For as long as the union has been around at BAE Systems in York, Pa., someone in the Coleman family has been a member.
Richard Coleman, who is now 89 and retired, worked for 34 years as a welder, then in management and back to the local as a welder. He is one of the original members of USW Local 7687, BAE Systems. Before their shop became union, Richard lived through years of layoffs where instead of being hired back, was terminated and had to reapply for his job on his own. Always wanting to make a better life for his family, he strived to be management until he realized the protection and solidarity he received as a union member and returned back to the local. 
Richard’s son Rick, and his grandson and Rick’s son, Derek, recently attended a USW training where they shared with us what the union has meant to their family and explained the feelings of pride that goes with following in each of their father’s footsteps. Here’s what they had to say:
RICK:
“Growing up the union was all I knew. It’s given my father a good life and good retirement. To be honest, the union means everything to me. It’s a way of life for our family. Early on I learned real fast what solidarity meant. I was only there 6 months before our first strike and standing on the line with my brothers and sisters, it was never a fight about myself, it was a fight about all of us, how can we together, make it better for everyone of us on that line. I’ve been at non-union jobs and if we didn’t have a union, we wouldn’t have survived that strike, or have recall rights when we have layoffs. I saw my dad advance up to management and return to the union and I made the decision that I will be union until I retire.
My dad was one of the members of our local that fought to bring the union in. As a welder, they used to put cigarette butts in their ears for ear plugs. They would send someone on the roof to open the vents to get the smoke out for the welders. Now through years of the union working with the company, we have automated machines that test the air to make sure it’s safe to breathe. The reason I’m a part of the health and safety committee is in big part because my dad can walk through there and see our members have safe working conditions, the ones they started fighting for at the beginning.
Watching my son grow and move into the work force, I never wanted him to struggle. I wanted him to have the same pride I do. When I first went to work at BAE, it was never just a job, and once I got there I knew I wanted to advance up through like my father. But the job security, the solidarity, how the union treats you -- the company doesn’t treat their managers the way the union treats us. Maybe I’m biased because it’s the only thing I know, but we are a family.”
DEREK:
“Growing up with my grandpa and dad both in the union, I saw what solidarity was. Of course, we enjoyed the perks of being a Steelworker kid with the fun things the union did for us and with the family events. But what I learned most was that there was a brotherhood and sisterhood standing behind you. Strength in numbers, I could do it on my own or I could have a brotherhood and family standing up for one another.
My work experience is different than my Dad’s. I did what you’re always told to do: get a good education, go to college and then my carpenter journeyman card. What I learned is it didn’t matter what degree you had, each non-union job was, ‘this is what we pay. This is what you get. This is our healthcare and our benefits.’ I spent eight years working to survive not having a real life because you work to pay bills, there was no extra. My Dad was worried with me working in construction because of so many safety issues. It was a dangerous job. They didn’t care if equipment wasn’t up to standards, they just wanted the job done.
When I got hired on at BAE I knew I wanted to be a part of the Safety Committee because I could see a lot of things that could be changed for our members and I wanted to be a part of that. Being a Steelworker, safety is highly regarded and pushed for and we strive for a better workplace. Now not only am I safe when I go to work, but I’m not working to survive. I’m working and get to live a life that is now worth living.”
Both father and son say there is great pride in seeing the progress made for workers and families like theirs over the 70 years of being Steelworkers. But the Coleman’s agree that the best part of their legacy can be best shown in a simple act experienced by them both: walking through the BAE plant and being stopped by a member who says, “Hey I remember working with your Dad, how’s he doing?”