Labor endorsements for April 8 election Page 14
Union members visit Missouri legislators as part of Working Women’s Lobby Day Page 4
Electrical Connection donates services/ materials to upgrade Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum Page 8
Sheet Metal Workers
Local 36 apprentices bring home wins in Great Plains competition Page 11
Operating Engineers Local 513 raises
$4.9K for children’s charities Page 16
President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) March 27 stripping federal workers of their collective bargaining rights, citing a little-used provision of federal Labor law relating to national security issues.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the nation’s largest federal workers union, which has challenged Trump’s previous executive orders in court, called the latest order retaliation and an attempt to silence federal workers.
“President Trump’s latest executive order is a disgraceful and retaliatory attack on the rights of hundreds of thousands of patriotic American civil servants — nearly
one-third of whom are veterans — simply because they are members of a union that stands up to his harmful policies,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said.
“This administration’s bullying tactics represent a clear threat not just to federal employees and their unions, but to every American who values democracy and the freedoms of speech and association. Trump’s threat to unions and working people across America is clear: fall in line or else.”
OPM FACT SHEET CONFIRMS
A fact sheet issued from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), makes clear the EO is retaliation against AFGE and other federal unions that have dared to challenge Trump’s agenda.
According to the OPM Fact Sheet: • Certain federal unions have declared war on President Trump’s agenda. The largest Federal union deSee TRUMP EO page 20
VOLUME 88 No. 36 Thursday, April 3-9, 2025
By TIM ROWDEN Editor-in-Chief
St. Louis – More than 250 federal workers and their allies gathered on the Gateway Arch grounds in downtown St. Louis Saturday, March 29, to fight for federal workers and against the Trump Administration’s attacks on Organized Labor. Members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) were joined by other unions, national and state Labor leaders and political and community allies as they called out President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s attacks on federal workers.
They called out Trump’s illegal, union-busting executive order, issued March 27, cancelling the collective bargaining contracts of federal workers, a move that has already prompted AFGE and the AFL-CIO to file suit.
And they called out billionaires
Periodicals Publication
like Musk – owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X(Twitter), who Trump appointed to head his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“What we are seeing is ugly,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “It’s ugly when you can kick 80,000 people from the VA (Veterans Administration). That’s just plain ugly. It’s ugly when you can kick 47,000 people from their bargaining
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unit inside of the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). It’s ugly when you threaten to take away the well-being of our seniors by destroying our Social Security. It’s just ugly and we’re not going to take it.”
AFGE, the nation’s largest feder-
See AFGE RALLY page 19
AFL-CIO SecretaryTreasurer Fred Redmond talks about attacks on Organized Labor, and why union members voted for Trump
St. Louis – Fred Redmond, national secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, was in town Saturday, March 29, for a rally at the Gateway Arch, hosted by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the AFL-CIO, protesting President Donald Trump’s attacks on the federal workforce, and his recent executive order stripping federal workers of their collective bargaining rights. Before the rally began, Redmond sat down for an interview with the Labor Tribune, discussing the administration’s actions, fighting back and why some union members voted for Trump. Following is an edited version of the interview.
See REDMOND page 18
Members of the following unions and councils see page 5 for changes in your notices
blatant attack on workers you may not have heard about
By HEIDI SHIERHOLZ President Economic Policy Institute
In a move that starkly exposes just how disingenuous the Trump administration’s pro-worker rhetoric really is, President Trump rescinded the Biden administration’s executive order that increased the minimum wage for workers on federal contracts. The Bidenera rule implementing that executive order raised the minimum wage for workers on federal contractors to $15 an hour in 2022 and indexed it to inflation going forward. As of Jan. 1, it was $17.75 an hour. Trump rescinded this order three weeks ago, and I’ve been struck by the lack of attention it has received. This action is not just a bureaucratic adjustment — it is a direct assault on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of workers.
When the Biden-era rule was being developed, we estimated that it would give a raise to nearly 400,000 low-wage federal contractors. Who are these workers? They are janitors who clean government buildings, food service workers on military bases, cashiers in gift shops in national parks, and security guards protecting federal property — everyday people trying to make rent, buy groceries, and support their families. A minimum wage of $17.75 an hour translates into annual earnings of less than $37,000 for a full-time worker. The Trump administration is acting to ensure they get even less.
The Trump Department of Labor (DOL) will need to go through the rulemaking process to actually overturn the higher minimum wage for federal contractors — just rescinding the executive order doesn’t overturn the rule that was put in place to implement it. Until that happens, the minimum wage for federal contractors is still technically $17.75. However, Trump’s DOL has publicly announced they will no longer be enforcing the higher minimum wage. In other words, there won’t be any consequences for not complying, inviting employers to cheat their workers.
It is not clear how low the Trump administration will ultimately set the minimum wage for federal contractors. If they revert the federal contractor minimum wage to what it was before the Biden-era rule, it would drop to $13.30 an hour. That would
mean a 25 percent pay cut for a full-time federal contractor earning the minimum wage—a loss of over $9,000 a year.
The most drastic move the administration could take would be to eliminate the higher minimum wage for federal contractors entirely, which is well within the realm of possibility given that Trump has argued that a nationwide minimum wage “wouldn’t work” because of regional price differences.
If the Trump administration does end up eliminating the higher minimum wage for federal contractors, then federal contractors — unless they are in a state with a higher state minimum wage — will be subject to the disgracefully low national minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which has not increased since 2009.
Reverting to the national minimum wage of $7.25 would mean a nearly 60 percent pay cut for a full-time federal contractor making the minimum wage — a loss of roughly $22,000 a year.
Working people deserve a voice, fair negotiation
By RICH GULLA President New Hampshire State Employees’
Association SEIU Local 1984
Public-sector unions have long supported American workers, championing fair wages, reasonable hours and safe working conditions. While recent challenges — such as Utah’s repeal of collective-bargaining rights for government employees — may seem daunting, they also are an opportunity to unite, educate the public and strengthen our resolve.
“Right-to-work” laws, despite their misleading name, actually allow employees to benefit from union negotiations and protections without having to pay union dues. It results in quintessential freeloading.
(It’s worth noting that all workers — not just federal contractors — need a higher minimum wage, but the president only has the authority to raise wages for federal contractors. It would require action from Congress to raise the minimum wage for all workers.)
For those who might believe that paying the lowest-wage federal contractors less could be a good-faith attempt at boosting government “efficiency,” think again. Rescinding this rule is much more likely to boost the profits of large government contractors — because they can pay workers less — rather than reduce the costs of government contracts.
To distract from his policies that actively harm workers for the sake of boosting the profits of their employers, Trump has floated gimmicky ideas like eliminating taxes on tips.
Let’s be clear, “no tax on tips” isn’t a gift to workers, it’s a smokescreen that would benefit employers of tipped workers and harm more workers than it helps. If he really wanted to help tipped workers, he would push to end the subminimum wage for tipped workers and raise the minimum wage. Instead, he’s cutting minimum wages where he can—for federal contractors. But that’s Trump’s playbook: use pro-worker rhetoric while taking concrete steps to undermine workers’ rights and wages. Taking raises away from hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers while peddling a tax-break gimmick is just the latest example of his billionairefirst agenda.
Supporters claim these laws attract businesses and boost economic growth. In reality, these laws do quite the opposite. West Virginia is a prime example. After passing a (so-called) “right-to-work” law, the state saw no influx of businesses and no economic boom. Even Gov. Jim Justice admitted, “We ran to the windows looking to see all the people that were going to come — and they didn’t come.”
“Right-to-work” laws don’t bring prosperity — they drive down wages. Research from the Economic Policy Institute shows that workers in right-to-work states earn three percent less than their counterparts in unionfriendly states, even when adjusting for the cost-of-living. Lower wages hurt working people and weaken local economies, leaving American communities with fewer resources and less stability.
This isn’t just a statistic. It’s a harsh reality that affects real people, their families and their communities.
Public-sector unions don’t just fight for their members. They fight for all of us. Teachers’ unions advocate for smaller class sizes and better funding for schools. Fire fighter unions push for life-saving safety standards. Postal-worker and trade unions have historically provided stable Middle-Class jobs, helping build generational wealth.
It is patriotic work that creates a sense of shared responsibility and unity, and we should be grateful for their efforts. Together, we build a stronger America.
When unions are strong, public services improve. When workers lose their voice, wages decline and job security vanishes. In states where lawmakers dismantle collective bargaining, teachers leave the profession, first responders face dangerous staffing shortages, and critical public services deteriorate.
Despite decades of anti-union rhetoric from corporate-backed politicians, even some conservatives are beginning to see the value of Organized Labor. In West Virginia, Treasurer Riley Moore secured the backing of 15 trade unions in his successful campaign to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He directly acknowledged that the concerns of unions align with those of many working-class Republicans.
At the federal level, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a comprehensive Labor-rights bill, would restore workers’ rights to unionize and bargain collectively, reversing the damage done to communities by “right-to-work” laws. Though some political leaders have hesitated to support it, the push for stronger Labor laws signals a shift in the national conversation.
In a strong demonstration of the growing bipartisan support for unions, President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, received 67 votes in the U.S. Senate when she was confirmed. Her vote included 17 Democrats. It is noteworthy that Chavez-DeRemer was a cosponsor of the PRO Act when she served in Congress.
If states want to attract businesses and create economic growth, they should focus on real issues: affordable housing, high energy costs and better vocational training. Slashing union rights will not solve these problems, but investing in workers and housing will.
Strong public-sector unions help build a thriving Middle-Class, stabilize local economies and protect the services we all rely on. Instead of undermining them, we should be fighting to strengthen them — for the sake of workers, families and communities across our great nation.
(Rich Gulla is the president of the New Hampshire State Employees’ Association, SEIU Local 1984. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Reprinted from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)
Construction of a new welding training facility included among upgrades
Union, MO – The Franklin County Labor Club is backing Proposition ECC for modernization and renovations of the six main buildings, grounds and infrastructure of the East Central College (ECC) Union, Mo. campus on the April 8 election ballot.
“It’s definitely something for the benefit of the community,” said Labor Club President Dan Kloeppel, adding that the college was expected to use union contractors for the work as it has done in the past. “They’ve been building pretty steadily for the last several years,” Kloeppel said. “It’s a great asset for the community.”
The proposition, if approved by voters, will allow the college to transfer its current and expiring 9.9 cents debt service to the operating levy, providing the college with over $2 million in annual revenue to improve its facilities and programs.
If passed, Proposition ECC would provide funding to:
• Modernize and renovate the six main academic buildings on the ECC Union campus, two of which were constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, and desperately need upgrades.
• Construct a 7,000-square-foot welding training facility to provide opportunities for expansion of current welding programming and provide additional space for current HVAC, Precision Machining, and Industrial Maintenance programs to expand or create new manufacturing programs.
• Repair and renew campus parking lots and streets.
• Construct a new campus walking trail.
• Construct a 10,000 square foot campus centralized storage facility, freeing up currently underutilized space for additional classrooms, labs and workforce training.
• Provide additional funds to operate the ECC Union, Mo. campus, including the increasing cost of electricity, water, sewer and gas for the six main academic buidings and increasing health care costs.
For homeowners, the transfer of 9.9 cents to the operating property tax levy will equal:
• $18.81 per year for a $100,000 valued home.
• $37.62 per year for a $200,000 valued home.
PROPOSITION ECC would allow transfer of an existing and expiring debt service levy to the operations budget of East Central College in Union, Mo., to pay for modernization and renovations at the community college, including construction of a new welding training facility.
• $56.43 per year for a $300,000 valued home.
For more information, visit eastcentral.edu/about-ecc/proposition-ecc
The Rockwood Labor Club has endorsed the Meramec Valley R-III School District’s Proposition M, a $36 million no-tax increase bond issue on the next Tuesday’s ballot.
This proposition will fund the construction of a new middle school for seventh and eighth grade students adjacent to Pacific High School. If approved, it will extend the debt of the district, but not alter tax levy rates for property owners.
“This project is necessary for the future growth of the community,” said D’Arin Sprayberry, Rockwood Labor Club president. “School quality is one of the big considerations that people have when searching for a community to move to and is essential to maintaining property values. It will also provide a lot of construction job for our local union tradesmen.”
In July 2024, the district’s Board of Education approved a new Long-Range Master Plan, which identified significant facility needs, particularly at Pacific
PROPOSITION M, which has been endorsed by the
is a
million no-tax increase bond issue that will appear on the April 8 ballot. Funds from the measure will help pay for the construction of a new middle
Intermediate, according to district officials. One major project outlined in Proposition M is the construction of a new middle school, since renovating the existing Pacific Intermediate building is projected to cost more than constructing a new middle school.
The new middle school will have a positive immediate impact on nearly 900 students when opened, as its construction will also allow fifth- and sixth-grade students to move to the more modern and innovative learning spaces of Riverbend School campus. This strategic move addresses the pressing needs at Pacific Intermediate while optimizing the use of existing facilities.
“Proposition M is about more than just bricks and mortar,” Superintendent Dr. Carrie Schwierjohn said in a statement. “It’s about providing our students with the best possible educational opportunities. Modern schools, maximized possibilities and major benefits for all students – that’s what this bond issue will deliver. By building new, we avoid the significantly higher cost of renovating an aging facility and ensure our resources are used efficiently to benefit all of our students for generations to come.” Proposition M will appear on the April 8 ballot.
– Missouri AFL-CIO photo
Missourians calling it the ‘Let Politicians Lie Act’
Jefferson City – Senate Bill 22 (SB22), a dangerous effort by politicians to block courts from rewriting deceptive ballot language that is meant to confuse voters has passed the Missouri Senate and is now awaiting action in the House.
If it becomes law, SB22 would undermine the initiative petition process by eliminating checks and balances that are necessary to ensure accurate ballot summaries — leaving voters with politicized, biased, and deceptive information to make decisions during election cycles. This power grab by the legislature would give partisan politicians power to veto any measure they dislike, allowing them to run out the clock during an election cycle and prevent voters from having their voices heard. Missourians are already calling SB22 the “Let Politicians Lie Act.”
To make matters worse, the bill includes an emergency clause al-
out a true crisis is a ploy to bypass normal legislative procedures, and allow the bill to become law without public oversight, input, or likely outrage.
Voters in November approved Amendment 3 to overturn the state’s near total abortion ban. In September leading up to the November election, Amendment 3 organizers challenged the Missouri Secretary of State’s office in a lawsuit claiming that the ballot language posted at every polling station around the state was “intentionally argumentative.”
State law requires that ballot summary language be “true and impartial” so as to not interfere with the democratic process, ensuring that voters understand as clearly as possible what they are voting for. While Missouri’s current process allows for ballot summary language to be rewritten through
litigation in the courts, SB22 would remove this system of checks and balances giving politicians multiple chances to write language after the court rules they are attempting to deceive voters.
Tori Schafer, director of Policy and Campaigns with the ACLU of Missouri, who represented the plaintiff in the case had this to say, “SB 22 undermines Missouri’s citizen-led ballot initiative process by letting partisan politicians interfere with the will of the people. This attack on direct democracy threatens voters’ ability to enact laws when politicians fail to act.”
Voters in November approved Proposition A, another voter-initiated measure, providing earned paid sick leave and raising the state minimum wage. Voters passed the measure with 58 percent of the vote.
“The legislature is so afraid of the will of the people that they are rushing through a bill that is poorly written and will only create more problems and uncertainty,” said Alejandro Gallardo, a prep cook and worker leader with Missouri Jobs with Justice. “Politicians will do anything to make it harder for us to use our voices.”
Please BuckUp what you can. Every dollar counts to help union families in need.
which will be held on the 3rd Wednesday. The meetings will be held at the Local 101 Hall located at 8 Premier Drive in Belleville, IL 62220 at 7:30 p.m.
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 160 Union meetings are on the second Friday of the month at 8 p.m. at the hall, 901 Mulberry 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.
Steamfitters Local 439 Meets first Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m. in the Donald Bailey Building, 1220 Donald Bailey Dr., Caseyville, Ill. 62232-2061.
Boilermakers Local 363 Retirees
IBEW Local 309 Retirees
SPECIAL NOTICE: We will meet April 9 at 3:30 p.m. at Loose Ends Bar and Grill (Formally Farmers Inn), 7157 Ste. Hwy 158, Millstadt, Ill 62260.
12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, on the second Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. and the night steward meeting is held at noon. If there is a cancellation of any meeting, it will appear under a special notice.
SPECIAL NOTICE: Effective January 1,2025 IAM Local 1345 dues rates are as follows: For members making $12.50 or less, their dues rate will be $89 per month. For members making $12.51 and above, their dues rate will be $96 per month. The initiation fee is $192, which is twice the monthly dues and $384 for reinstatement, which is four times the monthly dues. The out-of-work dues remains at $4. Dues are due no later than the 10th of the following month they are due.
SPECIAL NOTICE: Members should contact the Local 1345 office 314-739-8301 when retiring, going out on sick leave,workers comp and with any change of address or phone numbers.
IAM Lodge 1745 Membership meetings will be held for the first shift at 4 p.m. the second Monday each month at Ron’s Catering, 113 E. Main St., Warrenton. Quarterly meetings will be held for the second shift at 2 p.m. the second Monday of these months: March, June, September and December.
SPECIAL NOTICE: When approaching retirement, it’s a member’s responsibility to contact the financial secretary or local lodge officer to get an application for a retirement card.
IAM Lodge 1815
Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday each month at AFL-CIO meeting hall, 534 S. Second Street, Springfield, IL 62701.
IAM Lodge 2782
The regular monthly meetings will be held at 5 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the IAM Lodge 2782 office, 408 Washington Ave. Suite 134, West Plains, MO.
SPECIAL NOTICE: The meeting for second-shift workers will be held at 2 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the IAM Lodge 2782 office, 408 Washington Ave. Suite134, West Plains, MO.
IAM District 9 Retirees Club Meets the fourth Tuesday, 10 a.m. at Machinists’ Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Mo. David Meinell, president, Caroline Kemper, secretary-treasurer. Retirees and spouses are cordially invited to join the Retirees’ Club.
IAM Lodge 660 Retirees’ Club Retired members, wife or husband, father and mother of members in good standing, the retired members club’s regular meeting will be held at the Machinists’ Center, 161 Shamrock Street, East Alton, Ill., on the first Wednesday of each month. Social hour at 10 a.m. Covered dish dinner at noon and games and entertainment at 1 p.m. Barbara Hayes, Recording Secretary.
IAM Lodge 822 Retirees’ Club Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Call L. 822 at 217-222-0394 for information.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 268 Retirees’ Club
Meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Sheet Metal Workers Local 268 Hall, 2701 N. 89th St., Caseyville, Ill. at 1 p.m. All Retirees Welcome. Teamsters Local 600 Golden Age Retirees
Greater St. Louis Labor Council, AFL-CIO Third Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., IBEW Local 1 Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis.
St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council First Wednesday, 10 a.m., Electricians’ Industry Training Center Auditorium, 2300 Hampton. St. Louis Union Label & Service Trades Council Meetings third Monday at 5 p.m., IBEW Local 1, 5850 Elizabeth Ave., 63110. John Schepers, president. Information: fritz@ unionlabel.info
Boilermakers
accepted by the Boilermakers Joint Apprenticeship Committee on the second Monday of each month at the Local 27 hall, 1547 South Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The recruitment, selection, employment and training of apprentices during their apprenticeship shall be without discrimination because of race, religion, national origin, age or sex. Every applicant must supply a copy of their BIRTH CERTIFICATE and High School DIPLOMA/G.E.D. that the Committee can keep at the time of filing application for apprenticeship. WELDING QUALIFICATION: Applicants that have a welding certification or welding training qualifications will have priority selection over applicants with no welding qualifications. Applicants must provide a copy and proof of welding certification or welding training qualifications at the time of application.
Bricklayers Local 1 Meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday at Bricklayers’ Local No. 1 Union Hall, 1670 Fenpark, Fenton, MO 63026. To register for a course, contact Dale Jennewein at the Bricklayers Local 1 MO JATC at 314-770-1066. SPECIAL NOTICE: NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTION, FOR DELEGATES TO ATTEND THE 2025 INTERNATIONAL UNION CONVENTION IN DETROIT, MICH., ON SEPT. 29, 2025. Our Administrative District Council is entitled to send up to 10 delegates to the 2025 IU Convention. Among the purposes of the 2025 IU Convention is the election of all International Union Officers: President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Executive Vice President; and the election by region of the Regional Vice Presidents to serve on the IU Executive Council.
The Nominations Meeting at which the members of this Administrative District Council (ADC) will: determine the number of delegates, if any, that the ADC will send to the 2025 IU Convention; decide whether the ADC will elect alternates to serve in the event that a delegate or delegates cannot attend; and, consistent with those decisions and the IU Constitution and ADC Constitution, make nominations for the ADC’s open delegate positions -- will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 3, 2025 at the ADC Hall at 1670 Fenpark Drive, Fenton, Mo. Nominations by ADC members in good standing may be made (i) in person at the Nomination Meeting; or (ii) by mail; or (iii) by FAX.
The mail or FAX nomination must be received by the Local Union no later than April 2, 2025 at ADC Hall, 1670 Fenpark Drive, Fenton, Mo. 63026, or by fax at 314-621-6003.
A mail or FAX nomination must be signed by the member making the nomination and must bear his/her name in printed form and his/her IU Member Number. In addition, the nominee must also provide the ADC with his/her consent to run. The nominee may mail or fax his/her written consent with the mail/ FAX nomination or may mail or fax his/her consent separately. Whichever choice is made, the written consent to a mail/FAX nomination must be received by the ADC no later than April 2, 2025. Alternatively, the nominee may signify his/her consent in person at the Nominations Meeting.
Cement Masons Local 527 3341 Hollenberg Dr, Bridgeton, MO 63044
Elevator Constructors Local 3 5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Glaziers Local 513 5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
IBEW Local 1 Union meetings are held the First Wednesday and the Third Friday of each Month at the IBEW, Local 1 Union Hall located at 5850 Elizabeth Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110. Meetings begin promptly at 5 p.m. Please make every effort to attend.
IBEW Local 1 Apprentices Meeting on the first and third Friday of each month, 7 p.m. at the Training Center, 2300 Hampton.
IBEW Local 4 5850 Elizabeth Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110
Kim Jong Un demands to be included in all future Hegseth group
Pyongyang — Stung by his omission from the Trump administration’s recent war-planning chat, on Wednesday Kim Jong Un demanded to be included in all such group chats in the future.
“Why was this Goldberg person, who doesn’t even have nuclear weapons, included?” the North Korean dictator asked. “This should never be allowed to happen in this country.”
Kim said that he had downloaded the latest version of the Signal app and was waiting for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to ping him. Calling his exclusion from the Houthi bombing chat “hurtful,” he said, “I shouldn’t have to read about it in The Atlantic.”
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finally be winding down. Declining trends, however, shouldn’t be mistaken for lax precautions. Doctors and virus experts say it’s just
about time for older adults to roll up their sleeves for another dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
In October 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a recommendation that people ages 65 and older get a spring shot of the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine to boost their immune systems and restore protection that has waned since the fall, when the updated vaccines became available. Immunocompromised individuals — those who have cancer or take certain medications to treat an autoimmune disorder, for example — are also advised to get another COVID vaccine.
“Those two groups are the ones that are now consistently making
up the population that’s suffering from severe COVID-19, meaning emergency room visits or hospitalizations,” says Andrew Pekosz, a professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
In early January, the COVID hospitalization rate for adults younger than 50 was 1.0 per 100,000 people; for those 65-plus, it was 18.3 per 100,000. And during last year’s respiratory illness season, adults 65 and older accounted for 70 percent of all COVID-related hospitalizations. WHY DO OLDER ADULTS NEED A BOOST?
A big reason has to do with agerelated changes that make it more difficult for older adults to fight off an infection, explains Rachel M. Presti, M.D., a professor of medicine and medical director of the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Unit at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. This is not unique to COVID-19. Older adults are more susceptible to severe illness from other bugs, such as influenza, which is why a high-dose version of the flu shot is recommended for people 65-plus. Additionally, the COVID vaccines “provide really pretty good protection in the short term, but See BOOOSTER page 7
By DR. GRAHAM A. COLDITZ Siteman Cancer Center
We’ve seen great progress in the fight against colorectal cancer. While it’s still one of the most common cancers in the U.S., annual rates of new cases have dropped by nearly half since the mid-1980s.
More recently, though, there’s been a concerning increase in colorectal cancers in adults under age 50, with the rates appearing even higher among African American persons and residents of the South. And it’s unclear why.
“That’s the million-dollar question,” said Dr. Will Chapman Jr., an assistant professor at Washington
Booster From page 6
by the time you get to month four, five and six, that protection begins to wane,” William Schaffner, M.D., professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told AARP.
University School of Medicine in St. Louis who specializes in colon and rectal surgery.
“Though many people are working on the issue, we have not yet developed a clear understanding of what is driving cancer development in younger adults,” he said. “There are certainly some suspects – for example, diets higher in processed foods and/or low in fiber, hormone changes related to obesity and diabetes or changes in the healthy bacteria living in the gut.”
While the exact causes of younger
adult colorectal cancer are still being studied, we do know some key steps can help protect against the disease.
• No. 1 is to get recommended screening tests. Screening can find cancer earlier when it’s more treatable. It can also help prevent colorectal cancer in the first place, by finding and removing growths that could become cancer.
Most people should get screened starting at age 45, and those at increased risk may need to start earlier and be screened more often. Colonoscopy is the most common screening test and is typically done once every 10 years. But other recommended tests are also effective, including the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or the stool DNA test. These types of tests are quicker and easier than colonoscopy, but they also need to be done more often. And if they happen to find anything suspicious, they’re usually followed up with a colonoscopy.
• Knowing your family history of colorectal or other cancers, particularly if family members had cancer at younger ages, can help doctors
another.
estimate your risk of the disease, and if you might benefit from screening at a younger age than most people.
• Being aware of symptoms of colorectal cancer is also key – as is immediately reporting anything unusual to a doctor so it can be checked out and followed up if needed, Chapman said. As with screening, reporting symptoms early can help find a cancer earlier when it may be more treatable. Symptoms of colorectal cancer include intermittent red blood with bowel movements or a change in bowel habits, typically in the form of smaller-diameter stools.
“However, many colon and rectal cancers do not have symptoms – which is why screening is so important.
We also know that healthy behaviors can help prevent colorectal cancer – and that many of the same healthy behaviors that lower the risk of the disease in general likely also help lower the risk in younger adults. Screening tops the list. But other healthy steps include keeping
weight in check, not smoking, not drinking alcohol, being physically active and eating a healthy diet rich in whole grains and fiber and limited in red and processed meats. Ongoing research is telling us more about what causes colorectal cancer in young adults. We’re also learning more about the effects that family history, genetics, race and ethnicity may have on young adult colorectal cancer risk, treatment and follow-up care. As this knowledge develops, we can still take important steps right now to help protect ourselves – and our families – from the disease. It’s your health. Take control. For more on ways to lower the risk of colon and other cancers, visit 8ways.wustl.edu
(Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at BarnesJewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the free prevention tool YourDiseaseRisk.com.)
COVID-19 VACCINE?
The recommendation from the CDC is for people age 65-plus to get the COVID-19 vaccine six months after their last dose. So, if you were vaccinated in September or October, you’re just about due for
And, unlike flu, which typically strikes during the fall and winter, COVID-19 is active year-round, which is why it has surged in the summer months. “So this six-month boost is meant to sort of kick that [immunity] back up to high levels of protection until the following fall,” Pekosz says, when people are typically vaccinated for flu and COVID-19.
magnacare.com
If you waited on the vaccine in the fall and got it more recently, however, you can still get another dose this spring. While the CDC advises a six-month stretch between the two shots, the agency says the minimum time is two months apart, “which allows flexibility to get the second dose prior to typical COVID-19 surges, travel, life events and health care visits.”
Three different COVID-19 vaccines are available at pharmacies and health clinics, including an
mRNA vaccine from Moderna, an mRNA vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech and a protein-based vaccine from Novavax.
Less than a quarter of U.S. adults (about 23 percent) received the latest COVID-19 vaccine as of Feb. 22, federal data shows; an estimated 25 percent of adults 65 and older had received the shot as of November 2024, according to Medicare data.
The strains of coronavirus cur-
rently circulating have drifted from the variant the vaccines target. “But there have been a number of studies that show that the vaccine still does induce what we call cross-reactive antibodies and that it will recognize the currently circulating variants,” Pekosz says. “So it looks like it’s still effective,” Presti adds. Getting the vaccine this spring doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t catch COVID-19, but it does reduce the risk that you’ll experience severe illness if you get infected.
By MICHELLE ZETTERGREN
Labor Day is a time to celebrate the social and economic victories of America’s labor movement. The holiday is rooted in labor activists’ fight for fair wages, worker well-being, benefits and labor protections. Since its inception, American labor and its partners have helped raise the standard of living for all Americans.
MagnaCare, a healthcare enablement company founded in 1990, has walked alongside labor to make sure the Labor community receives the very benefits its members advocate for. As the needs of U.S. labor changed through the decades, MagnaCare adapted its services to meet those needs and uphold the values of American unions.
The 80s and 90s: A Time of Rapid Growth and Rapid Decline
The 1980s and 1990s brought significant change in America. The 1980s saw two recessions, but the 1990s brought an economic boom. But the ups and downs of the 80s, coupled with union-busting efforts, anti-union rhetoric and union contract concessions, led to declining union membership and waning collective bargaining power.
Labor leaders at the time knew, that to survive and attract new members from other industries, they had to provide more financial and social services to their members in addition to the once-hallowed 3% annual pay raise members expected. Unions explored portable health
insurance for union members who lost their jobs, expanded health benefits and providing fringe benefits to support their members during economic highs and lows.
MagnaCare was created in 1990 to support labor in its time of need. Originally founded to reduce costs associated with laboratory and radiology services, MagnaCare worked in lockstep with its union partners to meet the needs of members in the new economic realities of the mid- to late-90s. MagnaCare expanded its services to include its own proprietary physician network, increase access to hospitals across the Tri-State New York area and provided workers’ compensation packages. The addition of its new services in the 90s culminated in MagnaCare launching its flagship service: third-party administration. As a third-party administrator, MagnaCare oversees health plan administration, trust fund administration, contribution accounting, retirement funds and eligibility and enrollment. It’s services help labor health and welfare funds maximize their benefits while reducing costs.
Technology opens the door to new opportunities
From the early aughts to today, technology, automation and the internet are changing the workplace. Labor leaders understood that they needed to be open to the changing workplace to keep protecting workers. Rather than reject technology, labor unions found a way to be part of the technology movement. Thanks to unions like AFL-CIO and the Writers Guild of America, labor now has a voice at the bargaining table to ensure the ethical use of AI. And unions across the U.S. are embracing technology to engage
members, expand its organizing efforts and grow its membership.
MagnaCare leaders knew they also had to evolve to support its labor partners. The company added internet-assisted medical management services to provide its labor clients the right treatments at the best prices and enrollment and eligibility became automated to reduce administrative costs. In 2014, MagnaCare launched its Create® Technology platform to further reduce administrative costs. The platform automates claims processing, provider network management and payroll administration, all in one convenient app. The app was made with union members in mind, providing them access the to their benefits and resources at any time, whether they’re working the first shift or the third shift.
Supporting labor’s social movements
Labor played an important role in advancing civil liberties, social justice and economic equality, so it’s no surprise that labor continues to advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. In the past several years, labor unions have taken important steps to expand diversity and improve representation for women and minorities. Today, unions represent workers of all levels of education, of diverse races and ethnicities and across most industries in America.
Thanks to labor’s efforts, women, Black and Hispanic union workers see higher wages than their nonunion counterparts. Hourly wages for women represented by unions are 9.5% higher on average that nonunionized women, while Black and Hispanic workers see 13.1%
and 18.8% higher wages than nonunionized workers, respectively.
Unions continue to help its union members thrive in their roles by partnering with MagnaCare on several initiatives, including:
• Helmets to Hardhats, a program that helps military veterans transition into careers in the building trades.
• Nontraditional Employment for Women works to prepare, train and place women in careers in the skilled construction utility and maintenance trades.
• Pathways to Apprenticeship assists hundreds of low-income communities enter union apprenticeship programs.
St. Louis – When the family of Mel “Sandy” Masters came to donate memorabilia to the Jefferson Barracks POW-MIA Museum, they discovered a small group of workers doing what they could to honor those like Masters. Four members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 were volunteering to provide electrical upgrades donated by the IBEW/NECA Electrical Connection partnership.
The four volunteers were part of the IBEW Local 1 Veterans Committee and were installing electrical infrastructure for a heating upgrade at the museum. They included Dale Fluegge, Rick Dinnella, Mike Callahan and Austin Renshaw. Dinnella and Callahan are both U.S. Army veterans. Later this year, the volunteers will wire the new heaters providing greater comfort for museum visitors during the winter months.
Masters was with the 589th, 106th infantry Division when he was captured Dec. 16, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. He was sent to Stalag 9B as a prisoner of war. When Masters’ daughter Bobbie Schicker and her husband Steve encountered the IBEW volunteers, they asked
upgrades to the POW-MIA Museum at Jefferson Barracks and posed with donations the Schicker’s brought from her father for the museum. – Compass Communications photo
them to join them in a photo with the memorabilia being donated The Electrical Connection
IBEW/NECA partnership represents more than 5,000 highly skilled and safe IBEW Local 1 electricians and the more than 130 electrical contractors who employ them. For more than 80 years, the partnership has trained more electricians/communication technicians than any education program in Missouri. Its award-winning work provides safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world. Learn more at www.electricalconnection.org
Area unions and union-friendly organizations are hosting the following fundraising and charity golf tournaments. To have your tournament listed, contact Editor-in-Chief Tim Rowden a tim@labortribune.com, or mail your information to Labor Tribune, 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63103.
May 9 – 30th Annual Scholarship United Steelworkers Officers Council, District 7, Sub-District 2 Golf Tournament will begin a four-person scramble shotgun start at 8 a.m. May 9 at Arlington Greens Golf Course, 200 Arlington Drive, Granite City, Ill. Proceeds from the tournament support the Sub District 2 Annual Scholarship for sons or daughters of Steelworkers. We believe this year’s event will be
just as exciting and fun as they have been in the past. Entry fee/ donation is $100 per player. Skins and Mulligans will be available for $20 each. Participants will be able to enjoy 18 holes of golf, use of a golf cart, beer, soda, brats, attendance prizes, 50/50 drawing, souvenirs, the chance to win awards and dinner prepared by USW Local 9189 immediately following the tournament. Hole sponsorships at $150. Tournament sponsorships are $250. Make checks payable to USW Sub District 2 Scholarship Fund and mail to 10 Central Industrial Drive, Suite 4, Granite City, Ill. 62040. For more information, call 618-452-1130.
May 17 – IBEW Local 1439
Tom Kraus 29th Annual Golf Tournament, benefitting the Super Sam Foundation
– Fighting Childhood Cancer, begins with a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start at Forest Park Golf Course, 5595 Grand Drive in St. Louis. The entry fee is $125 per player or $500 per team and includes cart, green fees, donuts, juice and coffee and lunch. The four-person scramble will include prizes for closest to the hole and first and second place in A and B flights. Skins and mulligans will be available. Make checks payable to IBEW Local 1439 and mail to IBEW Local 1439, 2121 59th St., St. Louis, Mo. 63110. Call the union office at 314-644-6111 for more information.
May 19 – The 5th Annual Jack Martorelli Memorial Golf Tournament , benefitting St. Louis Guns ‘N Hoses, will begin with a 10 a.m. check in, 11 a.m. lunch and 11:30 a.m. shotgun start at Tapawingo National Golf Course, 13001 Gary Player Driver, St. Louis, Mo. 63127. Entry fee is $1,000 per foursome and includes greens fee, cart, lunch, a goodie bag, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and barbecue after the tournament. Prizes awarded to winners. Complimentary beer, soda and water
while on the course. Registration and payment for teams due by April 25, while spots last. Checks or credit cards accepted. Sponsorships range from $50 for a non-golfer guest to $1,500, which includes a foursome, special gift recognition and banner. Make checks payable to St. Louis Guns ‘N Hoses and mail with completed registration form to Shan Herwig, c/o Dave Mungenast St. Louis Honda, 5939 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, Mo. 63123. For credit card payments, email completed form to shanherwig@ davemungenast.com . Contact Shan Herwig at 314-306-7266 or Sean Mazzola at 314-623-5055 for payment.
June 5 – Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council PAC’s 29th Annual Golf Scramble will begin with an 8 a.m. registration and 9 a.m. shotgun start at Belk Park Golf Course, 8880 Belk Par Road, Wood River, Ill. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Building Trades’ PAC fund to support state and local election candidates who are friends of Labor. Entry fee is $400 per team and includes lunch and refreshments on the
course and heavy appetizers and awards ceremony after the competition. Sponsorships range from $150 to $500. Register by May 15. Make checks payable to Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council PAC and mail to 2A Meadow Heights Professional Park, Collinsville, Ill. 62234. For more information, call 618-344-6050.
June 7 – Machinists District 9 Chapter Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines Golf Tournament will begin with 7 a.m. registration and an 8 a.m. shotgun start at The Golf Club of Florissant, 50 Country Club Lane, Florissant, Mo. Entry fee/donation is $550 for four players and includes beverages, cart, green fee, prizes and dinner. Hole sponsorships at $225 per hole. Team with Hole Sponsorships are $750. Make checks payable to Chapter Nine, Guide Dogs of America and mail by May 1 to Tracy Gardner, Chairperson, GDA Chapter Nine, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Mo. 63044. For more information, call 314-739-6200.
By WES BURNS Executive Vice President of Community and Economic Development
Owning a home is one of the most powerful ways to build long-term wealth and financial stability. Instead of paying rent to a landlord, homeowners build equity with every mortgage payment. Over time, homeownership can create a strong financial foundation and a legacy for future generations.
At Midwest BankCentre, we believe that homeownership should be attainable for more people, and we are committed to helping first-time buyers navigate the process. But buying a home is a major financial commitment, and it’s important to understand that a home is more than just its listing price. There are many costs — some expected, others not — that come with owning a home.
Here’s what first-time buyers need to know about the “hidden” costs of owning a home.
1. Upfront Costs
When purchasing a home, you’ll need to budget for some upfront costs, including:
• Down Payment – Typically ranges from 3% to 20% of the purchase price, depending on the type of loan.
• Closing Costs – Usually 2% to 5% of the home price, cov ering lender fees, appraisal, title insurance, and more.
• Moving Expenses – Whether hiring movers or renting a truck, moving costs can add up. Additionally, utility deposits may be required for electricity, water, and gas.
• Storage Expenses – If renovations or repairs are needed before move-in, temporary storage for belongings may be necessary.
• Initial Repairs & Upgrades – Many homes need immedi ate fixes or personal touches, such as new paint, flooring, or appliances.
• Furniture – New homeowners often underestimate the cost of furniture and décor.
2. Monthly & Recurring Costs
There are multiple recurring costs that come with homeownership:
• Mortgage Payment – Includes both principal and interest.
• Property Taxes – These vary by location and can be a sig nificant annual expense. Property taxes are often included in your escrow payment.
• Homeowners Insurance – Required by lenders, this policy protects your home against damage, theft, and liability.
• Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) – If you put down less than 20%, PMI may be required, adding 0.5% to 2% of the loan amount annually.
3. Regular Homeownership Expenses
• Utilities – Electricity, water, gas, trash pickup, and internet often cost more than in a rental.
• HOA Fees – If your home is in a community with a home owners association, monthly or yearly dues may apply.
• Lawn Care & Landscaping – Maintaining a yard can re quire equipment, supplies, or professional services.
• Security Systems – Many homeowners opt for security systems, which can have installation and monthly monitoring fees.
4. Unexpected Costs
Homeownership also comes with unexpected expenses that can strain your budget, such as:
• Home Maintenance & Repairs – A good rule of thumb is to budget 1% to 3% of your home’s value per year for maintenance.
• Appliance Replacements – Water heaters, air condition ers, and major appliances eventually need to be replaced.
• Roof, Foundation, and Plumbing Issues – Major repairs can be costly and are often unavoidable over time.
• Pest Control – Infestations of termites, rodents, or other
pests require professional treatment.
• Property Value Changes – Rising home values may in crease property taxes, leading to higher escrow payments.
5. Long-Term Costs
While these costs are not immediate, it’s good to keep them in mind:
• Refinancing & Interest Rate Changes – If rates rise, refinancing may not always save money.
• Home Improvements & Renovations – Even if your home doesn’t need repairs, most homeowners invest in up grades over time.
• Resale Costs – Selling a home involves realtor commis sions (typically 5% to 6%), closing costs, and potential repairs to prepare for the market.
How First-Time Buyers Can Prepare
The key to successful homeownership is preparation. Before buying a home, be sure to do the following:
• Build an Emergency Fund – Set aside at least 3 to 6 months’ worth of expenses to cover unexpected home-related costs.
• Get a Home Inspection – A thorough inspection helps uncover hidden issues before purchasing. Take note of the age and condition of the roof, foundation, and major appliances to avoid costly surprises.
• Understand Insurance & Warranties – Home warranties can help cover certain repairs but come with limitations, so research carefully.
I know these expenses may feel overwhelming, but they are manageable with the right planning — and the right partner. At Midwest BankCentre, we’re dedicated to helping more people achieve their dream of homeownership in an affordable and sustainable way. If you’re ready to get home, visit MyHomeLoanSTL.com or contact our team of home loan specialists at 314-631-5500.
Owning a home is one of the best investments you can make in your financial future. Let’s make sure you’re fully prepared for the journey.
EPC, Inc. Computers, 3941 Harry S. Truman Blvd., St. Charles — IBEW 1
The Sound Room, 17373 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield — IBEW 1.
Slyman Bros. Appliance Center, 4900 Hampton Ave., St. Louis — Painters District Council 58
Advance Auto Parts, 3018 Telegraph Rd., Mehlville, and 3800 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold — Bricklayers 1
Auto Zone, 1704 Carlin Drive, Barnhart — IBEW 1
Auto Zone, all locations — Painters District Council 58
Christian Brothers Automotive, Arnold Commons Shopping Center, 2190 Church Road — Bricklayers 1.
Discount Tire, all locations — IBEW 1.
Firestone Tire and Service Centers, all locations in St. Louis vicinity — Painters District Council 58
O'Reilly Auto Parts, 15360 Manchester Rd., Ellisville — IBEW 1
O’Reilly Auto Parts, 3106 S Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis — Painters DC 58 Phillips 66, 7323 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Hazelwood — IBEW 1
Plaza Tire, 301 Festus Centre Drive, Festus — Bricklayers 1
Plaza Tire, (all locations) — IBEW 1
Sapaugh Motors,1435 McNutt Street, Herculaneum — IBEW 1.
Amighetti's & Hank's Cheesecakes, 5390 Southwest Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1
Annie Gunn's Restaurant, 16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield — IBEW 1
Arby's Restaurant, 15678 Manchester Road, Ellisville — IBEW 1
Armory STL, 3660 Market Street, St. Louis — IBEW 1
Bar Louis, 110 S. Kirkwood Rd., Kirkwood — Painters District Council 58.
Baseballism, Ballpark Village, 761 Clark Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1
Black Bear Diner, 2865 Veterans Memorial Pkwy., O'Fallon — IBEW 1
Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant, 17276 Chesterfield Airport Rd., Chesterfield — IBEW 1
Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant, Veterans Memorial Parkway, Wentzville — Ironworkers 396
Captain D's, 8001 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Hazelwood — IBEW 1.
Chick-Fil-A, 3155 N. Hwy. 67, Florissant — IBEW 1, Bricklayers 1/Tile Setters 18
Chick-Fil-A, 12450 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton — Bricklayers 1/Tile Setters 18
Chick-Fil-A, 3801 Hampton Ave., St. Louis — Bricklayers 1/Tile Setters 18
Chick-Fil-A, 17365 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, MO 63005 — IBEW 1
Chick-Fil-A, 304 Clarkson, Ellisville — IBEW 1/Bricklayers 1/Tile Setters 18
Chili’s Restaurant, I-55 and Hwy. 141, Arnold Commons, Arnold — IBEW 1
Chipotle Mexican Grill 2391 N. Hwy. 67, Florissant — IBEW 1
The Crafty Chameleon Bar, 1384 Clarkson Clayton Center, Ellisville — IBEW 1
Culver’s Restaurant, 400 Meramec Blvd., Eureka — Bricklayers Local 1 and St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council.
Dairy Queen, 15850 Clayton Rd. Ballwin — IBEW 1
Denny’s Restaurant, 3939 S. Service Rd., St. Peters — Bricklayers Local 1
Fandango’s Bar and Grill, 2940 Dougherty Ferry Rd., St. Louis — Painters District Council 58
Firehouse Subs, 3949 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis — SMART Local 36
Gioia’s Deli at these locations: 1934 Macklind Ave., St. Louis; 623 N. New Ballas Road, Creve Coeur; 11855 Adie Rd., Maryland Heights — IBEW 1
Grant’s Trail Lodge, 4398 Hoffmeister Avenue, St. Louis — IBEW 1
Guido Pizzeria & Tapas, 5046 Shaw Ave, St. Louis on The Hill — Bricklayers Local 1
Hardee’s Restaurant, Pacific — Painters District Council 58
HotShots Sports Bar & Grill, 7575 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis — IBEW 1
Imo's Pizza, 3742 Elm St., St. Charles — Glaziers 513.
lmo’s Pizza, 9417 Gravois Rd. and 721 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis — Painters DC 58.
lmo’s Distribution Warehouse, 5851 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis — Painters DC 58.
Incredible Pizza, 5254 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, and 4103 Cloverleaf Drive, St. Peters — Painters District Council 58
Jack in the Box restaurants (all locations) — Tile Setters 18.
Jett’s Pizza, 3533 Hampton Avenue, St. Louis — IBEW 1
Jimmy John's, 14 Hilltop Village Center Dr., Eureka — IBEW 1
Jimmy John's, 4530 Lemay Ferrry Road, Suite T, St. Louis — IBEW 1.
Jimmy John's, 15961 Manchester Road, Ellisville — IBEW 1
Krispy Kreme, 10880 W. Florissant Ave., Ferguson — IBEW 1.
Landry's Seafood House Union Station, 1820 Market Street, St. Louis — IBEW 1.
McDonald’s Restaurant, Washington — Painters District Council 58
Mellow Mushroom, 3911 South Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis — IBEW 1
Ninja Japanese Sushi Bar & Steak House, 1737 Clarkson Road, Chesterfield — IBEW 1
O’Charley’s, 4130 Rusty Road, St. Louis — IBEW 1.
O'Dell's Irish Pub & Ale House, 141 S. Central Ave., Eureka — IBEW 1
Orlando Gardens, 4300 Hoffmeister Ave., St, Louis — IBEW 1
Pizza Hut — all restaurants except at 15845 Manchester Rd., Ellisville; Oakville
Dierberg’s Plaza, and 1926 Richardson Rd., Arnold — IBEW 1
Popeye's Restaurant, 15909 Manchester Road, Ellisville — IBEW 1
Pretzel Pretzel, ALL LOCATIONS – IBEW 1
Rally’s Hamburgers, 2182 North Hwy. 67, Florissant — IBEW 1
Rosalita's Cantina,12796 Manchester Rd., Des Peres — IBEW 1.
Taco Bell, 5453 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, — IBEW 1.
Taco Bell, 705 North State Highway 47, Warrenton — IBEW 1.
Taco Bell, 6080 South Lindbergh, St. Louis, — IBEW 1.
Salt & Smoke Restaurant, 5625 Hampton Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1.
Smokee Mo's BBQ, 110 Old Meramac Station Rd., Manchester — IBEW 1.
Subway Sandwich Shops: 1205 Hampton Ave., St. Louis; 122B South County Center Way, Mehlville; 8420 Watson Rd.; Lindell and Sarah; 4484 Woodson Rd., Woodson Terrace, 9641 Olive Blvd., Olivette — IBEW 1
Sushi Japan, 469 Lafayette Center, Ballwin — IBEW 1.
Waffle House, Lindbergh and Charbonier, Florissant — Iron Workers 396.
Waffle House Restaurants, all locations — Bricklayers 1.
BUILDING SUPPLIES/ EQUIPMENT
Ace Hardware, 835 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis — IBEW 1
Aggreko Inc., 10317 Lake Bluff Drive, Affton — Operating Engineers 513
B.M.C. of Jefferson County (D.B.A. Ozark Building Materials), Paulina Hills — Teamsters 682
B.M.C. of St. Charles County (D.B.A. Ozark Building Materials), O’Fallon — Teamsters 682
Bobcat of St. Louis, 401 W. Outer Rd., Valley Park — Operating Engineers 513
Bobcat of St. Louis, 1885 West Terra Lane, O'Fallon — Operating Engineers 513
Cape Electrical Supply, 1512 Londell Industrial Court, Arnold — IBEW 1.
CK Power, 1100 Research Blvd., St. Louis — Operating Engineers 513
Cotton’s Ace Hardware, 111 Hill Top Center Dr. Eureka — IBEW 1
Crescent Parts & Equipment, 2100 S. 59th Street, St. Louis — IBEW 1
Deutz Service Center St. Louis, 4282 Shoreline Drive, Earth City — Operating Engineers 513
Glass Blocks of St. Louis, 1253 East Rd., St. Louis — Bricklayers 1
Home Depot,3202 S Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis — Painters DC 58
JCB of St. Louis, 7978 Veterans Memorial Pkwy., St. Peters — Operating Engineers 513
K&K Supply, 535 North Highway Dr., Fenton — Operating Engineers 513.
Kirchner Block & Brick, 201 Rock Industrial Court, Bridgeton — Iron Workers 396
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, Highways 47 and 100, Washington — Painters District Council 58
Lowe's,11974 Paul Mayer Ave., Bridgeton — IBEW 1
Luby, 2300 Cassens Drive, Fenton — Operating Engineers 513
Trane Rental Services, 101 Matrix Commons Drive, Fenton — Operating Engineers 513
Winco Windows, 6200 Maple — Iron Workers 396.
Aldi Warehouse — St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council.
Bucheit of Herculaneum, 200 Riverview Dr., Herculaneum — IBEW 1
Bucheit of House Springs, 4550 Gravois Rd., House Springs — IBEW 1
Dollar General, 15955 Highway 47, Marthasville — IBEW 1.
Dollar Tree, 5545 Telegraph Rd., Oakville, and 4411 Lemay Ferry Rd., South County — IBEW 1
Dollar Tree, Highway 50, Union — Painters District Council 58
Family Dollar, 12115 Bellefontaine Road, St. Louis — IBEW 1.
Moser’s Discount Foods, 1035 Armory Rd., Warrenton — IBEW 1
Ross Dress for Less, 818 Big Bill Rd. Arnold Commons, Arnold — IBEW 1
Ross Dress for Less, ALL LOCATIONS — IBEW 1
Sam's Club, Wentzville — Iron Workers 396
Sears, 3 Mid Rivers Mall, St. Peters — Painters District Council 58
Wal-Mart, Washington — St. Louis Building Trades Council.
Family Video, Patterson Road and Greenway Chase Drive, Florissant — Bricklayers 1 N Sports Rec Center, 3101 Highway 100, Washington, — Iron Workers 396. OakGlenn Vineyards and Winery, 1104 OakGlenn Place, Hermann — IBEW 1. Playtime Party Center, 105 Hwy. A, Wentzville, — Sheet Metal Workers 36. Pole Position Raceway, 8800 Watson Road, Fenton — IBEW 1.
St. Peters Golf Club and Banquet Hall, 200 Salt Lick Road, St. Peters — IBEW 1.
Club Fitness, ALL LOCATIONS. — Sheetmetal Workers 36. Foss Swim School, 14880 Manchester Rd., Ballwin — IBEW 1.
Planet Fitness, ALL LOCATIONS. — IBEW 1. St. Louis Club Fitness, 3525 Hampton Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1. South Hampshire Racquet Club, 6727 Langley Ave. — IBEW 1. Sprint, 2090 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Florissant — IBEW 1.
Xist Fitness, 3799 Vogel Rd., Arnold — IBEW 1.
Carol House Furniture, 2332 Millpark Drive, Maryland Heights — Iron Workers 396. L & R Furniture, 314 Bailey Rd., Crystal City Iron Workers 396. Weekends Only, 8445 Gravois — IBEW 1
B. P. Gas, 12815 Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant — IBEW 1. Buck's Gas & Convenience Store, 7996 Big Bend, Webster Groves — IBEW 1. Conoco Gas, 15302 Manchester Rd., Ballwin — IBEW 1
Gas Mart, 1187 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis — Glaziers, Arch. Metal & Glass Workers L.U. 513.
Gas Mart, 18403 Convenience Way — IBEW 1.
Adler Visual Systems Inc., 3319 Olive St., St. Louis — Bricklayers 1.
The Foot & Ankle Center, 1299 Reavis Barracks Rd., St. Louis — Painters and Allied Trades District Council 58.
Proactive Chiropractic, P.C., 3600 Richardson Square Way, Arnold — IBEW 1.
Woodland Dental Care, 1133 Howdershell Rd., Florissant — IBEW 1.
Central District Alarm, 6450 Clayton Ave. — IBEW 1
Dave’s Lawn & Landscaping, 1403 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold — Iron Workers 396 Mattress Firm, 3045 N. Hwy. 67, Florissant — IBEW 1.
Reliable Onsite Services & Fencing, Bridgeton, MO — Teamsters Local 682
Rug Decor, 14206 Manchester, Ballwin — Painters District Council 58.
Ryan Heating and Cooling, 10466 Baur Blvd., Crestwood — Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.
Schraut Heating & Cooling, 11139 Southtowne Square, Affton — Sheet Metal Workers 36.
Waste Management, 311 Mill St., Kimmswick — Iron Workers 396.
Best Western Plus, 12220 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights — IBEW 1
Convention Center Drury Inn, 711 N. Broadway, St. Louis — IBEW 1.
Drury Plaza Hotel, 355 Chesterfield Center East, Chesterfield — IBEW 1.
Hampton Inn, Fourth and Washington, St. Louis — Painters District Council 58.
Hampton Inn, 4200 Midamerica Lane, St. Louis — IBEW 1
Hilton Homewood Suites at Riverport, 16393 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights — IBEW 1
Holiday Inn Express, 4250 Midamerica Lane, St. Louis — IBEW 1. Hyatt Place, 333 Chesterfield Center East, Chesterfield — IBEW 1.
In Town Suites, 9067 Dunn Rd., Hazelwood — IBEW 1
La Quinta Inn, 318 Taylor Rd., Hazelwood — IBEW 1
La Quinta Hotel, Campus Court, Hazelwood — Painters District Council 58.
La Quinta Inn & Suites, 1001 Veterans Bvd., Festus, — IBEW 1
Marriott Courtyard, 17369 Chesterfield Airport Rd., Chesterfield — IBEW 1
Marriott Courtyard, 2340 Market St., St. Louis — IBEW 1
Red Oak Resort, Camdenton — IBEW 1
Red Roof Inn, 5823 Wilson Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1 Spring Hill Suites, 13095 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton — IBEW 1
Dan’s Liquor, 102 Legends Parkway/Highway 109, Eureka — IBEW 1.
Jeffco Liquor, 917 Jeffco Blvd. Arnold, — IBEW 1.
Lukas Liquor, 15678 Manchester Road, Ellisville — IBEW 1.
Red Door Liquor and Cigars, 115 S. Central Ave., Eureka — IBEW 1.
Select Drink, 5757 N. Lindbergh Blvd., Hazelwood — IBEW 1
Total Wine & More Super Store, 13887 Manchester Meadows, Ballwin and 90 Brentwood Promenade Court, St. Louis — IBEW 1
American Arms & Supply, 15531 Manchester Road, Ballwin — IBEW 1.
of America, 10230 Watson Road, St. Louis — Painters District Council 58.
& Body Works, 12583 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur —
Cargo Bay Office Center, 7220 N. Lindbergh, Hazelwood — IBEW 1.
Expressway Marts,
— IBEW 1.
M&M Guns and Supplies, 16 Main Street, Saint Peters – IBEW 1 Nail Spa, 739 N. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Ann — IBEW 1.
New Era Banks in Farmington, Park Hills and Fredericktown — Iron Workers 396 O'Connor/Ronnoco Coffee, 618 South Boyle Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1 Pacific Tan, 11245 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton — IBEW 1. Phenix Salon Suites, 17081 N. Outer 40 Road, Suite 213, Chesterfield — IBEW 1.
Portable Water Closet (PWC), , St. Louis, — Teamsters 682
Range USA, 11808 St Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044 — Glaziers Local 513
Record Exchange, 5320 Hampton Ave. — IBEW 1.
The Range. St. Louis West (formerly American Arms), 14803 Manchester Road, Ballwin — IBEW 1. R.J. Liebe Athletic Lettering Co., 2720 Washington Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1 Rockwood Bank 219 Thresher, Eureka — IBEW 1
Rural King Maple Drive, Farmington — Ironworkers 396.
Schaefer Hobby Shop, 11659 Gravois Rd — IBEW 1
South County Technical High School, 12721 W. Watson Rd., Sappington — IBEW 1. Straub's Market, 302 Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis — IBEW 1.
St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care, 2000 El Largo Dr., Arnold — IBEW 1. Sun Up Express, 14401 Manchester Road, Ballwin — IBEW 1
Supercuts Hair Salon, 7513 Watson Rd., Shrewsbury — IBEW 1.
Titlemax, all locations — IBEW 1 Weinhardt Party Rentals, 5901 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis — IBEW 1
MOTORCYCLES
Harley-Davidson, St. Charles, 3830 West Clay — Sheet Metal Workers 36
Tim Surdyke's Gold Star Harley-Davidson, Highway 67, Festus — Iron Workers 396
READY-MIX COMPANIES AAA Zoellner — Teamsters 682
Arnold Ready Mix — Teamsters 682
Eastern Missouri Concrete — Teamsters 682
Eastern Ready Mix All Plants — Teamsters 682
Golden Triangle — Teamsters 682
Havin Ready Mix, Union, — Teamsters 682
Kienstra Ready Mix of O’Fallon — Teamsters 682
Kienstra Ready Mix of Foristell — Teamsters 682
Landvatter Ready Mix — Teamsters 682
Mark Twain Ready Mix — Teamsters 682
Schreiter Ready Mix — Teamsters 682. Simpson Sand and Gravel — Operating Engineers 513.
St. Charles County Concrete — Teamsters 682.
Warren County Concrete — Teamsters 682
Wil-Mix, Festus, — Teamsters 682
Mass rallies are planned this month at two area Tesla dealers to protest company owner Elon Musk’s destruction of federal institutions and American citizens’ wellbeing.
• The first rally will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at the Tesla dealership at 16955 Chesterfield Airport Road in Chesterfield.
• The second rally will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Tesla dealership at 5711 S. Lindbergh Blvd. at Bohrer Park Road in South County.
Led by the Greater St. Louis Labor Council Retiree Group, the rallies are open to all union members and retirees and anyone else outraged at Musk and President Donald Trump.
“We’re angry, but we want peaceful protests,” said Retirees Group
President Ron Gushleff and Vice President Dave Meinell, who insisted there be no violence or vandalism.
“We just want to show Musk we don’t appreciate his destruction of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ services, the U.S. Postal Service and other institutions of the federal government,” they said.
Gushleff and Meinell encouraged all union members and retirees — as well as other people scared about their Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans’ benefits — to join in the protests.
Trump tapped the unelected Musk to lead a team of likewise unelected “tech bros” to slash and burn their way through vital government institutions.
As part of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk and his young techies are supposed to be looking for waste and fraud.
But in practice, they are recklessly firing thousands of government employees wholesale without study or analysis and are crippling vital government services.
Musk, drawing attention to his gleeful destruction of the government, has been filmed comically jumping around onstage with a chain saw.
Thousands of outraged American citizens have been conducting similar protests at Tesla dealers across the country. Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock value is taking a nosedive. For more information, call or text Dave Meinell at 314-604-1316.
Workers Local 335 74 Woodstream, Moscow Mills, MO 63362
IBEW Local 1 Auxiliary Fourth Wednesday of each month, 9 a.m. for crafts. Bring a lunch. Meetings at IBEW Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Ave. Need new members! Call Local 1, IBEW, 314-647-5900.
Mary Ryder Homes Auxiliary Fourth Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m., 4360 Olive. Contact Mary Ellen Heimann at 962-8609.
Missouri AFL-CIO Auxiliary Any other auxiliary interested in joining the Missouri AFL-CIO Auxiliary should call President Pam Scott at 797-5278 or Secretary-Treasurer Barb Moonier at 831-4961.
Eastern Missouri Teamsters Retiree Council, IBT Joint Council 13 Retirees All meetings are held at the IBT Local 682 Union Hall, 5730 Elizabeth, St. Louis, MO. Notices From page 5
Greater St. Louis CWA Retirees Club Retirees Club meetings held on second Monday at CWA Local 6300 Hall, 2258 Grissom Dr., Maryland Heights. Meeting is at 11:30 a.m. and lunch at noon. The Greater St. Louis Labor Council Retirees Group is comprised of delegates from union retiree clubs and union locals. For more information, call Executive Board officers; President Ronald M. Gushleff, Sr. 314-962-4128; Vice President Dave Meinell 314604-1316; Secretary Caroline Kemper 314-913-4839; Treasurer Calvin Davis 314-488-0339. SPECIAL NOTICE: All luncheon meetings to be held at 10:00 a.m., the third Tuesday of every other month at Machinists District 9 Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.
IBEW Local 1 Retirees
IBEW Local 1439 Retirees’ Club Third Thursday of even numbers months, 10 a.m., Local 1439 Hall. Operating Engineers Local 513 First Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. at the union hall, 3449 Hollenberg Dr., Bridgeton. Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Retirees Meets the first Monday of the month at 11:30 a.m. at Elks Lodge No. 9 at 12481 Ladue Road, Creve Coeur, MO 63141. For more information, call Frank Kilcullen at 314-712-5177.
Plumbers Local 35 Retirees
Meetings of the
CITY, OK – Three Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 apprentices showcased their skills here at the Great Plains Sheet Metal Workers Apprentice Contest, competing against top talent from across the region. Once again, Local 36 demonstrated excellence, earning a first-place finish in HVAC and a second place finish in Architectural. “We extend our gratitude to Evan Fruits (third from right), Brad Nungester (sixth from right) and Matt Martin (seventh from right), for representing Local 36 with dedication and professionalism,” the union shared on social media.
Union Wages, Union Wheels
By KEVIN WEAKS
at any speed.”
The Corvair, a mashup of Chevrolet’s Corvette and Bel Air brand names, was conceived as an American answer to the rear-engined, air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle.
The Corvair began as a 1954 GM Motorama concept car built as a fastback version of the Corvette, but the production version shared little with the concept aside from
the name. It was, and is to this day, the only mass-produced American passenger car with an air-cooled, rear-mounted engine.
With its lightweight aluminum engine and unique engineering, Motor Trend magazine named the 1960 Corvair its “Car of the Year.”
Four years later in their October 1964 issue, Car and Driver magazine declared the 1965 Chevrolet Corvair “the most beautiful car to appear in this country since before World War II.”
It was after WWII that Volkswagens started to be imported in larger numbers and General Motors took notice, with its divisions racing to produce their own compact cars. Chevrolet may not have copied the VW but many of the basics of the aircooled rear engine, compact transaxle and suspension were similar.
THE
However, the Corvair was larger inside and out and would represent several production firsts for Chevrolet including their first and only rear air-cooled engine, first unitized body, first production car turbocharger and fully independent four-wheel suspension. The Corvair hoped to compete with the European imports that were becoming popular in the United States.
In fact, the Corvair nameplate encompassed a whole series of mid- and rear-engined, air-cooled vehicles produced by Chevrolet in the early 1960s. There were sedans, coupes and delivery vans. Following the successful introduction of the Corvair coupe in 1960, Chevrolet introduced the truck/van platform in 1961. The Corvair 95 panel van or “Corvan” was conceived to meet the demand for light duty delivery vehicles. The delivery vans were very popular because of the low loading floor since there was no driveline, something today’s all-electric cars have in common.
CORVAIR SPAWNED
FORD’S NEW MUSTANG
Corvair was not America’s first rear-engine vehicle. In 1940 Ford had designed a transverse-mounted rear-engine prototype which never went into production. Then, in 1962, a rear-engine, V-4 two-seater dubbed the “Mustang” created a buzz when racing driver Dan Gurney introduced it at the U.S. Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (The Mustang name later reappeared on a sporty little four-seater with a front-mounted engine that created its own buzz in 1964.)
It may not seem obvious, but the car that inspired the Ford Mustang more than any other was the 1960
Corvair. It’s true. In his 1984 memoir, “Iacocca: An Autobiography,” former Ford boss Lee Iacocca frankly admitted that the basic concept for probably his most famous car, the 1965 Mustang, actually came from a competitor’s product: the Chevrolet Corvair.
“General Motors,” Iaococca wrote, “had taken the Corvair, an economy car, and transformed it into the hot-selling Corvair Monza simply by adding a few sporty accessories such as bucket seats, stick shift and fancy interior trim.
We at Ford had nothing to offer to the people who were considering a Monza, but it was clear to us that they represented a growing market.”
There was nothing like it. The 1960 Corvair was offered as a twodoor coupe and four-door sedan in two trim levels with bench seats. In what would normally be the Corvair’s trunk was a 140-cu.in. horizontally opposed, six-cylinder engine called the Turbo-Air 6 that produced 80 horsepower. Oddly, the full-sized spare tire was stuffed in there, too. The front cavity became the trunk or, as they call it today, the “frunk.”
The car came standard with a three-speed manual transmission; a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission was optional. The entry level 500 Series sold for $2,038. The better equipped 700 and 900 series were commensurately higher, topping off over $3,000. The “sporty” Monza model that caught Iaococca’s eye was rolled out in the spring of 1960 with full vinyl interior, bucket seats and full wheel covers. Monza sales helped drive initial Corvair production to 250,007.
Chevrolet reportedly sold 26,000 Corvairs in the first two days.
Seeing they might have a winner, for 1961 Chevrolet added a four-door station wagon, a window van (the Greenbrier), a panel van (Corvair 95), and a pickup (the Rampside) that had a side panel that hinged to create a ramp. All vehicles had the rear air-cooled engines which were now available with slightly more power. Production of the Corvair line, some of which were built in St. Louis, jumped to 329,632.
The Corvair’s design and light steering made it handle like a sports car. In 1962 major additions included a convertible and a turbocharger option package. Horsepower increased from a max of 102 hp to 150 hp. The “Spyder” option became available on Monza coupes and convertibles with four-speed transmissions. The Corvair Spyder was one of the first cars to feature a turbocharged engine, significantly boosting power and torque. The Spyder came standard with a four-speed manual transmission, and air conditioning. The Spyder had a heavy-duty suspension with anti-roll bars for improved handling and it was a hit. The Corvair now had power to go with its classic looks and more than 328,500 were sold. By 1963 the station wagon version was gone and sales began to slide to 281,539. In 1964 the Monza Spyder became an actual model instead of an option at 150 hp. This also was the last year for the Rampside and Corvan 95. Total production decreased to 207,114. The 1964-1/2 Mustang became the new kid in town, diverting attention from the Corvair. Still, 1965 promised to be a big
From page 12 year for the Corvair. It had a sexier shape, plus the turbo option was now 180 hp and was available in the performance-oriented Corsa model which replaced the Spyder. A redesigned rear suspension was now more like the Corvette’s and produced a major improvement in handling. It was becoming a real sports car. Total production inched up to 237,056. Meanwhile, sales of the 1965 Ford Mustang sales were 559,451.
Then Ralph Nader came along. Nader, a consumer and environmental activist and four-time presidential candidate, wrote a 1965 book that exposed potential driving dangers with American cars called “Unsafe at Any Speed.”
One chapter of the book was dedicated to the unusual handling characteristics of the rear-engine Corvair, which Nader called “the one-car accident.” It was alleged that the independent rear suspension of the 1960-63 Corvairs could cause the wheels to “tuck in,” causing the car to oversteer and flip. There was even a disputed film showing the Corvair going out of control. GM hired race drivers and other experts to prove that the Corvair was safe and the general conclusion was that it was as safe (if not safer) than most cars of the time.
The final report by the National Highway Safety Administration
absolving the Corvair was released in 1972. By then the damage had been done. Nader’s book certainly didn’t help, but most agree that the introduction of the Ford Mustang in 1964 played a much bigger role in the
– The 1960 Corvair featured a 140-cu.in. horizontally opposed, air-cooled sixcylinder engine that produced 80 horsepower and came standard with a three-speed manual transmission. In 1964 up to 150 hp was available. The rear engine compartment also housed the spare tire.
demise of Chevrolet’s rear-engine wonder. Sales in 1966 dropped to 103,743.
The slide had begun. In 1967 the top-of-the-line Corsa model was dropped primarily because of the
introduction of the Camaro to fight the Mustang. Total production was down to 27,253. Smog controls and a few interior changes marked the 1968 model year as sales fell to 15,399. The Corvair finally succumbed in 1969 with just 6,000 produced. On May 14, 1969, members of the automotive press swarmed Willow Run Assembly in Ypsilanti, Mich., to watch the last Corvair come down the line. Over the decade approximately 1.8 million Corvairs had been built.
In 1970 Chevrolet replaced the Corvair with the compact Vega, which had its own problems.
What killed the Corvair? Most assume that Nader’s book and the court cases did, but it can be argued
that the advent of the muscle cars like the Pontiac GTO, Mustang and Camaro was a factor. The Corvair was expensive to build and was limited by engine size. No V-8 engine was available as in the Mustang and, hey, gasoline was cheap. Consumers wouldn’t care about gas consumption until the first gas crisis of the early 1970s. The Corvair, the Ford Falcon and other “economy cars” were mostly gone by 1969. Chevrolet had the Chevy II, the Camaro and the Chevelle, all available with big V-8s.
And there’s the irony. Corvair’s success as a sporty compact spawned the car that ultimately helped do it in: the Ford Mustang.
(Contact Kevin Weaks at kweaks@ labortribune.com)
Following are the
School
School
WENTZVILLE
CITY
WEBSTER
Alton Toyota
Alton, IL
618-208-2400
Auffenberg Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram Shiloh, IL 618-624-2277
Auffenberg Ford North
O’Fallon, IL 618-607-8287
Auffenberg Hyundai
O’Fallon, IL 618-622-9001
Auffenberg Kia
Shiloh, IL 618-624-2277
Auffenberg Mazda Shiloh, IL 618-624-2277
Auffenberg Nissan Shiloh, IL 618-624-2277
Auffenberg Volkswagen
Shiloh, IL 618-624-2277
Bob Brockland Buick, GMC, Inc.
Columbia, IL 877-466-9206
Cardinal Buick GMC
Belleville, IL 618-233-0303
Cassens & Son, Inc.
Glen Carbon, IL 618-656-6070
David Taylor Belleville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Belleville, IL 618-233-8140
Dream Nissan Midwest
Wood River, IL 314-475-1533
Federico Chrysler – Dodge
Wood River, IL 618-217-0312
Federico Kia
Wood River, IL 618-248-4243
Jack Schmitt Chevrolet of O’Fallon O’Fallon, IL 618-628-2500
Jack Schmitt Chev. of Wood River
Wood River, IL 618-259-4900
Jack Schmitt Ford, Inc.
Collinsville, IL 618-248-0782
Landmark Ford Springfield, IL 217-862-5200
Laura Buick/GMC
Collinsville, IL 618-344-0121
Lou Fusz Ford of Highland
Highland, IL 618-654-2122
Newbold BMW
O’Fallon, IL 618-628-7300
Newbold Toyota O’Fallon, IL 618-628-7000
Quality Buick GMC Cadillac, Inc.
Alton, IL 618-465-8881
Roberts Motor, Inc.
Alton, IL 855-999-5497
Steve Schmitt Litchfield, Inc.
Litchfield, IL 217-324-3932
Steve Schmitt Chevrolet, Buick/GMC Highland, IL 618-654-2181
Weber Granite City Chevrolet
Granite City, IL 618-494-6231
Weber Ford Granite City Granite City, IL 618-452-5400
Gietl Brothers Springfield, IL 217-528-7351
Snelson Collision Repair Center Granite City, IL 618-931-2886
Steve Harter Auto Body, Inc. Belleville, IL 618-416-8808
Wetzel Automotive
New Athens, IL 618-475-3505
BRICK & BLOCK CONTRACTORS
Germann Brick Millstadt, IL 618-476-7835
Mav Masonry, Inc. Marissa, IL 618-768-4519
Toenjes Brick Contracting Columbia, IL 618-281-9292
River City Construction, LLC East Peoria, IL 309-694-3120
Zoie, LLC East St. Louis, IL 618-857-8444
A-Age Electrical Company Belleville, IL 618-234-4336
Alert Electric, Inc. St. Jacob, IL 618-644-9333
All Purpose Erectors, Inc. Lebanon, IL 618-537-7777
Alternating RJ Electric Edwardsville, IL 618-696-9234
Barton Electric, Inc. Trenton, IL 618-654-6626
Bel-Clair Electric, Inc. Freeburg, IL 618-539-5200
Best Engineered Systems Techology Group Swansea, IL 618-616-0877
Bickle Electric Contracting Edwardsville, IL 618-259-4499
Camp Electric Alton, IL 618-462-9287
Electrico, Inc. Millstadt, IL 618-538-9500
Gilbert Electric Fults, IL 618-458-7235
Glaenzer Electric Co. Belleville, IL 618-277-2500
Guarantee Electric Co. Granite City, IL 618-452-6122
Jarvis Electric, Inc. Belleville, IL 618-806-0217
J.F. Electric, Inc. Edwardsville, IL 618-797-5353
Laughlin Electric, Inc. Walshville, IL 217-246-4113
Lowry Electric Company Collinsville, IL 618-313-2100
M.A.C. Electric Company
O'Fallon, IL 618-632-6672
MC Electric, Inc. Red Bud, IL 618-282-7788
MEI Electric, Inc. Columbia, IL 618-789-2381
North County Electric Red Bud, IL 618-282-2749
O'Fallon Electric Co.
O'Fallon, IL 618-632-3577
Pfeffer Electric New Baden, IL 618-588-4593
Pointer Electric Jerseyville, IL 618-498-2333
Prime Utility Service Alton, IL 618-550-4499
Pyramid Electrical Contractors Fairview Heights, IL 618-632-1180
RSachs Electric Co. Granite City, IL 618-655-0627
Sutterfield Electric, Inc. Edwardsville, IL 618-655-9406
Sutterfield Electric, Inc. Wood River, IL 618-251-2733
Trico Electric Contracting Jerseyville, IL 618-498-9313
Tucker Electric Contractor, Inc. Carlyle, IL 618-594-3676
Wegman Electric East Alton, IL 618-258-1130
Wissehr Electrical Contractors Belleville, IL 618-398-7575
Architectural Ceramics Edwardsville, IL 618-656-7693
Ford Terrazzo & Stone New Athens, IL 618-475-2987
Kim's Tile & Marble Alhambra, IL 314-971-8651
Metro Marble & Granite Pontoon Beach, IL 618-931-3494
Qualtiy Floor, Inc. New Athens, IL
618-407-2202
HEATING & COOLING
A & H Mechanical Contracting, Inc. Collinsville, IL 618-874-5588
Alliance Mechanical Murphysboro, IL 618-687-5862
Alton Sheet Metal Corporation Alton, IL 618-462-0609
American Air East Alton, IL
618-251-8585
Archview Metals Systems Columbia, IL 618-281-4258
Baer Heating & Cooling Trenton, IL.
618-224-7344
Bel-O Cooling & Heating O’Fallon, IL 618-632-5700
Bel-O Sales and Service Belleville, IL
618-234-3310
Booher Tin Shop, Inc. Salem, IL 618-548-1295
Bryan Lewis Heating & Cooling Madison, IL 618-501-1853
C & K Heating & Cooling Lebanon IL 618-537-9528
Clinton Seamless Guttering, Inc. Breese, IL
Culbertson Heating & Cooling Inc. Vandalia, IL
Custom Mechanical, LLC Troy, IL
618-526-7016
618-283-4679
618-644-9577
D.E. Martin Roofing Co. Inc. Lebanon, IL 618-537-6101
E.A. Clark Mechanical Waltonville, IL 618-244-7561
Elm Sheet Metal Granite City, IL.
F & F Mechanical Marion, IL
PSI Mechanical Contractors Marion IL 618-922-0974
Quality Sheet Metals LLC Carbondale, IL 618-549-7371 Rebel, Inc. (guttering) Belleville, IL 618-235-0582
Rend Lake Plb. & Htg. Co. Bonnie, IL 618-242-3606
Russel HVAC LLC Metropolis IL 618-524-9406
Solutions Heating & Air LLC Ullin, IL 618-697-7107
Supplied Industrial Solutions 618-452-8151
T.M. Weir Heating & Cooling Cahokia, IL 618-632-6382
W.S.M. Inc., S.I. E. St. Louis, IL 618-271-2410
Walters Metal Fabrication Inc. Granite City, IL 618-931-5551
Williams Heating & A/C Steelville, IL 618-965-2040
Dugan Tool & Die Company East Alton, IL 618-259-1351
Extreme Force Valve East Alton, IL 618-494-5795
Hy-Dac Rubber Manufacturing Smithton, IL 618-233-2129
618-931-0847
618-997-5288
Fowler Heating & Cooling, Inc. Marion, IL 618-997-5288
France Mechanical Corp. Edwardsville, IL
G Squared
West Carrier Mills, IL
618-656-3202
618-926-4614
General Sheet Metal LLC Freeburg IL 618-660-8783
GRP Mechanical Bethalto, IL
618-258-9000
Gurley & Son Heating & Air North Anna, IL 618-833-5211
Heartland Heating & Cooling Chester, IL 618-826-4328
Heartland Mechanical Murphysboro, IL 618-684-3606
Heritage Heating and Cooling O’Fallon IL 618-624-5015
Hock Architectural Sheet Metal Millstadt, IL 618-476-1985
Hock Mechanical Millstadt, IL 618-476-1985
Icon Mechanical Granite City, IL 618-452-0035
Jen Mechanical Alton, IL 618-433-1720
K & K Metal Works Bethalto, IL 618-452-1707
Kane Mechanical East Alton, IL. 618-254-0981
Kohnen A/C & Heating Inc. Germantown, IL 618-523-4557
Langhauser Sheet Metal Co. Highland, IL 618-654-8086
Laux HVAC & Sheet Metal Inc. New Baden, IL 618-248-1220
McFarland Heating & Cooling Granite City, IL 618-451-1512
Merz Heating & A/C Effingham, IL 217-342-2323
Mideastern Plbg. Htg. & AC Carlyle, IL 618-594-3299
Midwest Mechanical & Life Safety Services Waterloo, IL. 62298 618-401-3807
Neal’s Heating & Cooling, Inc. Marissa, IL 618-295-3402
Voss Pattern Works Belleville, IL 618-233-4242
A & H Mechanical Collinsville, IL 618-874-5588
Bel-O Sales & Service Belleville, IL 618-234-3310
Benchmark Plumbing O'Fallon, IL 618-410-1914
Bergmann-Roscow Plumbing Belleville, IL 618-233-1325
Commercial Landscape Service Fairrview Heights, IL 618-397-6913
Crafton Plumbing Collinsville, IL 618-346-8806
D & K Backhoe Co. Collinsville, IL 618-344-7779
DMI Plumbing Swansea, IL 618-233-7896
Dale Hendricks Plumbing Collinsville, IL 618-344-2198
Ehret Plumbing & Heating Belleville, IL 618-233-1018
Essenprels Plumbing Highland, IL 618-654-5588
Excel Plumbing, Inc. Caseyville, IL 618-667-0033
G.R.P. Mechanical Co. Bethalto, IL 618-258-9000
George Grove Plumbing & Heating Granite City, IL 618-877-1956
Gerstner Plumbing Breese, IL 618-526-7846
Haier Plumbing & Heating Okawville, IL 618-243-5908
Hammbone's Plumbing Belleville, IL 618-335-9948
Hirsch Plumbing, Inc. Fults, IL 618-977-7821
Houseman Supply, Inc. Highland, IL 648-654-2193
Hubert Plumbing & Heating Belleville, IL 618-233-7531
Kane Mechanical, Inc. Wood River, IL 618-254-0681
Koehne Plumbing & Heating Collinsville, IL 618-334-4125
Korte & Luitjohan Exe. Highland, IL 618-654-9877
L.W. Contractors
Collinsville, IL 618-344-6353
Litteken Plumbing, Inc. Trenton, IL 618-227-2249
Loellke Plumbing & Irrigation Jerseyville, IL 618-498-5185
Mars Plumbing Vandalia, IL 618-283-4658
Maxson Services Lebanon, IL 618-624-1173
Mideastern Plumbing Carlyle, IL
513 raises $4.9K
with union members and others. He is assassinated the following day.
APRIL 4
1930 – Construction begins on the three-mile Hawk’s Nest Tunnel through Gauley Mountain, W. Va., as part of a hydroelectric project.
1933 – President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs legislation establishing the Civilian Conservation Corps to help alleviate suffering during the Depression. By the time the program ended after the start of World War II it had provided jobs for more than six million men and boys.
1995 – Federal judge Sonia Sotomayor, later to become a Supreme Court justice, issues an injunction against baseball team owners to end a 232-day work stoppage.
APRIL 1
1929 – Strike of cotton mill workers begins in Gastonia, N.C. During the strike, police raided the strikers’ tent colony; the chief of police was killed.
1946 – Some 400,000 members of the United Mine Workers strike for higher wages and employer contributions to the union’s health and welfare fund. President Truman seizes the mines.
1972 – Major league baseball players begin what is to become a 13-day strike, ending when owners agree
to increase pension fund payments and to add salary arbitration to the collective bargaining agreement.
1980 – Eleven-day strike by 34,000 New York City transit workers begins, halts bus and subway service in all five boroughs before strikers return to work with a 17 percent raise over two years plus a cost-ofliving adjustment.
1992 – Players begin the first strike in the 75-year history of the National Hockey League. They win major improvements in the free agency system and other areas of conflict, and end the walkout after 10 days.
APRIL 2
1923 – The Supreme Court declares unconstitutional a 1918 Washington, D.C., law establishing a minimum wage for women.
1995 – Major league baseball players end a 232-day strike, which began the prior Aug. 12 and led to the cancellation of the 1994 postseason and the World Series.
APRIL 3
1913 – Some 20,000 textile mill strikers in Paterson, N.J., gather on the green in front of the house of Pietro Botto, the socialist mayor of nearby Haledon, to receive encouragement by novelist Upton Sinclair, journalist John Reed and speakers from the Wobblies. Today, the Botto House is home to the American Labor Museum.
1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. returns to Memphis to stand with striking AFSCME sanitation workers. This evening, he delivers his famous “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech in a church packed
1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, where he had been supporting a sanitation workers’ strike.
1989 – Some 1,700 United Mine Workers members in Virginia and West Virginia beat back concessions demanded by Pittston Coal Co.
2016 – The Democratic governors of New York and California sign legislation enacting phased-in $15-per-hour minimum wages for workers in their states. Since 2009, the federal minimum had been stagnating at $7.25.
APRIL 5
1956 – Columnist Victor Riesel, a crusader against mob infiltration of unions, was blinded in New York City when an assailant threw sulfuric acid in his face. He was also an FBI informer for decades, a proponent of the McCarthy era blacklisting that weakened unions for over a generation, and a crusader against unions connecting with anti-war student activism in the 1960s and 70s.
2001 – Some 14,000 teachers strike Hawaii schools, colleges.
2010 – A huge underground explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, W. Va., kills 29 miners. It was the worst U.S. mine disaster in 40 years.
APRIL 6
1712 – The first slave revolt in the U.S. occurs at a slave market in New York City’s Wall Street area. Twenty-one Blacks were executed for killing nine Whites.
2006 – What was to become a twomonth strike by minor league umpires begins, largely over money: $5,500 to $15,000 for a season running 142 games. The strike ended with a slight improvement in pay. (Compiled by David Prosten, founder Union Communication Services)
April 12 – 14th Annual IUPAT Midwest Sporting Clays Shoot, sponsored by the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, begins with registration from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the World Shooting Complex at 1 Main Event Lane in Sparta, Ill., followed by a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. Registration includes lunch and drinks, 12- or 20-gauge shotgun shells and clay targets. There will also be awards door prizes and premium drawings. To register, visit unionsportmen. org/shoots25
April 17 – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) Meetup for tradeswomen and women interested in joining the building trades, 4 to 6 p.m. at the AGC Training Center, 6301 Knox Industrial Ave. in St. Louis. RSVPs are required and food will be provided.
Register at mowit.org or call 636926-6948.
April 17 – St. Louis Faith Labor Alliance Breakfast , hosted by Missouri Jobs with Justice (MOJWJ), will be held at the Painters District Council 58 union hall at 2501 59th St. in St. Louis from 7:30 to 9 a.m. For more information, contact The Rev. Teresa Danieley, of MOJWJ, at teresa@mojwj.org or call her at 314-503-7415. To register, visit mojwj.org/action/join-a-st-louisfaith-labor-alliance-breakfast
MAY
May 3 – 2nd Annual Variety Night: Family Feud, sponsored by the IBEW Local 1 Women’s Committee, begins at 7 p.m. at the Local 1 union hall at 5850 Elizabeth Ave. Soda, beer and water will be provided. Bring your
own snacks. The evening will also include a silent auction, raffles and a 50/50 drawing. Tables of eight are $250. For more information, contact Kristine Bolton at 314-8035018 or at ibewlu1wcpresident@ gmail.com
May 3 – Operating Engineers Local 513 Children’s Charity Crappy Tournament will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sunset Beach Resort at 4430 Sunset Drive, Suite A in Osage Beach. Dinner will be provided by A Little Smoke. First prize is $2,000, second prize is $1,000 and third prize is $500. The cost is $75 per fisherman. To register, visit https://rb.gy/tr5dys
May 10 – Missouri Women in Trades Cornhole Tournament will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Golden Hoosier at 3707 S. Kingshighway Blvd. in
In addition to the print edition, which is mailed to subscribing unions and union members’ homes every Thursday, highlights from the previous week’s edition are available at labortribune.com. For breaking news, recommended articles and important connections, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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St. Louis. The cost is $40 per person or $75 per team. Lane sponsorships are $100 each. In case of rain, the event will held June 7. To register, visit etapestry.com/onlineforms/ MissouriWomenInTrades/cornhole.html
May 15 – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) Meetup for tradeswomen and women interested in joining the building trades, 4 to 6 p.m. at Forest Park at Pavilion #11 in St. Louis. RSVPs are required and barbecue and drinks will be provided. Register at mowit. org or call 636-926-6948.
May 22 – St. Louis Faith Labor Alliance Breakfast, hosted by Missouri Jobs with Justice (MOJWJ), will be held at the Painters District Council 58 union hall at 2501 59th St. in St. Louis from 7:30 to 9 a.m. For more information, contact The Rev. Teresa Danieley, of MOJWJ, at teresa@mojwj.org or call her at 314-503-7415. To register, visit mojwj.org/action/join-a-st-louisfaith-labor-alliance-breakfast
May 31 – Midwest Tradeswomen Summit, sponsored in part by Mis-
souri Women in Trades (MOWIT) and the Missouri Works Initiative, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel at 1111 E. Broadway in Columbia, Mo. The event will include community and advocacy networking, legislative and policy updates and recruiting sessions as well as seminars on overcoming workplace challenges and strategies on moving into leadership positions. To register, visit hwitkc.org/registration. For more information, call 816-945-4948.
June 19 – Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) Meetup for tradeswomen and women interested in joining the building trades, 4 to 6 p.m. at the AGC Training Center, 6301 Knox Industrial Ave. in St. Louis. RSVPs are required and food will be provided. Register at mowit.org or call 636926-6948.
GET LISTED
Send your calendar entries to Sheri Gassaway at Labor Tribune
301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, MO 63101 or email sheri@labortribune.com
Redmond From page 1
Labor Tribune: President Trump signed an executive order March 27 cancelling collective bargaining rights for federal workers’ unions, citing a littleused provision of federal Labor law relating to national security issues. Is that even legal?
Redmond: Well, we don’t think so. We’ll work that through the court. We’ve already filed a lawsuit in conjunction with AFGE. We view it as a full frontal attack on Organized Labor. The thing about it is, this is an assault on government workers, but where does it stop?
Reading the executive order, he made it very, very clear that the departments in the government are going to be reduced. He told all the department heads through the executive order they’re not required to abide by any commitments in the Labor agreements because it placed all the government employees as at-will employees. Their jobs, after they do their reduction of forces, are going to be solely left up to the discretion of the management.
This is a full frontal attack, as I’ve said, against Organized Labor. And the only reason, we strongly believe with a great deal of certainty, is
because of AFGE’s willingness and determination and commitment to their members to really fight back.
And the audacity. As I’m reading the full executive order, he’s made a statement that he’s willing to work with any union that’s willing to work with him, but he will not tolerate any union challenging his directions.
Labor Tribune: What does that mean for the future of unions under this administration? How can Organized Labor fight back?
Redmond: We’re in a very critical situation right now. It’s AFGE today. We’re looking at public sector employees at risk tomorrow. We’re looking at private sector employers following the President’s lead.
Our commitment as the AFLCIO, as the Labor Movement, is we’re not going to be looking back in 10 years like we did with the air traffic controllers saying we should have done something.
(President Ronald Reagan infamously fired striking air traffic controllers in 1981 after promising his support for their demands during the 1980 campaign, and banned them from being rehired, citing a federal law prohibiting strikes by federal
government employees.)
We’re going to use every resource that we have. We’re going to use the courts; we’re going to go to the streets, and we’re going to really reach out to community partners and allies. We’re going to challenge our friends on Capitol Hill. And we’re going to do everything possible as a Labor Movement to fight this.
Labor Tribune: Already tens of thousands of federal workers have been laid off. Many were reinstated under court order, only to be placed on administrative leave. What do you make of that?
Redmond: You talk about a waste of money! We’ve won a couple of court cases – AFGE has won a couple of court cases ordering him to put these employees back to work, but instead of putting them back to work they placed them on paid leave.
I think that the President is really banking on the Supreme Court. That’s where this stuff is heading. I think he’s banking on the Supreme Court to uphold his erratic behavior. But we still have confidence that the majority of the justices on the Supreme Court are going to really, really reaffirm the separation of the powers between the legislative,
judicial and executive branches of government. We think that some of the actions the President has made without the consent of Congress are totally against the separation of powers. We’ll see when we get to court.
The problem is, if we go to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court rules the way they should rule in a situation like this and he ignores it, now we’ve got another situation as a country, not just as a Labor Movement. We’ll have to cross that bridge when we get to it.
Labor Tribune: Going back to last November, quite a few union members voted for Donald Trump. How do we as a Labor Movement reach those members?
Redmond: I think a lot of union members felt the Democratic Party was not addressing a lot of the concerns of working families in this country. But the fact of the matter is that union members supported Kamala Harris by a margin of 57-41. So union members on the whole supported Harris, but not at the numbers that we would have expected considering everything that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris did for working families.
But I think there was a lot of disappointment in the Democratic
Party on specific issues. I think that this culture war has engulfed a lot of our members. A lot of our members are hung up on issues that the rightwing did a good job of perpetrating to be responsible for their situation in life, and being responsible for the fact that their children can’t get a good job, the price of goods going up, and immigrants are their enemies. A lot of our members unfortunately got hung up in these culture wars and they decided to vote for Trump. Now we’re seeing buyer’s remorse. A lot of our members that voted for Trump are scratching their heads thinking well we didn’t know he was going to make it an attack on collective bargaining, that he was going to devalue programs like OSHA, things that are important to working families. So there’s some buyer’s remorse out there.
I think as a Labor Movement we have to do a better job in the future in terms of really, really making sure that our members understand the issue. Look, we’re not adherents to any particular party. We want to support Democrats, Republicans and Independents that value workers in this country. And I think that we need to focus on issues about that. And I think we could have done a better job.
From page 1 al workers union, represents some 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers.
Fred Redmond, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, vowed the entire Labor Movement, all 63 affiliate unions and 15 million members that make up the AFL-CIO, would stand firm with AFGE against Trump’s illegal executive order.
“This president made a frontal attack against Organized Labor,” Redmond said. “I want to let AFGE to know, it wasn’t about you. It is about a president, an administration, that is trying to change the balance in America. It’s about billionaires trying to increase income insecurity. It’s about those at the top trying to suppress those of us in the middle and at the bottom.
“Government workers today, public sector workers tomorrow, private sector workers the next day, building trades, everybody is being assaulted by this attack that they took on AFGE.
“If we allow this to happen. If we don’t’ fight back at this moment in history, our children and our grandchildren are one day going to hold us accountable for what we did and how we responded in this moment.”
‘WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED’
Speaker after speaker called out Trump’s attacks on federal workers and Organized Labor and pledged to fight back.
“We will not be intimidated, we
will not be silenced and we will not back down,” Keena Smith, national political organizer for AFGE and past president of AFGE Local 2192 in St. Louis said. “We are here to fight for our rights and our livelihoods and dignity, fairness and respect for federal workers who keep this country moving.”
AFGE speakers urged other unions, many of which were in attendance, to join them in their fight.
“For 71 days since he was inaugurated they’ve been coming after us and we’re tired,” said Diana Hicks, national vice president for AFGE’s 9th District, representing Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
“We’re leading the way but we need others to step it up too,” “It’s us first, it will be the private sector next. It’s time for Labor to rise. We have to rise together.”
‘WE DESERVE TO BE HEARD’
Dennis Blockton, A TSA employee represented by AFGE Local 912 in St. Louis, spoke out on the Trump administration cancelling TSA officers’ collective bargaining agreement.
“That agreement gave us stabil-
ity, fairness and a voice on our workforce,” Blockton said. “Without it, many of us right now don’t even know what the future holds for us. This isn’t about pointing fingers; this is about lifting our voices and standing together to say this: We deserve to be heard; we deserve fair protection; we deserve to be part of this conversation.
“TSA officers have always answered the call. We have done the hard jobs during the hard times. We have stayed committed to this mission. Now we ask for the same thing in return. We ask for an open dialogue. We ask for fairness, and we ask to be working together on solutions and respect the people that are within the uniform. Let me make this very clear, we stand united. We believe in the mission. And we be-
lieve that our voice matters.”
‘WE ARE NOT GOING TO STOP’
Jake Hummel, president of the Missouri AFL-CIO urged rally goers to continue the fight, call their members of Congress and make themselves heard.
“Our brothers and sisters in the federal government are under attack and it is an unprecedented attack,”
Hummel said. “This is not something that ends today with this rally, you have got to come back to every one. You have got to make phone calls not just today, not just tomorrow. “Do they really think that if they ban federal unions that we’re going to go away?” he asked. “We are not going away. We are not going to stop. We are going to be there. And you can tell us that we’re not allowed to be there, but we are not going to stop.”
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scribes itself as “fighting back” against Trump. It is widely filing grievances to block Trump policies. For example, VA’s unions have filed 70 national and local grievances over President Trump’s policies since the inauguration—an average of over one a day.
• Protecting America’s national security is a core constitutional duty, and President Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests.
• PresidentTrump supports constructive partnerships with unions who work with him; he will not tolerate mass obstruction that jeopardizes his ability to manage agencies with vital national security missions.
The executive order affects the:
• Department of Defense.
• Department of State.
• Department of the Treasury, except the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
• Department of Justice , except certain components of the U.S. Marshals Service.
• Department of Homeland Security
subdivisions including departmental headquarters, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
‘DEFINITION
“This executive order is the very definition of union-busting,” AFLCIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement.
“It strips the fundamental right to unionize and collectively bargain from workers across the federal government at more than 30 agencies. The workers who make sure our food is safe to eat, care for our veterans, protect us from public health emergencies and much more will no longer have a voice on the job or the ability to organize with their coworkers for better conditions at work so they can efficiently provide the services the public relies upon. It’s clear that this order is punishment for unions who are leading the fight against the administration’s illegal actions in court — and a blatant attempt to silence us.”
Shuler vowed that the Labor
Movement will fight back
“The Labor Movement is not about to let Trump and an unelected billionaire (Elon Musk) destroy what we’ve fought for generations to build,” Shuler said. “We will fight this outrageous attack on our members with every fiber of our collective being.”
AFT President Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which represents thousands of affected employees in Department of Defense schools and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, said the order, ripped from the pages of Project 2025, is illegal and a blatant retaliation for federal workers standing up to Trump and Elon Musk’s chaos and harm on behalf of all Americans..
“The text of the order is plain: This has nothing to do with security and everything to do with silencing those who disagree with the government,” Weingarten said.
“The administration is trying to send a message that unless you please the president, unions will not be tolerated.”
National Nurses United, which represents some 15,000 registered nurses in the federal government, issued a statement which read in part:
“As union nurses, we know this is union busting. Our nurses have been on the front lines, calling out this administration’s attempts to dismantle and privatize our VA system. This latest attempt is a brazen effort to intimidate and silence us.
St. Louis-based United Media Guild (The NewsGuild-CWA Local 36047) is seeking an administrative officer. This person will work alongside the current administrative officer until his retirement in late 2025.
Our Local has 18 units. We represent journalists at numerous newspapers in Missouri and Illinois, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Kansas City Star, the Labor Tribune, as well as Truthout, a national digital news operation. Our Local represents the staff at numerous social justice groups, including Missouri Jobs with Justice, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, ACLU of Missouri and ACLU of Kansas. Our Local also represents SEIU staffers in our National Fast Food Workers Union unit. We are a financially strong Local with substantial reserves, approximately 250 dues-paying members, and the potential for additional growth. We are currently bargaining an initial contract for a unit with more than 80 members, and we are open to new organizing opportunities.
The administrative officer reports to our member-led executive committee. The local is seeking an accomplished leader who can collaborate with our current administrative officer as we transition to the future. Job duties include organizing new units, securing first contracts, bargaining successor agreements, servicing membership, aiding existing units with mobilization and capacity building, building public campaigns where necessary, and strengthening our alliances within The NewsGuild, CWA and regional labor communities.
Send an e-mail to UMG president Jeff Gordon at jgordon@unitedmediaguild.org with the following attachments: a resume, a letter of interest in the position and a list of references.
Women and people of color are encouraged to apply
“As union nurses, we understand that collective bargaining rights are fundamental to carrying out our critical role as patient advocates. It is because of VA nurses’ ability to speak up about patient safety concerns through our union that our nation’s veterans receive the highest level of care. We know that unionized hospitals have better outcomes than non-unionized hospitals, as nurses and other staff are able to speak up about their concerns and hold management accountable. Veterans deserve nurses who are free to advocate for their care without fear of retaliation, discipline, or losing their jobs.”
Matt Biggs, president of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE) issued a statement noting the EO would eliminate the collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal workers, including thousands of IFPTE members, many of whom are veterans.
“There is little doubt that this insulting and rogue action is in response to successful efforts by IFPTE and other federal unions to block illegal executive orders and other misguided directives this administration has employed to dismantle or degrade federal services,” the statement read.
“President Trump has proven that workers in the federal sector who have been constantly harassed since his taking office on Jan. 20 need union representation more than ever. In the Labor Movement we often say that ‘the boss is the best organizer.’ Donald Trump is a damn good union organizer. Our union and others will continue to represent workers through legal efforts, communication, political action and other means. Federal workers who have not yet joined our ranks should do so now.”
Kirkwood
St. Louis, MO 314-822-9300
Suntrup Ford Westport St. Louis, MO 314-697-1796
Suntrup Nissan/VW St. Louis, MO 314-742-3740 AUTO BODY SHOPS
Dave Sinclair Buick, GMC Affton, MO 314-200-2563
Dave Sinclair Ford St. Louis, MO 314-892-2600
Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters St. Peters, MO 636-441-4400
Lou Fusz Toyota St. Louis, MO 314-310-6899
Marty Cancila Collision Repair Florissant, MO 314-831-3300
Suntrup Ford Kirkwood St. Louis, MO 314-822-9300 BRICK & BLOCK
Burt Masonry, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-822-8880
Caswell Brickwork, Inc. Defiance, MO 636-398-5625
Jack Clark Brick Contractor
Maryland Heights, MO 314-878-9023
Cornerstone Masonry St. Peters, MO 314-265-5447
Dempsey Masonry Wildwood, MO 314-713-9543
Eddings Masonry, Inc.
Bonne Terre, MO 573-358-2677
Kenny Foeste Masonry, Inc.
Cape Girardeau, MO 573-334-0172
Frisch Masonry,Inc. Kirkwood, MO 314-965-1424
Gillick Brickwork, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-544-2222
Grant Bricklaying Co., Inc. Fenton, MO 636-343-0170
C.J. Hamilton, LLC Festus, MO 314-420-4519
Hellman Masonry, Inc. Ballwin, MO 314-393-1679
Henry Masonry, Inc.
Wentzville, MO 314-581-5449
Lampkin Masonry, Inc.
Hermann, MO 573-236-4655
E. C. Landers Brickwork Chesterfield, MO 314-432-8832
Martin C. Heck Brick Contracting Co. Fenton, MO 636-343-4636
Leftridge Masonry, LLC
DeSoto, MO 636-337-8797
Modern Masonry & Construction, Inc.
Imperial, MO 636-464-6065
Patriot Masonry
St. Louis, MO 314-799-6761
Rosch Company, LLC
Chesterfield, MO 636-978-7770
Savage Masonry Mailboxes
St. Louis, MO 314-800-6068
Trinity Masonry & Tuckpointing LLC
Town & Country, MO 314-574-0087
True Masonry, LLC
Robertsville, MO 314-398-1528
Vehige Bricklaying, Inc.
Wentzville, MO 636-373-0956
Wright Masonry
Marthasville, MO 636-578-0279
Zufall & Sons, Inc.
St. Clair MO 636-629-5108
Ahal Hardscapes/Musselman Hall Fenton, MO 314-400-2246
Allied Waterproofing Co.
St. Louis, MO 314-776-6686
J.S. Aubuchon Concrete Old Monroe, MO 636-661-5655
B & P Construction Company, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-524-6111
Banze Flatwork
St. Peters, MO 636-928-8111
Byrne-Jones Concrete, LLC
Bridgeton, MO 314-567-7997
Buchheit Concrete, Inc.
Weldon Spring, MO 636-300-9911
Kevin Buchheit Construction St. Louis, MO 314-849-9997
Builders Bloc Chesterfield, MO 636-449-5965
Clayco St. Louis, MO 314-429-5100
Cowling-Garbo Concrete
St. Charles, MO 314-346-0109
Crafton Contracting Company
O'Fallon, MO 636-240-9054
Eisenbath Concrete, Inc. Moscow Mills, MO 636-356-4245
Elastizell of St. Louis Valley Park, MO 636-225-4311
Elite Flatwork & Construction, LLC New Melle, MO 636-262-4188
Fenix Construction St. Louis, MO 314-892-4700
Fronabarger Concreters Oak Ridge, MO 573-266-3212
G & P Concrete, LLC Troy, MO 636-299-2232
Gershenson Construction Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO 636-938-9595
Hawkins Construction & Flatwork Contracting O'Fallon, MO 636-409-1115
Hemmer Concrete Inc.
St. Charles, MO 636-441-0344
HS Concrete Maryland Heights, MO 618-719-8608
JB Concrete Winfield, Mo 636-262-9592
KJ Unnerstall Construction Washington, MO 636-239-2028
Karrenbrock Construction, Inc. Wentzville, MO 636-828-5420
Kelpe Contracting, Inc. Wildwood, MO 636-458-1400
Lamke Trenching & Excavating, Inc. Marthasville, MO 636-932-4649
Lauritzen & Sons Concrete O'Fallon, MO 314-486-1764
M & H Concrete Contractors, Inc.
St. Peters, MO 636-379-9682
Mar-II Concrete Company Wentzville, MO 636-332-1099
J.M. Marschuetz Construction Eureka, MO 636-938-3600
Masonry Concepts, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-428-0567
Matthews Concrete Concepts Warrenton, MO 636-297-0678
Geroge McDonnell and Sons Caulking
St. Ann, MO 314-739-0468
Millstone Weber, Inc.
St. Charles, MO 636-949-0038
Alfred F. Mullen Concrete
St. Louis, MO 314-966-0177
N.B. West Contracting Company
St. Louis, MO 314-962-3145
Oreo & Botta Concrete
St. Louis, MO 314-427-3800
Pavement Solutions, Inc.
St. Peters, MO 636-970-2727
Reed Concrete
Troy, MO 636-299-2025
John Rufkahr, Jr. Concrete Company
St. Charles, MO 636-332-3338
Salazar Bros Cement Arnold, MO 636-287-9933
SBC Contracting, Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-832-1422
Sharf Construction Company
St. Louis, MO 314-869-0060
Shockley Contracting, Inc.
Maryland Heights, MO 314-743-4811
Spec Contract Group
O'Fallon, MO 314-265-5257
Spencer Contracting Company Arnold, MO 314-843-5166
Superior Waterproofing & Restoration St. Louis, MO 314-531-6100
Sweeten Concrete Service
Wentzville, MO 636-887-2332
TS Banze Construction Foristell, MO 636-673-1307
Trinity Flatwork
Chesterfield, MO 636-530-9992
Vee-Jay Cement Contracting
Affton, MO 314-351-3366
Waddell Concrete Eureka, MO 636-938-5347
R.V. Wagner, Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-892-1600
Western Waterproofing St. Louis, MO 314-773-8813
Authorized Electric AEC, LLC
Barnhart, MO 636-464-0082
Byrne Electric Co., Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-544-4071
CSE Contracting & Services Ellisville, MO 636-2202777
D & R Building Group, LLC
St. Louis, MO 314-450-7017
Fields Electrical Supply, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 816-387-1364
Hanenkamp Electric Co.
St. Ann, MO 314-423-2666
Iconic Electric, LLC
Hillsboro, MO 314-494-0066
J. Bathe Electric Company
St. Charles, MO 636-498-0613
Kay Bee Electric
Florissant, MO 314-837-3308
Northwest Electric Co., Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-842-7400
RJP Electric
St. Louis, MO 314-781-2400
Schaeffer Electric
St. Louis, MO 314-892-7800
Schneider Electric of St. Louis, LLC
St. Louis, MO 314-644-4700
TSI-Global Companies
St. Charles, MO 636-425-1321
Wischmeyer Electric, Inc.
Wentzville, MO 636-865-8244
X-Cell Electric, LLC
Dardenne Prairie, MO 314-368-1714
EMBROIDERY/APPAREL
M3 Embroidery & Apparel
Bridgeton, MO 314-837-0022
FLOORING RESIDENTIAL
Craftsmen Interiors
Maryland Heights, MO 314-994-0414
Desco Coatings
St. Louis, MO 314-918-9888
Dougherty Tile & Marble, Co.
St. Louis, MO 314-729-9133
Missouri Terrazzo
St. Louis, MO 314-361-8090
R & F Tile & Marble, Co.
St. Charles, MO 636-441-2682
Stone Installation & Maintenance
Fenton, MO 314-570-0699
Stutte Tile St. Louis, MO 314-757-6088
Trademark Stone
St. Louis, MO 314-435-4675
Westport Tile & Granite, LLC
St. Louis, MO 314-942-8590
FORKLIFT SERVICES
Forklifts of St. Louis
St. Louis, MO 314-426-4040
Wiese USA
St. Louis, MO 314-207-3758
Browning Arms Company
Arnold, MO 636-287-6800
HEATING AND COOLING
Absolute Comfort Systems
O'Fallon, MO 636-978-5600
Alferman Air, LLC
Washington, MO 636-239-9595
Associated Sheet Metal, Inc. Jackson, MO 573-243-8455
C & S Heating & Cooling Wentzville, MO 636-928-7983
Climate Masters, Inc. St. Louis,MO 314-968-8383
Coleman Heating & Sheet Metal, Inc. Bridgeton, MO 314-291-8884
Controlled Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Arnold, MO 636-296-2627
Cozy Heating & Cooling
Fair Grove, MO 417-759-9011
Crestside Ballwin Heating & Air Conditioning Affton, MO 314-351-8300
Crystal Heating & Cooling
Crystal City, MO 636-296-9292
Degenhardt Heating & Cooling Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-631-1554
Design Aire Heating & Cooling
Maryland Heights, MO 314-739-1600
Fresh Air-Weinrich Heating & Cooling, Inc. Chesterfield, MO 636-530-0070
Galmiche & Sons Heating & Cooling St. Louis, MO 314-993-1110
Haarmann Heating & Air Conditioning Wentzville, MO 636-828-4199
Kindle Heating and Cooling Fenton, MO 636-717-0808
Lakebrink Heating & Air Conditioning Union, MO......... 636-583-3365
Langford Mechanical & Sheet Metal, Inc. Jackson, MO 573-243-3238
Lehmen Heating & Cooling LLC Jefferson City, MO 573-257-0516
Mantle Heating & Cooling, LLC Washington, MO 636-667-1630
Merkel Mechanical
St. Charles, MO 636-978-7599
Mertens Service St. Louis, MO 314-845-1500
Mid-State Mechanical, LLC O'Fallon, MO 636-696-6333
Nooter Construction Co St. Louis, MO 314-421-7600
Ozark Mechanical-Heating & Cooliing St. Peters, MO 636-317-1234
Pioneer Mechanical Festus, MO 636-208-7057
Premier Heating & Cooling, Inc. St. Charles, MO 636-916-1120
R. F. Meeh Company Fenton, MO 636-349-4990
Rathgeber Heating Company, Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-846-4801
RMB Mechanical
St. Charles, MO 314-410-7910
Rogers Comfort Systems
O'Fallon, MO 636-978-3314
Scott-Lee Heating Company, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-756-9444
Sheet Metal Contractors, Inc.
DeSoto, MO 636-337-2150
Show-Me Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. Hartsburg, MO 573-289-8885
Survant Heating & Air Conditioning Wright City, MO 636-745-7353
T.M. Weir Heating & Cooling
St. Louis, MO 314-351-2424
Teel Mechanical Service, Inc. Fulton, MO 573-642-9648
The Waldinger Corp.-Springfield/Connelly Springfield, MO 417-866-2262
Veterans Holdings LLC Moscow Mills, MO 314-960-0043
Vogel Sheet Metal & Heating, Inc. Fenton, MO 314-351-2533
Welsch Heating & Cooling Co.
St. Louis, MO 314-872-8070
Zipf-Air, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 314-821-1200
Fulton Iron & Manufacturing
St. Louis, MO 314-752-2400
South Side Machine Works
St. Louis, MO 314-481-7171
3-D Plumbing, LLC Manchester, MO 636-386-8755
AJ Plumbing, LLC St. Peters, MO 636-441-3019
AJ Sherman Plumbing Co., LLC Warrenton, MO 636-358-7821
Accelerated Backflow & Services Cuba, MO 573-885-9099
Albert Arno St. Louis, MO 314-383-2700
BO Gramham Plumbing Co. Imperial, MO 636-942-2828
Becher's Sewer & Drain Arnold, MO 314-307-4100
Bieg Plumbing Company St. Louis, MO 314-487-4564
Bob Raeker Plumbing Co, Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-429-0896
Boland Plumbing Co. Troy, MO 636-528-5422
C & R Mechanical Bridgeton, MO 314-739-1800
Catanzaro Plumbing Co. St. Louis, MO 314-667-5652
Corrigan Company St. Louis, MO 314-771-6200
Deluca Plumbing St. Louis, MO 314-427-5551
Drainco, Inc. Des Peres, MO 314-544-8266
E & M Plumbing Company Eureka, MO 636-938-1311
Eisele Plumbing Co. St. Louis, MO 314-843-6300
Elite Plumbing Services, LLC O'Fallon, MO 636-300-4034
Environmental Plumbing Valley Park, MO 314-270-4050
Frey Plumbing Company
St. Louis, MO 314-842-4700
Gartland Irrigation Company, Inc. Webster Groves, MO 636-941-4001
Gateway Sewer and Drain, Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-849-7300
Heggemann, Inc. Warrenton, MO 636-456-8524
Integrated Facility Services Fenton, MO 314-680-2100
JJ Kokesh & Son Plumbing and Supplies Ballwin, MO 636-391-1233
J-Mar Plumbing, Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-293-1255
Jarrell Mechanical Contractors Earth City, MO 314-291-0100
Joseph H. Beetz Plumbing Co., Inc. St. Louis, MO 314-942-3500
Lemay Plumbing
St. Louis, MO 314-544-1066
Linek Plumbing Company
St. Louis, MO 314-962-0956
Mayo Plumbing Co., Inc
High Ridge, MO 314-293-1776
Merlo Plumbing Co., Inc
St. Louis, MO 314-843-1000
Mid America Drain Service Company Valley Park, MO 636-225-1428
Murphy Company
St. Louis, MO 314-997-6600
OJ Laughlin Plumbing Company Valley Park, MO 636-225-0992
Omega Plumbing Co. Earth City, MO 314-291-2003
Pirtek of Fenton Fenton, MO 636-600-1981
RJ Wachter Plumbing Co., Inc
St. Louis, MO 314-729-7777
R.A. Guinner Plumbing Company
St. Louis, MO 314-752-9850
Skouby Brothers Plumbing Washington, MO 636-390-2500
Torrisi Plumbing Services, Inc.
St. Louis, MO 636-390-2500 Trio Plumbing Company, Inc. Chesterfield, MO 636-537-4938 WM G Cocos Plumbing Company
By MARK GRUENBERG PAI Staff Writer
Washington (PAI) — The threat of privatization of the Postal Service — a longtime right-wing goal — and the retirement of controversial Postmaster General Louis DeJoy dominated a March 25 panel discussion by three postal union presidents of the USPS and its future.
The panel, with Letter Carriers (NALC) President Brian Renfroe, Postal Workers (APWU) President Mark Dimondstein and Rural Letter Carriers President Don Maston, not only discussed DeJoy’s departure — and who might succeed him — but who would follow DeJoy’s controversial postal “modernization” plan.
That in turn ties into the rightwing drive to privatize the Postal Service, sell its profitable routes and excess buildings and land to Wall Street, and saddle the remainder with the Commerce Department. The 1970 law making the USPS independent would be repealed.
Dimondstein says the Trump privatization threat covers not just the Postal Service and Amtrak, both independent public corporations and both heavily unionized, but the entire government.
“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again, this attack on the USPS is part of the ongoing coup
by oligarchs against the vital public services APWU members and other public servants provide to the country,” Dimondstein said in a prepared statement about DeJoy, part of which he repeated at the panel discussion. “Privatized postal services will lead to higher postage prices, and a lower quality of service to the public.”
Privatization would wipe out USPS’s independence, threaten universal service, especially to rural areas, sharply drive up package and first-class postage rates and throw the nation’s 640,000 USPS employees into massive uncertainty.
Though the panelists did not say so, privatization could close off a route to well-paying middle-class jobs for workers of color, women or both. Trump and the right also want to split up, spin off and privatize another public corporation, Amtrak. Both workforces are heavily minority and unionized.
Trump pushed privatizing the USPS during his 2017-21 presidency. When Trump forced DeJoy in as head of the USPS in spring 2020, Trump’s Treasury Secretary, banker Steve Mnuchin, reportedly made privatization a key goal. So did right-wing Heritage Foundation staffers in the White House. That sent postal union members into the streets years ago, and they’ve hit the streets again. APWU has taken the lead in both campaigns, under the theme it created to fend off a prior threat: “The U.S. Mail is not for sale!”
NALC, the Rural Letter Carriers and the Mail Handlers/Laborers have all joined in, with the Letter Carriers also running their own set of anti-privatization demonstrations in late March.
APWU’s Dimondstein was the most-outspoken, both at the D.C. panel session and in a statement that morning about the privatization threat, which he laid at Trump’s feet — and which Dimondstein says threatens the entire federal government, not just the independent USPS.
“We have a White House administration openly talking about privatizing the Postal Service, selling it off and breaking it up,” Dimondstein declared at the panel session.
In a statement he repeated at the discussion, Dimondstein pledged APWU would “continue to lead the fight to ensure that the USPS stays in the hands of its rightful owners, the people.”
“Privatization is motivated by profits” to Wall Street, Renfroe stated. “They want the profitable pieces. This is not a political issue. They (voters) did not vote to destroy the Postal Service” when a plurality returned Trump to the Oval Office.
“The threat is very real and the American people need to make sure we stay vigilant” against it, said Maston.
Craig Eugene Whittington, 56, passed away March 20, 2025 at SIH Memorial Hospital in Carbondale, Ill. Brother Whittington was a member of Iron Workers Local 392 and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
He was born to Thomas E. Whittington and Hazel (nee Womack) Essex on May 5, 1968 in Carbondale. He married Vicki Baseden on Nov. 18, 1994; she survives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Hazel Essex of Chester, Ill.; two children: Ryan (Amanda) Whittington, of Clarksville, Tenn. and Katie (John) Todd, of Pomona, Ill.; two siblings, Janetta Essex and
Katherine Dillow, both of Chester; four grandchildren, Avery and Rylee Whittington and Kya and Ivy Todd; an aunt, Dorothy Mitchell, of Jonesboro, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, step father, Homer Essex and a brother, Allen Godwin.
It was Craig’s wish to be cremated. A graveside service was held March 29, 2025 at New Palestine Cemetery in Walsh with Dr. Mike Fogerson officiating. Memorials may be made to a cancer foundation of the donor’s choice and are being accepted at Pechacek Funeral Home in Chester.
James A. Skibinski Sr., of Centralia, Ill., passed away peacefully on March 7, 2025 at the age of 84.
Born on July 20, 1940, in Richview, Ill, James lived a life of dedication, hard work and love for his family and community.
Bother Skibinski served his country honorably as a member of the United States Navy from 1958 to 1961, a commitment that instilled in him both discipline and a profound sense of duty. After his military service, he dedicated his career to being a laborer and was an esteemed member of Iron Workers Local 392 in East St. Louis. He retired in 1995, marking the end of a long and successful career. He will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to family, his dedication to work and his service to the nation. He leaves a lasting impact on all who knew him and will be deeply missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James C. and Maude Skibinski; his beloved wife, Carolyn Skibinski; two children, Brad
Skibinski and Kelly Skibinski; a brother, Phillip Skibinski; and sisters, Marjorie Garcia, Mary Street and Frieda Manion.
Brother Skibinski leaves behind a loving family, including his sons, Billy Skibinski, of Walnut Hill, James Skibinski Jr. and wife Tina, of Sesser; Jeff Skibinski and wife Tender, of Centralia, and his daughter, Angie Alexander, of Nashville. Jim was a proud grandfather, blessed with numerous grandchildren who will carry forward his legacy of kindness and integrity.
A graveside service was held March 14 at the Richview Cemetery, in Richview, Ill., where he was laid to rest with Military Honors accorded by the Centralia American Legion Post 446 and the Centralia VFW Post 2055.
The family kindly requests that donations be made in memory of Jim to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street, Centralia, Ill. 62801.
Jay “Jaybird” Bonstell, a 25-year member of Laborers Local 110, passed away on Feb. 26, 2025 at the age of 62.
Brother Bonstell was married to his loving wife, Christy, for 40 wonderful years, and together they created a beautiful family, welcoming two daughters, Anita and Amy. Jay enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, from dancing to taking naps, to drinking beers in his favorite chair. He cherished every moment spent with his close-knit family, particularly his grandchildren, who brought him immense joy. His two loyal companions, Ella and Bella, were never far from his side, providing him with love and comfort. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was the beloved husband of Christy Bonstell (nee: Owenby), of Warrenton, Mo. He is also survived by his step-father, James Sander; two daughters, Anita (Viktor) Kuntorovskiy and Amy Cope; grandchildren, Isaac, Ari, Blaire and Trent; four sisters, Karen (Jim) Marschel, Lisa Hubner, Angel Dixon and Jamie (Darryl) Meyer; brother, Jim Sander; many nephews, nieces and close friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Bonstell, mother, Louise Sander (nee: Gellhausen), and two brothers, Chuck Bonstell and Robert Bonstell. Memorial donations may be made to Steinhagen Cemetery Association in care of Pitman Funeral Home, 1545 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, Mo. 63385.
Johnny Van Nunnery, a 54-year member of Laborers Local 110, died Feb. 22 in High Ridge, Mo., at age 83.
Brother Nunnery, the son of the late Noah Melvin Nunnery and Willie Mae Hollis Nunnery, was born June 20, 1941, in Hornersville, Mo. He was a United States Army veteran serving in Vietnam.
He is survived by a son, Johnny Nunnery, of High Ridge; a daughter, Misty Leigh, of Fenton; three sisters, JoAnn Beard, Peggy Haygood and Linda Cash, all of Hornersville, Mo; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Noah and Willie Nunnery; two sisters, Odie Mae Fritzy and Louise (Pete) Biby; two
brothers, Junior Nunnery and Billy Nunnery; two sons, John Jack (Jackie) Polinsky and Danny Nunnery; a daughter, Joanna Mae Evans; and two granddaughters, Kayla Shelton and Chelsea Wideman.
A funeral service was held March 1 at the Trinity Community Church in Cardwell, Mo. with Pastor Nathan Gorman officiating, followed by burial in the Horner Cemetery in Hornersville, Mo.
Saturday, April 12, 2025 Registration- 9:15 A.M. • Egg Hunt- 10:00 A.M. Door Prizes: 10:30 A.M.
Where: Machinists Lodge, 2929
Begins at 6:30 a.m. by flights
WEIGH-IN: Begins at 1:30 p.m. by flights
REGISTRATION: Friday, May 2, 2024– 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ENTRY FEE:
of boats. 10 percent of the participants will receive prize money.
ELIGIBILITY: No guides or professional fishermen will be allowed entry. Official rules will be handed out at registration.
Chapter 9 Guide Dogs of America Golf Tournament 4 Person Scramble Saturday, June 7, 2025 LOCATION
The Golf Club of Florissant 50 Country Club Lane • Florissant, Mo. 314-741-7444
REGISTRATION: 7 a.m. • SHOTGUN START: 8 a.m.
Please visit www.guidedogsofamerica.org to find out more about this amazing organization. Donations are tax deductible. (EIN #95-1586088) * TEAM WITH HOLE SPONSOR - $750 FOR
G.D.A., Chapter Nine 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044 Telephone: 314-739-6200
By DAVID A. COOK President
As I’m writing this, myself and the staff of Local 655 are working hard to finish preparations for our 2025 Shop Steward Seminar. This year, our seminar is titled “The Union Fabric: Sewn Together in Solidarity.’
What does that mean? Well, broadly speaking it means that we are linked, all of us in the worker’s movement. We are stitched together by common goals and common needs. We can only accomplish great things together, as one.
Have you ever tried to rip a towel or a sheet with your bare hands? Even thin bedsheets are surprisingly hard to simply rip into shreds without something sharp. But if you take scissors and make even the smallest cut in the fabric, it will easily pull apart.
It’s the stitching that keeps it all together, and the smallest cut in the fabric can put the entire thing at risk of being torn apart.
Unions are one of the most powerful forces for improving and expanding the Middle Class that have ever existed. We’ve only ever done that together, and we have a responsibility to sew together the best possible fabric to protect one another.
The mere existence of unions is not enough. Individual threads can’t do much against tearing hands, but together they can prove more than strong enough to handle any abuse that might come its way.
This solidarity has accountability on both sides. The union is you, the people work -
ing hard every single day and paying dues toward a common cause, but we need your strength to do our best possible work. We can fight hard for good contracts, but it’s the participation from you at opening meetings or, if necessary, your willingness to walk a picket line that gives us the leverage we need. We can fight to represent our partners in the stores, but only if they understand their responsibility to keep us informed, or bring us into the fold, and to give us the information we need to fight back.
We go to bat for the unorganized workers and try to grow this union family, but only if those workers are willing to take action themselves by speaking up with a clear voice and having the courage to fight for a union election and a first contract.
Our ability to help all working people depends in part on those working people helping us. Your union leadership must always remain accountable to you. Your union staff must do everything they can to provide you the best possible service, and your union shop stewards must be able to be the strong right hand of this organization, helping to bridge that gap and keep those strong connections between union workers and union staff.
Union partners have responsibilities too. Workers must contact their union when there are problems, talk to their coworkers about union events and activities — especially contract votes and job actions — and be unafraid to talk about their good union benefits to non-union workers. Union partners must always bring their concerns and questions to union leaders. After all, leaders cannot respond to the needs of the people they lead if those people won’t speak up.
Our union is as strong as we make it. All of us, together, in one voice, fighting for one cause: to make the lives of working people better. Higher wages and good benefits will help everyone, and time off with our loved ones allows us to remember what we are working for: comfort and time with the
most important people in our lives. These are common goals all workers share, and common dreams as old as work itself. Each of us is a thread in this vast fabric of working people, and each of us can be easily torn if we aren’t together, sewn together in solidarity, to form the union fabric.