make great contributions to the struggles of our members and the struggles of our society,” Gerard told the delegates.

Barbara Easterling, president of the Alliance for Retired Americans, praised SOAR for its continued activism and urged the USW’s retirees to keep the pressure on Congress, and educate their friends and neighbors about the attacks organized labor and retirees face.

Easterling, a former officer of the AFL-CIO and the Communication Workers of America, urged retirees to stand strong and defend Social Security and Medicare from the budget cutters.

“We are all in this together. They are coming after us – all of us,” Easterling said. “For retirees like us, our working days may be over, but our fighting spirit still burns stronger than ever.”

International Vice President Tom Conway, a lead contract negotiator for the union, told the delegates that labor is under attack and the climate at the bargaining table for retiree issues is difficult.

It is a challenge, Conway said, for the union to convince its younger members that retiree health care is an important issue that must be defended.

“We will continue to do our best for you at the bargaining table,” Conway said. “You are part of this union and you always will be.”

District Directors Robert LaVenture, Wayne Frazier, John DeFazio, Jim Robinson and J.M. “Mickey” Breaux welcomed the delegates at the during the morning and afternoon sessions and urged them to stay committed to the union and its issues.

During the two-day session, held before the start of the union’s constitutional convention, SOAR delegates will elect officers and consider 28 resolutions. The delegates established, on Friday, a new sevice award named for Lynn R. Williams president emeritas of the United Steelworkers and SOAR.

SOAR Convention Executive Board Meeting

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The SOAR Executive Board met on August 11, 2011 to discuss the progress the organization made over the past year as well as the challenges we face for the future. The Board reviewed the reports of the standing committees and set the agenda for the upcoming conference.

Tell Congress: Don't Cut Social Security

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500

National Call-In Days: July 14-15

Your Social Security benefits are under attack by politicians in Washington.

Social Security belongs to you. You pay for it in every paycheck. Don’t let them cut it or raid it!

Call your Senators July 14-15: 1-866-251-4044

Click Here to download a leaflet to send to friends or to post.

SOAR Protests Attacks on Social Security

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0600

“Congress must not attempt to balance the budget on the backs of working families and retirees.” That’s the message delivered by USW Secretary Treasurer Stan Johnson to an event held in the lobby of Steelworkers Headquarters on the eve of the final report outlining recommendations from the National Commission on Fiscal Reform and Responsibility to reduce our nation’s long term deficit.

Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) members and union supporters gathered at in an event organized by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans to protest any attempt to reduce Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age.

“Congress must reject the attempt to weaken Social Security under the false premise of ‘deficit reduction.’ Social Security is fully-paid for out of its own trust fund. It has not added one cent to the national debt,” said retired Steelworker Jean Friday, President of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans.

Secretary-Treasurer Johnson told the gathering that Social Security did not cause the deficit problem and proposing cuts to critical economic lifelines for working families and retirees is unconscionable.

“These vital programs did not create our nations current debt,” Johnson said. “If you want to cut spending you should look at the root cause of this catastrophe – two unfunded wars – tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans – years of failed borrow and spend policies and an economic crisis caused by Wall Street excesses.

“We cannot allow retirees, our nation’s most vulnerable group, to be made the scapegoats and sacrificed to satisfy the greed of those who are the most well off,” Johnson concluded.

Pittsburgh Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak came to the gathering straight from a council meeting and received a strong round of applause when she reported that city council had just passed a resolution telling the federal government that “deficit reduction should not be accomplished on the backs of American workers.”

Medicare and Medicaid Announce Premium Reductions in Medicare Advantage Program

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(Pittsburgh) --The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today that seniors in the Medicare Advantage program would see an average one percent reduction in annual premiums in 2011, while benefits will remain similar to what was offered in 2010.

"This flies in the face of some of the lies being spread," said USW SOAR Director Jim Centner. "Critics from the right have claimed that the healthcare overhaul law would lead to companies abandoning the Medicare Advantage program in significant numbers and seniors facing higher premiums and reduced benefits."

SOAR says that this is another example of how the Affordable Care Act benefits seniors because it provides the CMS with ability to negotiate health plans in competitive marketplace.

"This combined with the closing donut hole for prescription drug coverage provides quality health care to seniors most in need," said Centner.

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SOAR Urges President to Remove Honeywell CEO David Cote

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The following is a letter to President Obama from the Steelworker Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) urging him to remove Honeywell CEO David Cote from the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

Click Here to read the letter.

Important Notice to Retirees of Special Metals Corporation

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600

A Federal Court has authorized a notice concerning a proposed class action settlement for workers and retirees from Special Metals North America Inc.

Click here to download the Notice

Click here to download a copy of the Settlement

Rally at Georgia Pacific

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Wheatfield, Indiana

Union members at the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana fought a long and hard battle and finally ratified a labor contract last spring. Shortly before the ratification vote, a decertification petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board by a small group which has opposed union representation from the very start. The USW filed several unfair labor practice charges that were settled by Georgia-Pacific and a 60 day posting time has passed which is now allowing for this decertification election.

These local members needed our show of support so on November 3, 2009, Steelworkers and SOAR members rallied outside the gate of the Georgia Pacific Gypsum plant in Wheatfield, Indiana.

Click here to see more photos.

Demonstration at Federal Mogul

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

On October 28, 2009, Steelworkers and SOAR members together in Solidarity with members of USW Local 4863 as the renegade company of Federal Mogul attempts to jam a concessionary contract down the throats of active and retired Steelworkers.

SOAR Raises Its First Flag in District 13

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The first Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) Chapter in District 13 held its first official meeting and received its charter on Tuesday, October 13. Retirees from several locals in the Corpus Christi area joined together to form SOAR Chapter 13-1. More than 30 retirees attended this first meeting.

L to R: George Rosas–Secretary/Treasurer, Ruben Martinez–Trustee, Tony Jimenez–Vice President, Andres Rosas–President, Jack Golden – Former District Director, James Gilmore–Trustee, Wootson Williams–Trustee.

The Chapter elected Andres “Andy” Rosas as President. Andy retired from Sherwin Alumina where he was a member of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 235A.

Former District Director Jack Golden speaks to members of SOAR Chapter 13-1

In attendance at this historic meeting was former District Director Jack Golden. He stressed the importance for retirees to stay active in their union and pointed out the opportunities that exist for retirees to participate in the labor movement.

Attendees at the SOAR Chapter 13-1 meeting

Also in attendance was Assistant to the Director, John Patrick. Speaking to Chapter members, he said, “It is clear to me that these men and women still have a desire to help build a strong labor movement and I believe that they will find ways to become involved in many of our current struggles.”

SOAR Members in Indiana Hold a Health Care Demonstration

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0500

On July 9, 2009 in Valparaiso, Ind., SOAR members joined other community organizations in a demonstration at Senator Richard Lugar’s office.

One of the feature speakers was Steve Skvara, SOAR board member in District 7.

After the demonstration, we presented his office with 1,700 signatures in support of a public health care plan.

Motorists honked their horns in support and the police were on hand to protect the demonstrators.

The fifty or so demonstrators cheered and shouted “Health Care Now”! and “What do we want? Healthcare! When do we want it? Now!

The rally was organized by moveon.org.