Cement Masons Local 527 celebrates members at annual picnic Page 4
Missouri AFL-CIO, St. Louis Labor Council host petition training Page 6
Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 welcomes eight new journeymen Page 7
Laborers Local 110 collects 2,700 pounds of food, donating $6,100 to area food pantries Page 7
Outdoor Guide Pages 11-16
Leaders say solidarity is key in winning the fight
By SHERI GASSAWAY Missouri Correspondent
Hazelwood, MO – AFL-CIO
President Liz Shuler urged striking Machinists District 837 members at Boeing to continue standing in solidarity and hold the line last week during a rally here at the union’s hall.
Hundreds attended the Oct. 1 event, which featured several speakers from the international Machinists union as well as state
AFL-CIO PRESIDENT LIZ SHULER underscores the importance of solidarity during an Oct. 1 rally for striking Machinists District 837 members at Boeing at the union’s hall in Hazelwood.
– Labor Tribune photo
and local Labor leaders, including Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel and St. Louis Labor Council President Patrick Kellett.
THE DILEMA
So far, members have overwhelmingly rejected three contract offers from the company and have approved one union-proposed contract, which the company ignored. On Sept. 29, District 837 and Boeing sat down with a federal mediator. However, the company brought the same contract to the bargaining table. The next day, District 837 sent
Boeing a revised union-proposed contract within the parameters of the pre-ratified agreement approved by its membership.
Shuler, who was in awe of the rally’s solidarity, said she was “sick and tired” of hearing about a company that made $66 billion last year while treating its workers with disrespect. She summed up what would be needed to end the strike.
‘TREAT US WITH RESPECT’
“Treat us with respect, stop bringing contracts to the table that
By TIM ROWDEN Editor-in-Chief
St. Louis – The St. Louis Board of Aldermen last week passed a resolution that calls for increased scrutiny on new data center projects in the city, a move that area Labor leaders weighed in on earlier in the week, urging that the city to move carefully so as not to send a message to developers of the job-creating centers that the city is closed for business.
Jake Hummel, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO, which represents several hundred thousand union members and their families in and outside St. Louis, urged caution in setting reasonable regulations.
“I think it’s perfectly reasonable to set some guardrails in place for the City of St. Louis and its citizens to follow things that will make everyone feel more comfortable and also send a message that we are not closed for business,” Hummel said at an Oct. 1 meeting of the Board Aldermen’s Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee, which sent the resolution to the full board.
Hummel noted that construction workers on data center projects make an average of $100,000 a year in wages and benefits. And, because data centers need regular updates and upgrades, many of those work-
See DATA CENTERS page 10
East St. Louis, IL — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Wesley Bell (MO-01) rallied last week with American Federal of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2192 and federal workers impacted by the ongoing government shutdown.
forced to work without pay during the lapse in government funding. She also underscored how the government shutdown is disrupting critical services that Americans rely on.
During the Oct. 2 event, Budzinski highlighted the harm that President Trump and Congressional Republicans are inflicting on federal employees who are furloughed or
“Today, we sent a clear message to President Trump and Republicans in Congress: fix your manufactured healthcare crisis and fund the government for the American people,” said Congresswoman Budzinski.
“As frontline workers at the TSA, VA, Social Security Administration, BUDZINSKI
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and more, AFGE members know just how essential our government services are. They know that it’s our veterans, seniors, and working families who will be feeling the most pain because of the Republican shutdown. We will continue to stand together and fight for the deal we need to save healthcare and reopen the government.”
“I come from a union family, and I know unions are the backbone of the middle class. Federal workers keep our country running—and have no business being used as political
pawns to push an extremist agenda,” said Congressman Bell.
“I stand with AFGE in demanding respect, fair pay, and dignity for every worker during this shutdown.”
AFGE Local 2192 is a St. Louisbased local representing Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) workers. During the government shutdown, VBA regional offices that help veterans access programs to buy homes, earn degrees, and start careers are closed.
Members of the following unions and councils see page 5 for changes in your notices
By ABBY EHRHARDT
On Aug. 28, Missouri officially repealed a voterapproved paid sick leave law.
Proposition A, approved by nearly 58 percent of voters in November, gave workers one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked — about seven to eight days a year for a full-time employee. The Missouri Supreme Court upheld the law in April, rejecting a lawsuit from business groups that claimed it was unconstitutional and too costly.
By repealing Proposition A, the Missouri legislature overrode both the will of Missouri voters and the state’s highest court. At a time when communities are still recovering from the lessons of COVID-19 and other infectious outbreaks, repealing paid sick leave is dangerous.
During the pandemic, I worked as an ICU nurse. We were eventually told we could come to work COVID positive if we had no symptoms, as long as we stayed masked. That decision kept hospitals staffed in a pandemic, but it spread risk to patients and workers. What we learned was simple: when sick workers can’t stay home, everyone is at risk.
THE LESSONS OF COVID
Missouri has already seen the consequences when staff cannot stay home sick. By late October 2020, 1,241 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in the state’s nursing homes and long-term care facilities — nearly 46 percent of all COVID deaths at the time. State reports pointed to staff working across facilities, weak infection control, and policies that allowed asymptomatic employees to remain on the job. With residents already at high risk, outbreaks spread quickly and proved devastating.
Paid sick leave helps stop outbreaks before they spread. The CDC has found that it reduces infection in the everyday community spaces Missourians rely on — schools, daycares, restaurants and nursing homes. When that protection is taken away, families who depend on these places are more vulnerable.
For many Missouri households, two incomes are essential to make ends meet. Nationally, nearly two-thirds of mothers are primary, sole or co-breadwinners, according to the Center for American Progress. Without paid sick leave, parents risk lost wages or even their jobs if they stay home with a sick child. In rural areas, limited providers and long travel times make the strain even greater.
Voters across party lines supported paid sick leave in Missouri. A 2022 Navigator survey found that more than 70 percent of Republican and independent voters supported paid family and medical leave. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, more than a dozen states already guarantee paid sick leave, making it a standard workplace protection Missouri briefly adopted.
Missouri faces growing disparities in access to health care.
Without paid sick leave, workers delay care and arrive sicker. Studies show that access to paid sick days increases use of primary care and reduces avoidable ER visits.
Rural Missouri is home to nearly onethird of the state’s population, and nearly a quarter of residents rely on Medicaid, compared to just 15 percent in urban areas.
These pressures fall hardest on the state’s 35 Critical Access Hospitals, many chronically understaffed and underfunded.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, from 2014 to 2023, 19 hospitals closed across Missouri, including 12 in rural counties. Those closures left 50 rural counties without a hospital, forcing residents to travel long distances for treatment. The facilities that remain operate on tight budgets and short staffing, and all 19 closures occurred in federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas, underscoring how limited access to care already was in rural Missouri.
COSTS OUTWEIGH OBJECTIONS
Supporters of the repeal offered two main objections:
• The first was practical: small businesses argued that even modest sick leave mandates increased payroll costs and complicated scheduling, a challenge felt most acutely by restaurants and nursing homes with shallow hiring pools.
• The second was philosophical: opponents insisted that the government should never mandate benefits, regardless of their effectiveness.
Small business concerns deserve attention, but the long-term costs of high turnover, preventable outbreaks, and lost community trust outweigh short-term adjustments. Evidence from Connecticut, New York and California shows no negative effect on overall employment.
Employers absorbed modest costs, often offset by reduced illness and higher retention. The business community itself was divided: Gina Meyer, owner of J E Meyer Construction Co. in Jackson County, chose to keep offering sick leave voluntarily, while trade groups pressed for repeal. That split shows compliance was possible, yet organized opposition pushed ahead anyway, discarding evidence and experience to roll back a vital protection.
Health economists and Missouri health policy leaders warn that rural hospitals are already operating on razor-thin margins. Any spike in uncompensated care could tip them into collapse.
Sheldon Weisgrau, vice president of health policy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, says many of the state’s 67 rural hospitals “operate on the financial edge” and are at risk of closure if coverage decreases. Without paid sick leave, more patients delay care or rely on emergency services, which adds costs to hospitals least able to absorb them.
Paid sick leave could have been phased in gradually or paired with targeted support for the smallest employers. Instead, lawmakers chose a full repeal, stripping away a safeguard against public health risks.
If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that sick workers forced onto the job do not just endanger themselves. We all pay when staff work sick. Hospitals absorb the costs, families absorb the risks, and outbreaks become a community-wide concern.
Repealing Proposition A will not save jobs. It trades short-term payroll savings for higher infection risk, higher turnover costs and preventable harm in Missouri.
(Abby Ehrhardt is a Missouri nurse whose writing focuses on health care access, rural policy and the systems that shape care for both patients and workers. Reprinted from the Missouri Independent (https://missouriindependent.com)
Workers’ pensions can help seed the ground for the next generation of union members. It’s time to go on offense.
By HAMILTON NOLAN
Pensions are not considered the sexiest corner of the Labor Movement. But they are one of the most important.
Pensions are where all the money that workers fought so hard to earn is going. Union researcher Chris Bohner has calculated the combined financial assets of American unions at about $35 billion, but the total assets held by collectively bargained pension plans stand at trillions of dollars.
Until we shift the perception of pensions from “a delicate resource that we must hoard” into “a weapon,” the working class is leaving a chunk of its power on the table.
The final frontier of thought about the Labor Movement’s pension money is the realization that it can be used for more than just dreary investments and retirement checks.
There are three concentric circles of thought about what we can or should do with workers’ pensions:
• The first is the mandate to grow the funds enough to support retirees. Pensions spend gobs of money on sophisticated advisors and hedge funds and private equity to hit annual returns; in aggregate, it’s a big waste. Studies show that, in the long run, pensions could put their money into simple, low-cost portfolios and make about the same returns. The majority of the brainpower dedicated to workers’ retirement helps Wall Street more than workers themselves.
• The second way to look at pensions is: How do we ensure working-class money is not invested in companies that oppress the working class? One of capitalism’s greatest tricks is its sleight-of-hand with workers’ retirement savings. By transforming union members into investors, a private equity firm can say that layoffs and wage cuts actually benefit workers, through pension investments. This act of playing retirement fears off between groups of workers is poisonous to solidarity and the collective interest of the working class.
For unions to allow themselves to be seduced into institutionalizing this practice, by claiming it’s necessary, is not just moral malpractice it is also false. By avoiding exotic “alternative” investments and instead sticking to simple, index-based portfolios union pensions can turn the tables on predatory firms, which seek to use Labor’s capital to undermine Labor power. These firms need our money to operate. We can make demands of them. Private equity firms and others that treat workers badly should simply be cut off from pension funds.
The loss is theirs.
• The final frontier of thought about the Labor Movement’s pension money is the realization that it can be used for more than just dreary investments and retirement checks. Unions must think creatively about the staggering pool of capital they command. If a pension’s financial returns are high enough, many unions think its job is done. In fact, such large pools of capital have much more potential. When negotiating all sorts of priorities, that capital represents leverage. When facing hostile forces, it represents power. And when organizing the unions of the future, it represents resources.
Organized Labor’s single most pressing need is to create more union members. In 2024, union density fell to its lowest point in a century, at under 10 percent. If we do not organize millions more workers, we are doing nothing but running out the clock on the very existence of union power. No, the situation is not as simple as just dipping into pensions to hire more union organizers. But an entire world of possibility opens for unions if they treat the challenges of investing pension funds as political problems to be solved, rather than unshakeable laws of nature.
Do you know who wants to ensure that all that union pension money cannot be leveraged to help the broader labor movement? MAGA Republicans! Indeed, the entire Republican crusade against “ESG investing” short for prioritizing environmental, social and governance criteria should be understood as terror over the latent power of capital for political progress.
Let’s not forget the central insight of the Labor Movement: We are all in this together. We need to take care of our retirees. Their resources can also help seed the ground for the next generation of unions. Whether that means starting our own investment firms that channel our pension money into union-friendly companies, or waging war in the courts and in Congress to break free of pretextual chains under the guise of “fiduciary duty” (which purport to tell pension trustees they cannot think holistically about the impact of their own investments), the first step is to change the way we think about what working people’s pension funds are for.
The question is not, “How do we earn seven percent a year on these investments to pay out retirement benefits?” That’s the easy part. The real question is, “How do working people use their accumulated material gains to make the world better for all working people?”
The class war looks a lot sunnier with trillions of dollars on your side.
(Hamilton Nolan is a Labor writer for In These Times. He has spent the past decade writing about labor and politics for Gawker, Splinter, The Guardian, and elsewhere. More of his work is on Substack.)
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By LINDA JARRETT Correspondent
A group of actors with Bread and Roses Missouri recently held a reading of their play, “Bricks and a Bible,” which will be presented Feb. 19-27, 2026, at the Missouri History Museum.
Bread and Roses Missouri amplifies and elevates the voices of working people through the arts. This project is part of their Workers’ Theater project.
“Bricks and a Bible” tells the story of the Funsten Nut Factory strike in St. Louis, where 85 to 90 percent of the employees were Black women.
In 1933, the Black women workers went on strike to demand better wages and working conditions. Black women got $1.80 a week while white women received $2.75 a week.
Jacqueline Thompson was the director, and playwrights Colin McLauglin and Kathryn Bentley cowrote the play. Alicia Reve composed the music.
Working conditions were abysmal with the women sitting at benches picking out pecans, separating halves and pieces in hot, dusty conditions. White women joined the strike, which the Communist Party also helped.
The strike lasted seven weeks and, when it ended, Funsten met the women’s demands.
This was a significant Labor action during the Great Depression and highlighted the struggles of Black women in the workforce.
This story highlights a young woman’s introduction to activism in a way that might seem familiar to some.
The protagonist, Elizabeth, finds herself at a crossroads of having to choose whether or not to join her coworkers in a walkout at the Funsten Nut Factory in 1933. Activism is not often something that people contemplate for too long. The immediacy of the situation usually demands swift decisions about one’s participation.
Following the reading, the audience got to give opinions on the play and give questions to the actors, playwrights, and director.
Audience member Eric Wilkinson, a member of IBEW 1439 and Electrical Workers Minority Caucus, said “I think it’s excellent, and more people need to see this.
“I’m going to get this word out to them,” he said. This is the second one we’ve seen, saying he also saw the play “1887,” referring to the Bread and Roses production in 2023 about the St. Louis General Strike of 1877.
Crestwood resident Judith Schneider said, “It was wonderful to see how much they sacrificed. They were heroes. I think a lot of people forget in these days and times how much our ancestors and forefathers sacrificed. I think we need to remember, or otherwise it will be taken away.”
Director Emily Kohring said the audience response was “overwhelmingly positive” about the importance of telling this story.
McLaughlin said the idea for the play came about from comments from a couple of people who had seen his play, “1887.”
“My mentor Joan Suarez, who has been a union organizer for 50 years, as well as Gwen Moore of the Missouri Historical Society, mentioned it as well,” McLaughlin said. “So, it came up naturally as another story that people wanted to see, and it came to be a part of the exciting partnership with Bread and Roses and the Labor Movement.
“I’d taken organized training with Jobs for Justice,” he said. “They had mentioned a couple of successful strikes, and they highlighted this one because it strongly featured Black women as organizers.”
The Funsten Nut Strike was notable for the 1930s because white workers followed Black leadership.
“This play allows audience members to see themselves in Elizabeth — her uncertainty, the internal and external conflict she has, the messages she receives from her community about participating in a strike, and her life-changing ultimate
decision,” Bentley said.
“I feel like when we hear stories about the Civil Rights Movement or workers’ rights, it often highlights one charismatic individual, usually a man, who socializes someone to come and save us,” McLaughlin said. “But these kinds of stories about a group of people making change – everyday workers, a group of working people who one day say, ‘This just isn’t good enough. We can’t live off this – we
have to make a stand.”’
“These are relatable aspects that many will identify with,” he said.
The Regional Arts Commission and the John and Carolyn Peterson Charitable Foundation support Bread and Roses Missouri. Kohring said that any union locals who might be interested in sponsoring the February production can contact her at director@breadandrosesmo.org
By WES BURNS Executive Vice President of Community and Economic Development
After several years of rising interest rates, we’re finally seeing a downward trend. For many homeowners, that means refinancing is back on the table.
A lower rate could translate into significant monthly savings or allow you to pay off your home sooner. But refinancing isn’t right for everyone, and knowing when and how to do it can make all the difference.
What is Refinancing?
Refinancing simply means replacing your current mortgage with a new one — ideally with better terms. There are three main reasons why people refinance:
1. Lower the interest rate. Lower rates reduce monthly payments, which can save thousands over the life of the loan.
2. Shorten the loan term. Switching to a shorter loan term, such as going from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage, lets homeowners pay off their home sooner, save on interest, and build equity faster.
3. Tap into home equity. A “cash-out refinance” lets homeowners access some of the equity they’ve built up for major expenses, like home improvements or college tuition. While this can be a smart move in the right situation, it’s important to remember that tapping equity increases your overall debt, so it’s worth weighing carefully.
When Does Refinancing Make Sense?
Not every drop in rates justifies refinancing. A good rule of thumb is that it’s worth considering if you can lower your interest rate by at least half a percent — and ideally a full percent. The earlier you are in your mortgage term, the more you stand to save over time. But refinancing isn’t free. You’ll likely pay closing costs that include an appraisal, title work, and origination fees. That’s why it’s helpful to calculate your “break-even point,” which is how long it takes for the monthly savings to offset those upfront costs. If you plan to move soon, you may not be in the home long enough to come out ahead.
Who Benefits the Most Right Now?
This is a particularly good moment for homeowners who took out their mortgage when rates were much higher and now have a chance to reset at today’s lower levels. Families looking for a little more stability in their monthly budget can also benefit from lower payments. And if your credit score has improved since you first bought your home, you may qualify for better terms — which can make refinancing even more worthwhile.
Getting Ready to Refinance
Before you dive in, it pays to do a little prep work.
1. Check your credit score. A stronger score can unlock better rates and terms.
2. Gather key financial documents, like pay stubs, tax returns, and details on any debts you carry.
3. Have your home appraised. Your home’s current value will affect the rate you’re offered.
4. Run the numbers. Calculate savings vs. costs with online calculators or your banker.
5. Contact a Midwest BankCentre banker to discuss your options.
Refinancing can be a smart financial move, but there are a few dangers to avoid. One of the biggest is extending your loan term without realizing it. If you’ve already paid off 10 years on a 30-year mortgage and you start over with a new 30-year loan, you may end up paying much more in interest over the long run — even if your monthly payment is lower. It’s also easy to focus only on the size of the monthly payment and forget about the total cost of the loan. And while using home equity can be helpful for big, important expenses, it can also create long-term debt if used for non-essentials.
A Banker’s Advice
As a community banker, I encourage homeowners to think beyond just the monthly savings. Refinancing is a tool to help you reach your bigger financial goals — whether that’s becoming debt-free faster, saving for retirement, or simply making your budget more comfortable. The key is making sure the new loan puts you in a stronger position for the long run.
Making Your Move
Interest rates coming down creates real opportunities, but refinancing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Carefully weigh the costs, the potential savings, and your long-term plans before making a decision.
Start by talking with a trusted Midwest BankCentre mortgage banker. We can help you run the numbers and see whether refinancing now can give you and your family a stronger financial foundation for the years ahead. Give us a call at 314-631-5500 or visit MidwestBankCentre.com
the union hall to accept the check. Celebrating the donation is (from left) Welfare Association Secretary Amy Abkemeier; (Roy); retired St. Louis County Police Lieutenant Leslee Tate; Welfare Association President Dean O’Hara; Welfare Association Treasurer Zac Sigler, Local 110 Office Manager Sarah Schwartz; St. Louis County Officer Kevin Helldoerfer; Welfare Association Vice President Ricky Kranz; Local 110 SecretaryTreasurer Rob Reed; and Local 110 President Mark Bielicke. Variety assists local children with disabilities by providing access to vital medical equipment and therapies as well as the opportunity to participate in innovative recreation and performing arts programs. – Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis photo Laborers Local
OCTOBER 6
1918 – First National Conference of Trade Union Women.
1927 – The first “talkie” movie, The Jazz Singer, premiers in New York City. Within three years, according to the American Federation of Musicians, theater jobs for some 22,000 musicians who accompanied silent movies were lost, while only a few hundred jobs for musicians performing on soundtracks were created by the new technology.
1986 – Some 1,700 female flight attendants win an 18-year, $37 million suit against United Airlines. They had been fired for getting married.
1995 – Thirty-two thousand machinists begin what is to be a successful 69-day strike against the Boeing Co. The eventual settlement brought improvements that averaged an estimated $19,200 in wages and benefits over four years and safeguards against job cutbacks.
OCTOBER 7
1879 – Joe Hill, Labor leader and songwriter, born in Gavle, Sweden.
1903 – The Structural Building Trades Alliance (SBTA) is founded,
becomes the AFL’s Building Trades Dept. five years later. SBTA’s mission: to provide a forum to work out jurisdictional conflicts.
1946 – Hollywood’s “Battle of the Mirrors.” Picketing members of the Conference of Studio Unions disrupted an outdoor shoot by holding up large reflectors that filled camera lenses with blinding sunlight. Members of the competing IATSE union retaliated by using the reflectors to shoot sunlight back across the street. The battle went on all day, writes Tom Sito in Drawing the Line.
OCTOBER 8
1871 – Thirty of the city’s 185 fire fighters are injured battling the Great Chicago Fire, which burned for three days.
1982 – In Poland, the union Solidarity and all other Labor organizations are banned by the government.
1985 – Upholsterers’ Int’l Union of North America merges with United Steelworkers of America
OCTOBER 9
1888 – United Hebrew Trades is organized in New York by shirt
maker Morris Hillquit and others. Hillquit would later become leader of the Socialist Party.
1997 – Retail stock brokerage Smith Barney reaches a tentative sexual harassment settlement with a group of female employees. The suit charged, among other things, that branch managers asked female workers to remove their tops in exchange for money and one office featured a “boom room” where women workers were encouraged to “entertain clients.” The settlement was never finalized: a U.S. District Court judge refused to approve the deal because it failed to adequately redress the plaintiff’s grievances.
2003 – An estimated 3,300 sanitation workers working for private haulers in Chicago win a nine-day strike featuring a 28-percent wage increase over five years.
OCTOBER 10
1933 – Six days into a cotton field strike by 18,000 Mexican and Mexican-American workers in Pixley, Calif., four strikers are killed and six wounded; eight growers were indicted and charged with murder.
OCTOBER 11
1873 – The Miners’ National Association is formed in Youngstown, Ohio, with the goal of uniting all miners, regardless of skill or ethnic background.
Plantation workers strike Olaa Sugar in Hawaii, 1948
Jong
claims Trump stole his idea of gathering generals
Pyongyang (Satire from The Borowitz Report) — Kim Jong Un was incandescent with rage as he accused Donald J. Trump of stealing his idea of gathering his top military brass for an orgy of propaganda.
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Kim said of last week’s event in Quantico, Va. “That asshole totally ripped me off.
“The summoning of the nation’s generals, the insistence on loyalty, the unhinged rhetoric — I had all of that,” the North Korean dictator added. “The only thing I didn’t have was the weird drunk guy with all the makeup.”
In another accusation, Kim claimed Trump lifted his idea of attacking American cities, stating, “Washington DC, Los Angeles, Chicago — they were all on my target list. The only one I didn’t have was Portland. Why is he attacking Portland? That makes zero sense.”
OCTOBER 12
1898 – Company guards kill at least eight miners who are attempting to stop scabs, Virden, Ill. Six guards are also killed, and 30 persons wounded.
1933 – Some 2,000 workers demanding union recognition close down
dress manufacturing in Los Angeles. 1976 – More than one million Canadian workers demonstrate against wage controls.
(Compiled by David Prosten, founder Union Communication Services)
Street, Murphysboro, Ill. 62966. Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 553 First Tuesday of each month September through May, 7 p.m., 967 East Airline Dr., East Alton, IL 62024. Sheet Metal Workers Local 268 Caseyville Meetings: Fourth Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Sheet Metal Workers’ Hall, 2701 N. 89th Street, Caseyville, Ill. 62232. Southern counties: Meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at the training center, 13963 Route 37, Johnston City, Ill. See NOTICES page 9
we already have rejected and accept our offer,” Shuler said. “The entire Labor Movement has your back. The eyes on the country are on you. And we are with you as long as it takes. Solidarity is our fuel, and when we fight, we win.”
Machinists International President Bryan Bryant
thanked everyone for attending the rally and delivered a fiery speech about the strike and Boeing’s reluctance to negotiate in good faith.
‘PICKED
“Boing has picked the wrong fight,” he said. “You’re not just fighting 3,200 workers here is St. Louis, you’re fighting 600,000 IAM members across North America.
Not only that, you’re fighting millions of workers all across the Labor Movement. And you are fighting a community that will never be broken.”
He added: “Boeing doesn’t respect democracy, and it doesn’t accept the will of its employees. They keep dragging their feet, and we will keep holding the line until we get a contract our members can agree on.”
Boeing’s last offer was a five-year
contract that would have provided for a 24 percent general wage increase – eight percent in the first year and four percent in subsequent years. Employees who are at the maximum pay rate would receive a five percent lump sum in years two and four. That contract also included a $4,000 signing bonus.
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Great Rivers Habitat Alliance are hosting Free guided Duck Hunts with experienced mentors this October – December at the Jay and Carolyn Henges
Wetland Education and Conservation Center in St. Charles
Includes free educational clinic Oct. 28 at the August A. Busch Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center in Defiance (required to attend the hunts)
More information: Bryant Hertel – bryant.hertel@mdc.mo.gov Scott Boyd – scott.boyd@mdc.mo.gov
The union proposal, which was recently modified, aligns 401(k) contribution percentages with Boeing employees around the country, more fairly raises wages for topof-scale members and includes a $10,000 ratification bonus – an amount that approaches the level Boeing provided for members in the Pacific Northwest. Details on the modified version of the contract were not released.
‘WORTH
Hummel, an IBEW Local 1 electrician by trade, also addressed the crowd. He said he didn’t enter the Labor Movement thinking he was going to be wealthy and neither did
the 3,200 workers at Boeing who are on strike. They just want what’s fair.
“All I wanted was to make sure that I could make my house payment, pay my electric bill, have health insurance for my family and that I could put my kids through school,” he said. “And at the end of the day, I can retire with dignity and respect and not have to worry about whether to pay for prescriptions or the electric bill. That is all we ask for.
“You are worth every penny of what you think you are worth,” Hummel said. “None of us here think we are going to be wealthy. The Missouri Labor Movement is with you. We will be here no matter how long it takes. We will be there every step of the way and wish you the best and we’ll see you out there on the line.”
From page 8
‘MAKES ME VERY PROUD’ Kellett, a member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, noted that the theme surrounding the strike was corporate greed.
KELLETT
“We have to challenge that corporate greed with solidarity, and that’s exactly what District 837 is doing,” he said. “Your solidarity here today makes me very proud. We’re here to help you, and we’re here to fight with you.”
About 3,200 District 837 members have been on strike at Boeing’s three St. Louis-area defense plants since Aug. 4. The members on strike assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18 and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies. Their work plays a vital role in safeguarding national security and supporting U.S. and allied defense operations.
From page 5
St. Louis – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) is applauding Sen. Josh Hawley (RMo.) for pressing Boeing’s Chief Labor Counsel Scott Mayer over the company’s refusal to reach a fair deal with 3,200 IAM District 837 members in St. Louis on their ninth week on strike.
“With 3,000 plus residents of my state on strike, unable to work, unable to get healthcare, while your CEO is getting paid 30-some million dollars,” said Hawley. “Fairness may be elusive, but that doesn’t look like fairness to me.”
This is not the first time Sen. Hawley has made public comments in support of IAM Union District 837 members on strike. In early September, Hawley was quoted in Missourinet about Boeing’s need to do the right thing by IAM members on strike. (Watch Hawley’s comments on YouTube at https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=LUVKY059gEg.)
‘SUCK IT UP’
“Management here needs to
suck it up and get this thing over with,” said Hawley. “That company is so important to our state, the jobs that it provides, the great things that it produces.”
Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security
unit reported $6.6 billion in secondquarter revenue for fiscal 2025, a 10 percent increase year-over-year. Yet the company continues to offer proposals that IAM Union District 837 members
have repeatedly rejected, as they fail to meet even the most basic thresholds of fairness and dignity.
Negotiations between IAM Union District 837 and Boeing are ongoing under the supervision of a federal mediator.
“We’re tired of Boeing hiding behind posturing and PR spin,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our members build the jets and defense systems that keep this nation safe, and they deserve a deal that reflects their sacrifice, expertise and value. Boeing’s repeated lowball proposals are a slap in the face to the men and women who power their bottom line. The time for grandstanding is over. Negotiate in good faith now, Boeing.”
The IAM Union represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members across North America in aerospace, defense, airlines, shipbuilding, rail, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.
Sunset Hills – The 7th Annual Missouri Women in Trades Blue Collar/Black Tie Gala held Oct.
3 was a huge success, drawing a packed house to the LIUNA Event Center at 4532 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
Learn more about this year’s winners in the Nov. 6 edition of the Labor Tribune – Labor
centers From page 1
ers could spend their entire careers at one job.
“I just recently left Kansas City, where a data center is going up now that utilizes one of our pre-apprenticeship construction programs,” Hummel said. “On that project they are completely paying for that group. What happens is that those students, who are directly working on that data center, may never have to leave those jobs for the rest of their careers.
There’s constantly new technology happening. As those jobs and those buildings create these construction jobs, it’s not just the folks that work in them. They’re constantly needing to be refreshed. Those people can stay in those jobs and never need to leave for their entire career – from start to finish on one project.
“I think there’s plenty of opportunities for residents in the city of St. Louis to partake in that,” Hum-
mel said.
Resolution 111, the measure approved by the Board of Aldermen, was introduced by Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, and mirrors executive order 92 signed by Mayor Cara Spencer last month mandating that data center developers answer a series of questions about their projects’ specifics before they can move forward. It also allows planning officials five months to create further regulations for the particular development type.
Data centers serve as a hub for servers, providing businesses with computing power and enabling access to internet content on social media and streaming services. The expansion of generative artificial intelligence development is leading to an increase in demand for the centers.
City officials said there are 12 data centers in the city limits, with other developers interested in building more.
THO Investments, the development team behind a plan a $600 million 93,000-square-foot data center near The Armory in Midtown, will host two town halls to share more information with the public.
• The first town hall is set for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 9 via Zoom at https://us06web. zoom.us/j/86166022564?pwd=J Vn23g6AUaUVpOjNXjDeDRkAf9HlHu.1 Meeting ID: 861 6602 2564 Passcode: 123ABC.
• The second is slated for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 union hall on Chouteau Avenue.
LOUIS
Jeff Aboussie, speaking for Operating Engineers Locals 513 and 148 and the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, noted that THO Investments has signed a Project Labor Agreement with the St. Louis Building Trades guaranteeing that every job on the data center project with be a union job.
“As developers look to St. Louis
to build things, what we don’t want them to do is always be going to Kansas City,” Aboussie said. “We don’t want the city to create barriers to projects like this. So I hope everybody looks at those things when making your decisions, that we continue to incentivize people to build here, live here, work here.”
Tim Green, executive vice president of the St. Louis Electrical Connection, a Labor/management partnership between IBEW Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), and a former Missouri senator, and an IBEW Local 1 member, said he understood the need for guidelines for new data centers.
“As somebody who understands a little bit about public service, I understand the need for guidelines and guardrails,” Green said. “All we’re asking is that with these guidelines and guardrails is that we don’t push and industry away. Data centers employ a lot of people.
“From 2014 to 2020, of our 3,000 members, 1,000 of them were unemployed. They went to Ottawa, and they went to Nebraska to work on these data centers. Probably many of them stayed there and are still working. But during that time, Missouri missed the boat on data centers. I just ask when you establish these guidelines, we’re like Kansas City and we don’t miss that boat on these data centers.”
By DAN ZARLENGA Missouri Department of Conservation
You’re venturing out during a dark night in October. It’s the month of Halloween. Your mind may be swirling with thoughts of haunted houses, ghost stories heard around the campfire, or the latest scary movie you’ve seen. You stop. Something in the back of your mind tells you to shine your light, over there. And suddenly in the darkness are two eerie eyes shining back at you! What’s happening?
Fortunately, you don’t have to fall back on ghost stories and scary movies to explain these glowing orbs. All you need to do is keep your eyes on science.
Many species of wildlife in Missouri display eye shine when exposed to a bright light at night. These include deer, racoons, coyotes, owls, frogs, and spiders. No need to fear though; it’s just a special adaptation that helps them see in the dark.
The cause behind this mysterious glow is a structure within the eye called the tapetum lucidum. All these creatures have this special layer in the back of their eye that reflects light. The tapetum lucidum does not produce any light itself. Rather it bounces the reflected light
it receives back into the retina like an optical amplifier, reinforcing and brightening the image, giving the retina a second chance to see it.
The photon feedback loop is nature’s version of night vision. While we may only see the blackness of night, these creatures see the world at night.
This special power is vital to animals who conduct most or all essential functions of life during the night, like moving about, foraging
for food, hunting, or trying to avoid being hunted.
The color of the shine varies with the species. The tapetum lucidum of a whitetail deer, always wary of predators, reflects a greenish glow when light hits it. The eyes of night scavenging racoons cast a yellow or amber reflection. Nocturnal canine hunters like red foxes and coyotes pierce the darkness with a sheen of pale yellow-to-white. Owls rely largely on sound to
penetrate the blanket of darkness. But consider this. While the extra reflection created by the tapetum lucidum improves night vision for these animals, it reduces their ability to discern sharpness and detail compared to human vision. These nocturnal denizens excel at detecting movement and contrast in the dark, but they lack the fine focus that we have by day. This would make them blind to reading words, examining intricate textures, or doing complex work like making tools.
So, next time your flashlight beam catches glowing eyes that watch you in the October dark, it’s not supernatural. It’s real nature. And it’s revealing a superpower of nocturnal adaptation!
hone in on their prey, but eyesight is still important to them. The tapetum lucidum in some manifests like two smoldering orange-red coals. Hunters of the night also, the eyes of frogs and toads will likewise glow red when hit by a flashlight. And who hasn’t seen the ethereal, emerald glow of wolf spiders staring up from the dewy ground!
It’s easy for us night-blind humans to envy the magic power which enables these creatures to
Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Boating, Outdoor Travel
By LARRY DABLEMONT
Did you know that a mourning dove has 2,635 feathers? I found that statistic in a book written by John Madson, titled The Mourning Dove . Madson is gone now,
but he was a top-notch outdoor writer, one of the old-timers who actually grew up in the outdoors, unlike the suburban outdoor writers that dominate the pages of our larger newspapers today. Madson worked for Winchester Arms and
Ammunition, and he published several books about wild game birds and animals through Winchester Press.
Madson reveals many fascinating things about the dove. As a writer, I have likely written 100 newspaper columns and perhaps a dozen magazine articles about dove hunting. It is so simple and so uncomplicated. What can you
Don’t wait! Now is the time to head to one of MDC’s two staffed shooting ranges and outdoor education centers in the St. Louis area to sharpen your skills, sight in your rifles, and pattern shotguns for fall hunting season.
August A. Busch Defiance 3550 Route D, Defiance, 63341 mdc.mo.gov/buschrange
Jay Henges Eureka 1100 Antire Road, Eureka, 63025 mdc.mo.gov/hengesrange
Not a hunter, but want to learn?
Our staff of specialists can help you master firearms and archery, wildlife identification, and many other outdoor skills. Visit mdc.mo.gov/shootingranges to learn more.
say about dove hunting that hasn’t been said a million times?
You can’t tell a shooter how to hit one. Sometimes early in the season when the younger doves are coming to a feeding spot, or to a water hole, they are so easy to hit it is simpler than catching sunfish on worms. Sometimes, after they have figured out that hunting season is open, they can elude a shot pattern with ease, diving, twisting, and turning. At times it is something like hitting a butterfly with a rock.
If it has been written once, that dove hunting is a good way to get a youngster the chance to hunt and experience a day outdoors, it has been written a million times. If you have seen, at the beginning of September, a story talking about training a young Labrador to retrieve, and how the heat can be hard on him so you need plenty of water, that too has been said again and again in print by some enthusiastic woods and waters journalist. If you haven’t heard that number seven and one-half or eight shot, light loads is best for doves, you’ve never read a doggone thing about hunting. So, what is there to say about dove hunting. Not much. Heck, let me rephrase that… not nothing.
I might point out that hunting in a crowd isn’t my thing, but I have often written that. I have often said that I do not like to hunt in the heat, and there is never an opening day that doesn’t seem hotter than an August manhole cover on Main Street. What I don’t often say is that two or three weeks later, when it cools down and you can hunt in midweek and find the right spot, you can hunt doves in a long-sleeved shirt and all alone with your dog. But I’ll be darned if I am going to tell anyone where the hunting might be in early October.
Early hunting seasons interfere with some good fishing, and one good catfish equals a whole tubful of doves. Be that as it may, if you think you have indeed read everything there is to know about dove hunting and doves, get your hands on John Madson’s book. It was he who pointed out that in the bird family called Columbidae there are 269 doves and pigeons, twothirds of them on the other side of the world. Doves and pigeons, Madson said in his book, are the only birds that can drink water by suction, with their heads down, never lifting their beaks, as other birds must do.
Mourning doves nest from southeast Alaska all through Canada, and each of the 48 contiguous states in the U.S. Forty years ago, they were not known to nest in such northern climates. Some never migrate. Some stay where they are all winter, and northern doves often lose toes to the cold. Doves and pigeons feed their young with something called pigeon milk, as most folks know, and as most folks don’t know, the most deadly dove disease, known as trichomoniasis, is a growth of cankers in the mouth and throat, caused by the ingestion of a living protozoan usually picked up in water.
You can learn a great deal more about doves if you can find John Madson’s book. Even the hunting tips we have all heard a million times. But as to how that study turned up 2,635 feathers on one dove, I don’t know. Probably some college kid counted them one at a time and got a $30,000 grant from a state conservation agency to do it. But I wonder, how would anyone know if he really counted them all or just gave up and guessed at it?
(For more from Larry Dablemont, visit larrydablemontoutdoors.)
Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Boating, Outdoor Travel
By BRANDON BUTLER Driftwood Outdoors
Justice has been handed down after a brazen act of poaching in Missouri. Three men have been sentenced in Shannon County for their roles in the illegal killing of a bull elk during the 2023 firearms deer season. The sentences follow a nine-month investigation by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and prosecution by Shannon County Prosecuting Attorney William Seay.
Michael K. O’Neail, of De Soto, pleaded guilty on Sept. 3 to illegally killing and abandoning a bull elk. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Execution of the jail sentence was suspended, contingent upon successful completion of two years of probation and full payment of the fine within one year.
Missouri lawmakers strengthened poaching penalties in 2019 with House Bill 260, giving judges authority to levy steeper fines in wildlife crime cases. Revenue from these fines is directed to school districts in the county where the violation occurred. Shannon County will retain the funds from this case. Supporters view the law as a clear reflection of Missourians’ dedication to protecting their natural resources.
The two accomplices, Kevin B. Click and Travis R. Wadlow of Bonne Terre, were not charged with firing the shot that killed the elk but faced penalties for related wildlife offenses. Each was fined $500 plus court costs and ordered to contribute $750 to the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation for the unlawful take or possession of white-tailed deer.
The case began when a 14-yearold deer hunter discovered the carcass of a mature bull elk near Klepzig Mill in Shannon County during the opening weekend of the November 2023 firearms deer season. MDC’s Protection Branch launched an investigation that spanned several regions of the state. Conservation agents interviewed dozens of hunters, worked with local businesses, and analyzed both surveillance and elk-monitoring camera footage. Their investigation led to five search warrants, the collection of forensic evidence, and ultimately the arrest of three suspects.
MDC Protection Branch Chief Travis McLain praised the collaborative effort that brought the poachers to justice saying, “The
reinforces the distinction between ethical hunters who honor tradition and poachers whose actions steal from future generations of Missourians.
The MDC encourages Missourians to report wildlife violations through the Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-392-1111. Reports can be made anonymously, and callers may be eligible for a reward.
(For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.)
assistance from the public and support we received from the Shannon County Prosecutor during this investigation was critical for bringing these poachers to justice,” McLain said in a press release. “Tips from local residents and hunters, cooperation from area businesses, and community engagement played a major role in helping our agents identify those responsible.”
Along with the elk case, O’Neail, Click, and Wadlow faced charges for possessing a deer they failed to Telecheck. McLain underscored the distinction between lawful hunting and poaching.
“Lawful hunters contribute to the conservation and management of our wildlife resources, while poachers do not,” he stressed. “Poaching is not a victimless crime; it hurts all of us.”
MO Hunting makes it easy to view permits, electronically notch them, and Telecheck your harvest. MO Fishing lets you view permits, find great places to fish, and ID your catch. Get both in Android or iPhone platforms short.mdc.mo.gov/Zi2
Impounded waters and non- Ozark streams:
Open all year
Poachers are a scourge upon society. Their disregard for the wildlife they blatantly steal from you and I is reprehensible. They selfishly disparage our wildlife resources while laughing in the face of the law. Knowing poaching fines and sentences in Missouri are now able to be much higher, the lawless poachers who masquerade as hunters have a lot more to worry about.
Though this case brought stiff fines for wildlife crimes in the state, the broader public must recognize that poaching undermines both conservation, ethical hunting and local economies. When an area is recognized as a hot bed for poaching, hunters from outside the area won’t come there. When outdoor recreation is a contributor to the local economy, residents need to make sure they protect the wildlife to preserve the resource. When someone kills wildlife outside the bounds of law, it is a horrible reflection on hunters, because the general population often has trouble separating poachers from hunters.
The restoration of elk in Missouri has been hailed as a conservation success story. Elk were reintroduced to the Ozarks in 2011 after being absent from the state for over a century. Since then, residents and visitors alike have marveled at the growing herd and the economic and cultural opportunities it has brought to Shannon, Carter, and Reynolds counties.
The recent sentencing marks a decisive step in holding offenders accountable, but conservation leaders say the greater challenge lies in shifting culture. They hope the case
Most streams south of the Missouri River:
Î Catch - and - Keep: May 24, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026
Bullfrog, Green Frog
June 30 at sunset– Oct. 31, 2025
Nongame Fish
Gigging
Streams and impounded waters, sunrise to midnight: Sept. 15, 2025 – Feb. 15, 2026
Paddlefish
On the Mississippi River: Sept. 15 – Dec. 15, 2025
Trout Parks
State trout parks are open seven days a week March 1 through Oct. 31.
Catch - and - Keep: March 1– Oct. 31, 2025 Catch - and - Release: Nov. 14, 2025 – Feb. 9, 2026
Opossum, Raccoon, Striped Skunk
Only foot-enclosing traps and cage-type traps may be used. Aug. 1– Oct. 15, 2025
Black Bear* Oct. 18 – 31, 2025
Bullfrog, Green Frog
June 30 at sunset– Oct. 31, 2025
Coyote Restrictions apply during April, spring turkey season, and firearms deer season.
Open all year
Crows
Nov. 1, 2025 – March 3, 2026
Deer Archery:
Sept. 15 – Nov. 14, 2025
Nov. 26, 2025 – Jan. 15, 2026
Firearms:
Î Early Antlerless Portion (open areas only): Oct. 10 –12, 2025
Î Early Youth Portion (ages 6 –15): Nov. 1–2, 2025
Î November Portion: Nov. 15 –25, 2025
Î CWD Portion (open areas only): Nov. 26 – 30, 2025
Î Late Youth Portion (ages 6 –15): Nov. 28 – 30, 2025
Î Late Antlerless Portion (open areas only): Dec. 6 –14, 2025
Î Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 27, 2025 – Jan. 6, 2026
Doves
Sept. 1– Nov. 29, 2025
Elk* Archery: Oct. 18 –26, 2025
Firearms: Dec. 13 –21, 2025
Groundhog (Woodchuck)
May 12– Dec. 15, 2025
Opossum, Raccoon, Striped Skunk
Aug. 1– Oct. 15, 2025
Pheasant
Youth (ages 6 –15): Oct. 25 –26, 2025
Regular: Nov. 1, 2025 – Jan. 15, 2026
Quail
Youth (ages 6 –15): Oct. 25 –26, 2025
Regular: Nov. 1, 2025 – Jan. 15, 2026
Rabbits
Oct. 1, 2025 – Feb. 15, 2026
Sora, Virginia Rail Sept. 1– Nov. 9, 2025
Squirrels May 24, 2025 – Feb. 15, 2026
Turkey Fall: Î Archery Portion: Sept. 15 – Nov. 14, 2025 Nov. 26, 2025 – Jan. 15, 2026
Î Firearms Portion: Oct. 1– 31, 2025
Waterfowl
See the Migratory Bird and Waterfowl
Hunting Digest or visit short.mdc. mo.gov/ZZx for more information.
Wilson’s (Common)
Snipe
Sept. 1– Dec. 16, 2025
Woodcock Oct. 18 – Dec. 1, 2025
By BRANDON BUTLER Driftwood Outdoors
The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act, known as the Dingell-Johnson Act, was passed by Congress in 1950. We’re celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and the more than $12 billion the Act has generated for the conservation and restoration of sport fish species and their habitats.
Under the Dingell-Johnson Act, an excise tax is collected on sport fishing equipment including rods, reels, tackle, lures, lines, motorboat fuel and import duties on fishing equipment. The money is deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are then distributed to state fish and wildlife agencies through a formula based on each state’s land and water area and the number of licensed anglers.
“Nobody gets excited about paying taxes, but this one doesn’t bother me a bit,” said Nathan “Shags”
McLeod, a radio personality from Columbia, Mo. “When I think about all the ways my tax dollars are spent, I guess it makes me happy to know at least a few of them are going to support fishing.”
The program requires states to match federal funds with revenue from fishing licenses and other local sources. This structure ensures anglers and boaters, the people who most directly benefit from the resource, are also the primary investors in its management. Oversight provisions in the act strictly prohibit states from diverting the money to other purposes.
The impact of the funding is visible across the country. More than 9,000 public boating and fishing access sites have been built or improved with Dingell-Johnson money.
Over 320 state fish hatcheries receive support, producing more than a billion fish annually for stocking in public waters. States use the funds to restore aquatic habitats, conduct
biological research, and support law enforcement activities related to fisheries. Millions of Americans have participated in aquatic education programs financed through the act, learning the basics of fishing, boating safety, and aquatic ecology.
“We couldn’t do our job without Sport Fish Restoration dollars,” said Michael Bednarski, Chief of Fisheries for Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). “The amount we get is substantial — about $3.5 million a year coming from the excise taxes on fishing tackle and boat fuel. I really believe in it.”
Bednarski added one of the greatest, most lasting impacts of Sport Fish Restoration money in Virginia are the 37 public waters such as Lake Robertson that exist around the state. Those fishing waters were purchased via Sport Fish Restoration money.
The 1984 Wallop-Breaux Amendment was a major turning point for the program. By adding excise taxes on motorboat fuel and expanding
the base of taxed equipment, the amendment significantly increased revenue. It also broadened the list of eligible projects, allowing states to invest in boating infrastructure and safety initiatives in addition to fisheries restoration.
For anglers, the results have been incredible. Improved fish populations, healthier waters, and more public access to lakes and rivers have resulted. In many rural areas, projects funded by Dingell-Johnson dollars have created economic opportunities by drawing visitors and tourism dollars. Providing both an economic return and intrinsic value.
As the 75th anniversary of Dingell-Johnson is celebrated in 2025, federal and state agencies, as well as conservation organizations, have issued releases highlighting its legacy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released figures showing the scope of the program: Billions of dollars invested, thousands of facilities built, and millions of people educated. Leaders of the angling and boating community described the law as a cornerstone of modern conservation policy.
Representative Debbie Dingell, whose late father-in-law John Dingell Sr. co-authored the original legislation, noted the act has provided “critical resources for conservation, restoration, boating safety and education, and fishing access for generations of Americans.” Congressional leaders introduced a bipartisan bill in 2025 to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through 2030, ensuring its continuation into the future.
In Alabama alone, officials reported that Dingell-Johnson funds have supported three state fish hatcheries, over 100 public boat ramps, and 23 public fishing lakes. Similar reports have been filed by agencies across the country, pointing to the program’s reach into both large and small communities.
A statement released by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation says, “These excise taxes, combined with fishing and hunting license revenues, constitute the American System of Conservation Funding, a model unlike anything else in the world. These funds are derived from those who hunt, fish, and boat and the industries they support for one purpose – to make sure we have access to healthy fish and wildlife resources.”
The success of the DingellJohnson Act reflects a simple principle: when those who use natural resources contribute financially to their management, the results benefit everyone. Fish populations are sustained, habitats are restored, access is expanded, and the tradition of fishing is passed on to future generations.
“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Public access is the only reason I was able to become a fisherman. I’m proud to live in a country where we work together for conservation through legislation like the Dingell-Johnson Act, to make the world a little better for all of us,” McLeod said.
Captain's
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Fishing, Camping,
By MIKE ROUX
Shorter days and cooler weather mean different things to different people. Deer hunters begin to sharpen knives and sight-in guns. Duck hunters patch waders and restring decoys. Bird dogs get fidgety. And some of us do all the above, and more. It is that extra part I would like to discuss today. It is one more reason to love the fall of the year. That reason is big bass. Fall is special to both hunters and
fishermen.
Outdoor Travel
Personally, I need to dove hunt, brush my duck blind, run my dogs, sight-in my deer guns and still find time to work and be with my kids.
Even if I can only afford to give one day, or even a part of a day to bass fishing in the fall, it is worth it. Regardless of what you catch, a mess of fish fillets is a great way to switch seasons. If you get really lucky, you may even have enough to freeze for a mid-winter fish fry.
Finding and catching fall bass is usually no great task. Here are a few suggestions, however, that may land you more big fish this fall. First let’s look at habitat.
In the fall, as the days shorten, the feeding periods for all fish are lengthened. Bass will congregate around structure such as root wads or downed treetops. As photoperiod decreases so does surface vegetation. This means that solid cover will now hold more fish than it did in mid-summer. Concentrate your efforts around submerged structure such as logs, stumps and boulders.
In
Weather also plays a role this time of year. For the most part, the air temperature will cool before the water temp. Use this to your advantage. On cool days fish the warm, sunny banks. The warmer water will make natural prey more active. This in-turn attracts more bass. Also, watch the weather forecast. If you can get on the water just ahead of an approaching cold front, you will surely dull your fillet knife that night.
Water conditions can change very drastically and very quickly in the fall. When the rainy season starts the water can get cloudy in a hurry. Do not let this change your strategy. Stay with hot spots you have found. On years like this one, when it has rained little all summer, there will be little water change as autumn grows near.
Bait is another variable we should discuss. I know what you are thinking, “Bass will eat anything you throw at them.” That is basically correct, but we were after more than just bluegill, we were after those big monsters that make filleting easy. Choice of bait for the big boys is a little more exact.
For live bait I like one of two choices. My favorite in the fall is crawfish and night crawlers. When bass get into that pre-winter instinctive feeding frame of mind, they go nuts over these morsels. The worms are usually not hard to find at bait shops or boat docks. I promise the bass will fight over who gets to them first. My second favorite natural bait in the fall is a little harder to come by. You must put forth a little effort to get this bait. If you want to get the really big ones interested, use grasshoppers. I know how good minnows can be in the summer, but in September grasshoppers have them beat hands down. Catch all the grasshoppers you can and be prepared for action.
As far as artificial baits are concerned, I also have two favorites. For topwater fishing I like the MotoLure. This mechanical, vibrating lure is deadly on surface-feeding, fall bass. For an under-the-surface approach I like CHOMPERS. These soft plastic baits are deadly on bass and very easy to fish. Either medium spinning or baitcaster outfits easily cast these baits. Light line, about eightpound test, is also recommended. Do not stick strictly to the baits I have mentioned. Remember, in the fall bass will eat almost anything.