Flanked by Steelworkers members from his home state, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton received the USW Wellstone Award this week at the 2018 Rapid Response and Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.
District 11 Director Emil Ramirez and International President Leo W. Gerard presented the award to Dayton for his commitment to public service and the well-being of USW members and their families. 
The award is named for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, who along with his wife, daughter and three campaign aides were killed in a plane crash prior to the election in 2002. Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis of Georgia was this year's other recipient.
Click here for more on his story.
In 12 years, Wellstone proved to be the most reliable, tenacious, and inspiring senator on behalf of Steelworkers and all workers. He loved our union and its members from Minnesota’s Iron Range. He fought tirelessly to save Steelworkers’ jobs, and even after jobs were lost, he continued fighting for Steelworkers’ pensions and for our retirees’ health care. From the Iron Range of Minnesota, to the “Battle of Seattle” at the WTO, to the corridors of power here in Washington, Paul Wellstone was always there for us, always leading the way forward.