Union leaders respond to friend of Labor Sen. Dick Durbin’s retirement announcement
By ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent
Union leaders honored U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin last week on the announcement of his retirement, though it signals a fight for the seat in 2026.
from 1883 to 1913, according to STLPR.
“I truly love the job of being a United States senator,” Durbin said in a recorded announcement on his YouTube channel last week. “But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch.”
succeed the late Sen. Paul Simon in 1996, rising to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee and now serves as minority whip, making Durbin the second highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate.
FRIEND OF LABOR
Mayor Cara Spencer names two key Labor leaders to her transition team Page 4
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive set for May 10 Page 3 Labor History Page 10
Durbin, 80, has announced he will not pursue a sixth term as the elder senator for Illinois. Durbin is the longest serving popularly elected senator in Illinois history, and assuming he finishes his current term, he will also surpass the record from the appointed Sen. Shelby Morris Cullom who served
Durbin’s announcement heralds the end of a 44-year career in government, beginning with his first election to the U.S. House in 1982. Born in East St. Louis, Durbin has lived in Springfield, Ill. for the last 50 years, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. He was elected to
Durbin had long been considered a friend of Labor, even in a Laborpositive state like Illinois. Tim Drea, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, said Durbin has been an advocate, friend and ally to working families.
“His career is defined by stand-
See DURBIN page 15
St. Louis unions celebrate Workers’ Memorial Day with 45th annual Union Labor Mass
By TIM ROWDEN Editor-in-Chief
St. Louis – A union member who died on the job last year was remembered at the 45th Annual Robert O. Kortkamp Union Labor Mass and Interfaith Prayer Service on April 27 at the Shrine of St. Joseph, the patron saint of the worker in downtown St. Louis.
The annual mass and prayer service is held in observance of Workers Memorial Day, which honors and remembers workers killed on the job or from work-related injury and illness.
Kevin Feldmann, a 40-year member of Sheet Metal Workers
Local 36, died two days after falling from a ladder at a McCarthy construction site on the Barnes-Jewish Hospital campus in the Central West End.
FELDMANN
The incident happened Oct. 25. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said Feldmann was working from a ladder when he fell 12 feet onto a concrete floor. He died two days later. Brother Feldmann was a proud member of Local 36 for over 40 years as an architectural journeyman
ST.LOUISUNIONMEMBERSremembered workers killed on the job or from workrelated injuries or illness at the 45th Annual Robert O. Kortkamp Union Labor Mass Sunday, April 27, at the Shrine of St. Joseph in downtown St. Louis. The Rev. Tommie Pierson, pastor of Greater St. Mark Family Church, led an interfaith prayer service for workers before the mass. – Labor Tribune photo
proud to say he was a union man and loved his union brothers.” Brother Feldmann is survived by his wife Lisa; daughters Cassie and Crystal; son Tommy; his seven grandchildren, Andrew, Lyndon, Gino, LuElla, Enzo, Lawson and
and foreman. “He was so proud to be a part of the Arch Redevelopment Project, Missouri Botanical Gardens new visitor center, Barnes Hospital, South East Missouri State College Dome reconstruction, and many others,” the family wrote in his obituary. “He was always so See LABOR MASS page 13
Painters District Council 58 lends helping hand to Wesley House Association
By SHERI GASSAWAY Missouri Correspondent
SMART demands return of illegally deported member Kilmar Abrego Garcia Page 12 IBEW Local 1 pickets new Southern Bus and Mobility facility in Valley Park Page 11
St. Louis – Dozens of volunteers turned out for the Painters District Council 58 Day of Action last week at the Wesley House Association in the city’s Penrose neighborhood.
The April 25 event coincided with the IUPAT National Day of Action in which the union’s members give back to the communities in which they live and work. The Wesley House is a social service organization serving youth, adults and seniors in a neighborhood primarily populated by low-income, at-risk residents.
District Council 58 Business
PAINTERS
linkedin.com/company/st-louissouthern-illinois-labor-tribune News: (314) 535-9660
– Labor Tribune photo
Representative Otto Schoenberg said the goal of the event included adding 10 inches of mulch to the playground and repairing some playground equipment. Organizers had also planned to paint the exterior of the building and stripe the parking lot, but it rained the day of the event.
‘MAKE THINGS BETTER’
“One of our signatory contractors will come back out and stripe the parking lot,” Shoenberg said. “From I understand, Wesley House runs a food pantry, and they have to put cones out, and it’s a little bit chaotic. The striping will help out
See PAINTERS DC 58 page 14
U.S. SENATOR DICK DURBIN (D-Ill.), the longest-serving popularly elected U.S.senator in Illinois history, announced his retirement last week, saying he will not seek re-election for a sixth term. – Manuel Martinez/WBEZ photo
DISTRICT COUNCIL 58 members and contractors teamed up as part of an IUPAT National Day of Action in the community by lending a helping hand to the Wesley House Association, a social service organization serving youth, adults and seniors in a neighborhood primarily populated by low-income, at-risk residents.
To Republicans in Congress: This is the reality of Medicaid
By SHUNDA WHITFIELD
The proposed cuts to Medicaid being considered in Congress are unacceptable. As a health care worker at a St. Louis nursing home and a proud union member, the choice to abandon folks in need of lifesaving care goes against everything I am trained to protect.
Medicaid is a lifesaving tool that folks can wield in times of trouble. Real folks and real lives, including my nephews with disabilities, my postpartum daughter, and my senior residents.
On behalf of my family and my residents, I ask our Republican congressional representatives: If Republican Sen. Josh Hawley can understand the value of Medicaid, why can’t you?
THERE TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED
Seventeen years ago, my sister gave birth to twin boys with disabilities. Because my nephews require extra care and frequent doctor visits, my sister can sustain only a part-time job, making Medicaid their primary source of insurance coverage.
When the boys started schooling, my nephews were so smart, but their struggles in behavioral and mental health hindered their academic performance. Thankfully, Medicaid finances Individualized Education Programs for students with disabilities. Doctors stepped in and guided my nephews with therapy and medication so they could successfully participate in regular school classroom settings.
This essential care allowed my nephews to grow into productive young men in society. They truly excel in school today, with their phenomenal intelligence finally shining through — all due to the gift of Medicaid.
612,000 CHILDREN IN MISSOURI
But Medicaid is bigger than just my nephews. Some 612,000 children in Missouri rely on Medicaid for services ranging from annual check-ups to specialized care. Don’t take health care away from them. These children deserve to be healthy and happy.
Additionally, one of the most impor-
tant aspects of Medicaid’s coverage is for childbirth. It costs tens of thousands of dollars to give birth, a price tag only the highest-earning Americans can begin to afford out-of-pocket. In Missouri, more than 40 percent of all births are financed by Medicaid. Without it, what do we expect pregnant folks to do?
When my daughter became pregnant last year, I was thrilled to be having another grandchild. But, devastatingly, my daughter developed a high-risk pregnancy. Forced to leave her job to protect the health of her baby and herself, she no longer had her employee health insurance and relied on Medicaid for her care.
My grandson entered this world two months early with a dropping heart rate and slim chances at survival. Fortunately, the doctors were able to save him. Without the option of Medicaid for my daughter, I truly do not know where she or my grandson would be today.
RESIDENTS OF NURSING HOMES
Beyond my family’s use of Medicaid, more than 90 percent of the residents at the nursing home where I work primarily rely on it to receive care. Voting to slash Medicaid funding in the name of “cutting waste” tells me that Republican lawmakers view investing in the sick and our seniors as an unworthy cause. My senior residents will have nowhere to go if they can no longer afford nursing home care.
That could be any of us one day. Some folks have the privilege of private health insurance, but at any moment, our circumstances could change. Medicaid is a tool for folks like my family members who have experienced a life-altering situation and need some support.
I am asking U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner, Jason Smith and other Missouri Republicans to put themselves in someone else’s shoes and vote to protect Medicaid.
These are the human realities of cuts to Medicaid. The majority of folks who rely on it are people who have no other choice. With more than 1.2 million Missourians relying on it, I expect our congressional members to represent them, as they were elected to do.
(Shunda Whitfield is a certified nursing assistant at a nursing home in St. Louis and a member of SEIU Healthcare.)
Speak
Building Trades’ Sean McGarvey shows courage in standing up for Kilmar Garcia
I wrote to Sean McGarvey, president of the North America’s Building Trades Unions, recently to thank him for standing up for the American rights for Kilmar Abrego Garcia. While a single voice is sometimes hard to hear among the news about all that Donald Trump has done to wreck our country, it is worth noting that speaking up for individuals creates a chorus that is getting louder. Leaders with influence speaking out, especially Labor leaders are vital. McGarvey’s voice carries the hope and dreams of all of us. I’m the proud daughter of an electrician with IBEW, Local 1, in St. Louis. My daughter is an airline captain and member of the Teamsters Union. I haven’t been a union member, but I have been with the Coalition of Labor Union Women for decades.
I helped my husband run for Congress in southwest Missouri with the help of dozens of Labor unions’ donations. Since his run in 1990, I have spent my career fundraising for
Labor-endorsed Democrats. All of us have a duty to speak out against the loss of our rights. Trump’s ICE police are now detaining and holding American-born citizens with no reason. Picking out individuals for detention is much like a small crack in a dam, eventually the dam breaks and we all lose. It is now happening. We must all stand up and refuse to stay silent. We will remember who had courage and who were silenced. To Mr. McGarvey I say “Know that you are standing with Harvard University in refusing to be bullied. That looks like the kind of company you will be proud to stand with.”
I will be at every protest opportunity. I have been to many already with more to come. I will think of Mr. McGarvey’s courage as I protest. Thank you again for our courage. We need it now more than ever.
PAM ROSS
St. Louis
Minimum wage under attack with effort to roll back Prop. A
Right now, the average household annual income for retirees ages 65 and older is just short of $30,000. Many of those retirees struggle to make ends meet. The cost of needed medications, food, gasoline and other daily expenses continues to rise. A lot of those senior citizens who are physically and mentally able consider working low paying jobs including that pay based on minimum wage. In 2024, Missouri voters passed Proposition A that included a wage increase of minimum wage, cost-of-living allowances to workers and in some cases paid sick days.
Now in Jefferson City, our legislators are plotting to remove and wipe out parts and possibly the entire proposition that 58 percent of Missouri’s voters are in favor of. How is that possible you ask? Part of our State Constitution allows for the legislators to review and make sure propositions are what they intended and are legal, all of which in Proposition A was. Which leaves
only one reason, the greed of big business is at it again. The lobbyists who work for those in big business are putting pressure on the Republican leadership of the House and the Senate to either remove or modify down to nothing Proposition A.
This would either stop progress for our retired citizens in Missouri or worse yet, continue to watch the seniors live in poverty, going hungry, not getting their prescription drugs and being grounded to their homes.
Please help us STOP THIS INSANITY. Call your state representative and state senator and let them know you are watching. Tell them that part of the oath of office they take includes “The will of the people shall be the law of the land.”
MIKE LOUIS
President Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans
WHITEFIELD
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive set for May 10
The National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) “Stamp Out Hunger” nationwide food drive is scheduled for May 10 this year, and letter carriers are asking for your help. Each year, letter carriers across the country head out on their routes on the second Saturday in May to collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries.
The campaign, which began in 1993, has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.
NATIONAL PARTNERS
National partners in this year’s drive include the U.S. Postal Service, National Letter Carriers Association, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, United Food and
Commercial Workers International Union, United Way Worldwide, R.R. Donnelley, Valpak, CVS Health, Kellanova (Kellogg Co.) and the AFL-CIO.
All donations to the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive are tax-deductible because all of the food collected on Food Drive Day is given directly to non-profit charity food agencies in the community where the food was collected.
TO HELP
To help, simply leave a bag of non-perishable items by your mailbox on May 10 and your letter carrier will do the rest. To find your food bank, visit nalc.org/ community-service/food-drive/ find-your-food-bank
Seven IBEW Local 1439 members receive service awards
ST. LOUIS – IBEW Local IBEW 1439 recently presented service awards to seven members including (from left) Justin Stuckmeyer, five years; Andrew Wiedenhoffer, five years; Shannon Lanham, five years; Michael Trueman, 20 years; Joseph Schmid, 40 years; James Schaper, 25 years; and Eric Schmid, five years. Celebrating the occasion with the awardees is Local 1439 President Chad Fletcher (right). – IBEW Local 1439 photo
Teamsters Local 688’s John Kleinschmidt retiring after 31 years
Looking toward St. Louis’
St. Louis – Continuing the City of St. Louis’ strong relationship with Organized Labor, newly elected Mayor Cara Spencer has selected two key Labor leaders as members of her transition team charged with charting a new path forward for the City.
Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel (IBEW Local 1), appointed to serve on the Education Systems and Workforce Development Committee, said he was excited to work toward strengthening the city’s school systems and “help find pathways for workers into different industries that we represent,” adding, “It is an excellent opportunity to partner with the new administration to create good union jobs.”
Hummell complimented Mayor Spencer for wanting to ensure that Organized Labor continues to play a role in the city’s future. “With our appointments, the mayor is sending a strong message that she wants
Organized Labor to be an integral part of the city’s future direction.”
St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council Executive SecretaryTreasurer John Stiffler (Insulators Local 1) will serve on the City Services Committee, responsible for a broad range of critical city services like streets, potholes and snow removal.
“Labor appreciates the mayor reaching out to our unions who are as concerned as she is with helping our citizens and taxpayers improve their lives,” Stiffler said.
The frustration of citizens over city services was a critical issue in this year’s mayoral election.
“Our appointments make it clear that Organized Labor is important to the mayor’s new administration and that she understands the value of what our unions can bring to the table to help move St. Louis into the brighter future she envisions for the entire community and region,” Stiffler said.
BEST WISHES to Teamsters Local 688’s John Kleinschmidt (center) on his retirement after 31 years of dedication and hard work at Frito-Lay. Congratulating Kleinschmidt on a job well done is Shop Steward Josh Bartnick (left) and Local 688 Business Agent Chris Schneider (right). – Teamsters Local 688 photo
ILLINOIS CENTRAL BODIES
Official IAM District 9 Notices
SPECIAL NOTICE: As of Jan. 1, 2025 the monthly dues will be $99 per month for Journeymen, Service Writers, Dispatchers, Body Men & Specialist and $86.50 per month for Apprentice, Greeter, Helper and Production Worker. Unemployment Stamps will be $4 per month.
regular District Lodge meeting.
IAM Lodge 41 The regular monthly meeting will be held on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Machinists Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. Members, take note. Shop stewards, please post this notice in your shop. SPECIAL NOTICE:Monthly Dues increase as of January 1, 2025, all members at the current rate of $88.50 will go up to $91.00; members at the current rate of $93.50 will go up to $96.00; members at the current rate of $98.50 will go up to $101.00. Unemployment dues are $4 per month. All dues should be paid no later than the 10th of the following month or your membership will lapse and reinstatement (four times the dues rate) will be owed. SPECIAL NOTICE: Members should contact the Lodge 41 office when retiring, going out on sick leave, workers comp and any change of address.
IAM Lodge 313 Regular meeting and Shop Stewards’ meeting will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m., Sheet Metal Workers
IAM Lodge 822 Regular meetings at 6 p.m. first Tuesday each month at the IAM Lodge 822 Hall 2929 N. Fifth St., Quincy, Ill. PLEASE NOTE: New Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
IAM Lodge 1345
The regular meetings will be held at the Machinist Hall, 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.
RETIREE CLUBS
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.
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.
RETIREE CLUBS
Boilermakers Local 363 Retirees
IBEW Local 309 Retirees
SPECIAL NOTICE: IBEW Local 309 Retirees will not have a meeting for the month of May. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, June 11, at 11:30 at Ravanelli’s, 26 Collinsport Drive, Collinsville, IL 62234.
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
MISSOURI
CENTRAL BODIES
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 314-779-9959
LOCAL UNIONS
Boilermakers Local 27 The monthly membership meetings are at 8 p.m. the first Monday at the Boilermakers Hall, 1547 S. Broadway. Applications for Construction Boilermakers Apprentice will be 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.
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
Yemen – In what they called an effort to “stay in the loop,” Houthi rebels disclosed on Tuesday that they had sent a friend request to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s wife.
An official Houthi rebel spokesperson said that the request had been sent on several social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
“It’s important that we have each other’s contact info,” the spokesperson said. “Our number isn’t going to just get sucked into Mrs. Hegseth’s phone.”
According to the spokesperson, the outreach has already paid dividends, as the Houthis have been invited to the Hegseths’ Memorial Day clambake.
by calling the Union Hall at 314-531-1187 or coming to the hall in person at 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103. SPECIAL NOTICE: In compliance with an International Variance, please be advised of the new Referral Rules update (out-of-work
month to re-register for the out-of-work to maintain his or her name on the referral list, failure to do so will result in being taken off the referral list. • Members may contact the Union Hall for a copy of the updated referral rules.
Laborers Local 110 4532 S Lindbergh
Your Health
Whooping cough cases soar as vaccine rates decline
It’s not just measles that are on the rise
In the past six months, two babies in Louisiana have died of pertussis, the disease commonly known as whooping cough. Washington state recently announced its first confirmed death from pertussis in more than a decade. Idaho and South Dakota each reported a death this year and Oregon last year reported two as well as its highest number of cases since 1950.
In 2024, Missouri saw a significant increase in whooping cough, with 603 cases. This is a substantial rise compared to 58 cases reported the previous year. St. Louis has also seen a significant rise in whooping cough cases. Medical professionals attribute this increase to a cyclical pattern of the disease, potentially exacerbated by reduced immunity due to masking during the pandemic.
While much of the country is focused on the spiraling measles outbreak concentrated in West Texas, cases of pertussis have skyrocketed by more than 1,500 percent nationwide since hitting a recent low in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Deaths tied to the disease are also
up, hitting 10 last year, compared with about two to four in previous years. Cases are on track to exceed that total this year.
MEASLES IS JUST THE BEGINNING
Doctors, researchers and public health experts warn that the measles outbreak, which has grown to more than 600 cases, may just be the beginning. They say outbreaks of preventable diseases could get much worse with falling vaccination rates and the Trump administration slashing spending on the country’s public health infrastructure. The DTaP vaccine is the most effective way to prevent pertussis, and vaccination rates have been declining.
National rates for four major vaccines, which had held relatively
steady in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, have fallen significantly since, according to a ProPublica analysis of the most recent federal kindergarten vaccination data. Not only have vaccination rates for measles, mumps and rubella fallen, but federal data shows that so have those for pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and polio.
In addition, public health experts say that growing pockets of unvaccinated populations across the country place babies and young children in danger should there be a resurgence of these diseases.
Many medical authorities view measles, which is especially contagious, as the canary in the coal mine, but pertussis cases may also be a warning, albeit one that has attracted far less attention.
“This is not just measles,” said Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor in New York City and author of the book Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles and the Uncertain Future of Children’s Health “It’s a bright-red warning light.”
At least 36 states have witnessed a drop in rates for at least one key vaccine from the 2013-14 to the 2023-24 school years. And half of states have seen an across-theboard decline in all four vaccination rates. Wisconsin, Utah and Alaska have experienced some of the most precipitous drops during that time, with declines of more than 10 percentage points in some cases.
“There is a direct correlation between vaccination rates and vaccine-preventable disease outbreak rates,” said a spokesperson for the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. “Decreases in vaccination rates will likely lead to more outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases in Utah.”
For example, the whooping cough vaccination rate for kindergartners in Washington state in 2023-24 was 90.2 percent, slightly below the U.S. rate of 92.3 percent, federal data shows. But the statewide rate for children 19 to 35 months last year was 65.4 percent, according to state data. In four counties, that
rate was in the 30 percent range. In one county, it was below 12 percent.
The dramatic cuts to public health funding and staffing could heighten the risk. And the elevation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic, to the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, several experts said, has only compounded matters.
PERTUSSIS PREVENTION
Pertussis is caused by a bacteria found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. Transmission to others occurs during close contact with an infected person, most commonly by airborne droplets of respiratory secretions.
The best way to protect against pertussis is immunization. The best way to reduce the incidence of pertussis is to have a highly vaccinated population. This should be accomplished through physicians’ offices and public health clinics. Anyone who is exposed to pertussis should also be given antibiotics to prevent the disease.
Join Aetna for NAMIWalks on May 10
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Aetna, a proud supporter of National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) St. Louis, is inviting union members and the public to join them for the 2025 NAMIWalks St. Louis on Saturday, May 10 in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. The event starts at 9 a.m. at Creve Coeur Park Tremayne Shelter. NAMI St. Louis is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with
Mesothelioma, It’s ALL We Do.
MRHFM has proudly represented union members in Illinois and Missouri for years. It is well documented that union boiler makers, electrical workers, laborers, iron workers, machinists, plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and steel workers have been exposed to asbestos. Our team is dedicated to working to recover millions of dollars from the companies and manufacturers responsible. We will hold them accountable on your behalf.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like to learn more about your legal rights to mesothelioma compensation, call us today at 1-877-637-6111 or visit us at mrhfmlawfirm.com. We are ready to listen to you, to stand by you, and to be your advocate.
Louis board member, Sarah Landeck shares, “We are proud partner with NAMI St. Louis because we know how integral their mental health work is to the community. Aetna and NAMI share common goals to help improve lives while having a lasting impact.” By becoming a participant, you can help reduce the stigma and continue to raise awareness around mental well-being. There is no fee to join, and donations are welcome but not required.
Register at namistl.org/namiwalks and join “Team Aetna.”
www.mrhfmlawfirm.com
mental illnesses and their families in the St. Louis region. Aetna team captain and NAMI St.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 welcomes three new journeymen
In Memoriam: Union members we recently lost
The Labor Movement mourns the loss of the following members of our union locals:
IBEW LOCAL 1
• Connie L. Sehmied – production
– retired, 43-year member – passed away April 20, 2025
• Joseph G. Laufer – journeyman wireman - retired, 58-year member
– passed away April 13, 2025
• William G. Weber – journeyman wireman – retired, 56-year member
– passed away April 5, 2025.
• Norman E. Breeden – journeyman wireman – retired, 69-year member
– passed away March 5, 2025.
• Lionel P. Bauer – journeyman wireman – retired, 41-year member
– passed away Feb. 3, 2025.
• Donald D. White – communication -retired, 46-year member – passed away Jan. 13, 2025.
IRON WORKERS LOCAL 396
• Robert “Bob” Sprung, Sr. – Life-
time member – passed away March 30, 2025.
INSULATORS LOCAL 1
• Steven James Darby – Newcomer – passed away April 18, 2025.
LETTER CARRIERS BRANCH 343
• Howard J. Neels – retired, 65-year member- passed away March 30, 2025.
• Vernon C. Herrington – Gold Card retiree – passed away March 1, 2025.
ST. LOUIS – Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 recently welcomed three journeymen to its ranks including (from left) Andrew Miller, Jacob Davidson and William Neal. “Congrats on completing your apprenticeship and earning your journeyman title,” the union shared on social media. “Your hard work, skill and dedication have paid off. May this achievement be just the beginning of a long, successful, and rewarding career.” – Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 photo
American Drive Are American sedans going away?
By KEVIN WEAKS
American car companies don’t really make cars anymore.
The focus is on SUVs and trucks. It’s been 20 years since the last station wagon was proUnion Wages, Union Wheels
duced in the U.S., and lately it looks like sedans are headed toward the same dustbin of history.
It’s a shame, really. For a long time, they were the most popular way to see the U.S.A., and the Detroit Big Three had a variety to choose from at any given time, from BelAir to Galaxie. However that’s all changed in recent years. SUVs have become the go-to choice for many
drivers, thanks to their versatility, spaciousness and perceived safety. The higher driving position, ample cargo space and all-wheel-drive capabilities make them appealing for various lifestyles including family
road trips and off-road adventures. By the mid-2010s, full-size cars began seeing a steep decline in sales in North America, with SUVs replacing much of the full-size segment. One wag noted that the sedan was becoming the automotive equivalent of the VHS tape.
IMPALA, MALIBU, TAURUS GONE
For the 2013 model year, the Chevrolet Impala became the final American-market full-size sedan sold with a front bench seat. The Impala was discontinued after the 2020 model year due to declining sales of full-size sedans and a focus on producing more crossovers and SUVs. The 27-year production of the Chevrolet Malibu ends with the 2025 model and with the Malibu’s production line in Kansas City being repurposed for the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Ford has already phased out its sedan lineup in North America. The Focus, Fiesta and Taurus were discontinued in 2018 and 2019, and the last Fusion rolled off the line in 2020. Ford has shifted its focus toward trucks, SUVs and electric vehicles (EVs), with the Mustang being the only remaining vehicle that could be considered a car.
Chrysler’s last sedan, the Chrysler 300, came off the Brampton, Ontario, assembly line in December 2023. Dodge will carry on with a restyled Charger sedan for the 2025 model built on the same platform as the Chrysler 300. More on that below.
The top five-selling sedans in the U.S. last year were all Japanese, with the Toyota Camry far and away the leader. Despite the perception that SUVs are generally more
practical, the sedan body still has a lot to offer and can seat four to five adults comfortably with trunk space that can hold full-size suitcases or grocery bags, comparable to a mid-size SUV. The traditional sedan brands like Pontiac and Oldsmobile are gone, and Buick and Lincoln now only offer SUVs. But Cadillac and Chrysler are still selling Americanmade, union-built sedans. If you miss your big old cushy four-door, check these out:
CADILLAC CT4
COMPACT LUXURY SEDAN
It’s hard to think of a Cadillac as a compact car, but with a $34,995 starting price, the 2025 Cadillac CT4 sedan might be the best value for an American-made, union-built vehicle. The base model’s turbocharged four-cylinder provides plenty of zip and can even semi-scorch a quartermile in the low 14-second range. For those with a little more money and need for speed, there is the 325-hp CT4-V and the insane CT4-V Blackwing which cranks out 475 ponies.
CHRYSLER 300 – Chrysler’s last sedan, the Chrysler 300, came off the Brampton, Ontario, assembly line in December, 2023. Likely there are still quite a few on dealer lots in North America. Dodge will carry on with a restyled Charger sedan for the 2025 model built on the same platform.
DODGE CHARGER SIXPACK SEDAN – The 2025 Dodge Charger SixPack sedan offers both two- and four-door models with two gas engine options — a standard output of 420 horsepower and a higher-output 550-hp option. They are priced from about $45,000.
Sedans
From page 8
With this four-banger bomb, you can get the CT4-V Blackwing from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds easily, and
confirmed by Chrysler-Dodge owner Stellantis as both a two- and four-door model — as well as a 670-hp EV named the Dodge Charger Daytona. The gaspowered Charger SixPack models
speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Sixpack will be available in both two-door and four-door configurations.
As the Challenger fades into muscle car memory, the Charger Daytona SixPack keeps the dream alive. And while there are no Hemi V-8 engine options at this time, it shows that Dodge performance is alive and well.
THE FUTURE OF SEDANS
“Popularity of sedans has steadily declined as carmakers have expanded and enhanced their SUV portfolios across multiple segments and budgets,” said Joseph Yoon,
Edmunds.com’s consumer insights analyst in a recent interview. Crossovers and SUVs are big money makers for the automobile industry, so they have exploited it as any good business would, he added. Ironically, with more and more of them on the road these days, SUVs and crossovers have become just as conformist and dorky as the minivans and station wagons they replaced. There are hints that the tide may turn. For you rebels out there, American carmakers still offer some pretty cool four-door sedans that can seat five and go fast.
(Contact Kevin Weaks at kweaks@ labortribune.com.)
This Week In Labor History
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APRIL 28
1971 – Congress creates OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The AFL-CIO sets April 28 as “Workers Memorial Day” to honor all workers killed or injured on the job every year.
APRIL 29
1899 – An estimated one thousand silver miners, angry over low wages, the firing of union members and the planting of spies in their ranks by mineowners, seize a train, load it
with 3,000 pounds of dynamite, and blow up the mill at the Bunker Hill mine in Wardner, Idaho.
1943 – The special representative of the National War Labor Board issues a report, “Retroactive Date for Women’s Pay Adjustments,” setting forth provisions for wage rates for women working in war industries who were asking for equal pay.
APRIL 30
1927 – An explosion at the Everettville mine in Everettville, W. Va.,
kills 109 miners, many of whom lie in unmarked graves to this day.
2012 – The Obama administration’s National Labor Relations Board implements new rules to speed up unionization elections. The new rules are largely seen as a counter to employer manipulation of the law to prevent workers from unionizing.
MAY 1
1830 – Mary Harris “Mother” Jones born in County Cork, Ireland. 1886 – Eight-hour day demonstration in Chicago and other cities begins tradition of May Day as international Labor holiday.
1974 – Congress enacts amendments to the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act, extending protections to the employees of state and local governments — protections which didn’t take effect until 1985 because of court challenges and regulationwriting problems.
2006 – Rallies in cities across the U.S. for what organizers call “A Day Without Immigrants.” An estimated 100,000 immigrants and sympathizers gathered in San Jose, Calif., 200,000 in New York, 400,000 each in Chicago and Los Angeles. In all, there were demonstrations in at least 50 cities.
MAY 2
1911 – First Workers’ Compensation law in U.S. enacted in Wisconsin.
1933 – German police units occupied all trade unions headquarters in the country, arresting union officials and leaders. Their treasuries were confiscated and the unions abolished. Hitler announced that the German Labour Front, headed by his appointee, would replace all unions and look after the working class. A fire at the Sunshine silver mine in Kellogg, Idaho, caused the death of 91 workers who died from carbon monoxide poisoning, likely caused by toxic fumes emitted by burning polyurethane foam used
MAY 3
Four striking workers are killed, at least 200 wounded, when police attack a demonstration on Chicago’s south side at the McCormick Harvesting Machine plant. Eugene V. Debs and other leaders of the American Railway Union are jailed for six months for contempt of court in connection with Pullman railroad car strike.
MAY 4
massacre. A bomb is thrown as Chicago police start to break up a rally for strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. A riot erupts, 11 police and strikers die, mostly from gunfire, and scores more are injured.
Haymarket
(Compiled by David Prosten, founder Union Communication Services)
Stifel,
Artist depiction of a bomb exploding, sparking the Haymarket Massacre, 1886
“A Day Without Immigrants” rally, NYC, 2006
SMART demands return of illegally deported member Kilmar Abrego Garcia
The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) is calling on Americans to contact their members of Congress to demand the Trump administration facilitate the immediate return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador.
Abrego Garcia is a Salvadorian national legally living in the United States with no criminal record. He was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Baltimore in March on accusations of being an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia hasn’t been charged
Fight
by human rights groups of torture and due process violations.
No evidence has been presented to connect Abrego Garcia to MS-13, an international criminal gang and designated terrorist organization by the United States. The allegation is based on a 2019 arrest for which he was never charged after a confidential informant claimed he was a member of an MS-13 chapter in New York, despite never living there.
APPRENTICE WITH NO CRIMINAL
RECORD
“Abrego Garcia is a SMART Local 100 first-year apprentice who currently works full-time to support his young family,” SMART said.
“He came to the United States as a teenager 15 years ago, and according to his attorneys, he was legally
KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA, a SMART Local 100 first-year apprentice, is a Salvadorian national legally living in the United States with no criminal record, was mistakenly arrested and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Baltimore in March on accusations of being an MS13 gang member. Abrego Garcia hasn’t been charged or convicted of any crime and has since been detained at the Center for Terrorism Confinement, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, accused by human rights groups of torture and due process violations.
authorized to live and work in this country and had fully complied with his responsibilities under the law. He did not have a criminal record in the United States. Like many of us, Abrego Garcia works full-time to support his wife and his five-yearold son. SMART is demanding that he is returned to his family.”
Sean McGarvey, the president of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), demanded Abrego Garcia be returned to the United States.
“We need to make our voices heard,” McGarvey said. “We’re not red, we’re not blue, we’re the building trades; the backbone of
Please BuckUp what you can.
Every dollar counts to help union families in need.
Mail: Check/money order payable to “$5 for the Fight.”Mail to: $5 for the Fight, c/o St. Louis Labor Council, 3301 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044; Please include union affiliation.
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America. You want to build a $5 billion data center? Want more six-figure careers with health care, retirement, and no college debt? You don’t call Elon Musk! You call us! “And yeah, that means all of us. All of us! Including our brother, SMART apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who we demand to be returned to us and his family now! Bring him home!”
TAKE ACTION
Contact your member of Congress and tell them to bring Abrego Garcia home. You can send a pre-written letter at https://actionnetwork.org/letters/bringour-local-100-brother-home-andgive-him-due-process (AFL-CIO)
Kristina; his twin sister Karen, sister Linda, brother Mark, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
Every April 28, the unions of the AFL-CIO across America observe Workers’ Memorial Day to remember those who have been injured, contracted an illness, or died as a result of simply doing their jobs over the past year. The date is the anniversary of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), which was enacted on April 28, 1970.
The Union Labor Mass was sponsored by the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, the Greater St. Louis Labor Council and the Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans.
In keeping with tradition, the program started with an interfaith prayer service – held vestibule of the church this year because of rain – led by The Rev. Tommie Pierson, pastor of Greater St. Mark Family Church.
The program inside the church began with presentation of the colors by the St. Louis Fire Department Guard.
Mike Louis, president emeritus of the Missouri AFL-CIO and president of the Missouri Alliance of Retired Americans, then narrated a procession of the Tools of Trade.
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
Louis opened the service inside the church with the procession of the Tools of the Trade, honoring and recognizing many of the various skills and crafts that make up the union workforce.
“We ask that our father in heaven
blesses the tools that we use every day as laborers, as machinists, as pipefitters, as all the different trades I see represented here.”
Louis then called forward the procession of the tools, which union members carried down the church aisle and placed at the altar as Louis narrated:
• THE SHOVEL symbolizes how deep we go in our meaningful daily work. Not only do we do that, we clear the paths for those around us.
• THE PAPER, BOOK AND PENCIL symbolize all teachers, all apprentice instructors, all journalists, social workers and novelists who educate children to make this world a better place for them and for our future.
• THE WRENCH AND THE SQUARE symbolizes workers who create, build and repair the machines that make our lives easier and more efficient.
• BIG BOOK represents the hope for recovery for the many members and families who struggle to overcome
various addictions and find their way home.
• THE SAXOPHONE symbolizes how musicians and poets inspire beauty and inspiration in our troubled world to help us relax and to help us in our praises to God.
• THE SIGN AND A TOOL represents tens of thousands workers and retirees, mobilizing today like never before for better wages, working conditions and dignity on the job. May their strength and determination prevail.
• THE APRON reminds us that tens of thousands of retail workers in the food, retail, restaurant, hotel and so many other service industries who work tirelessly every day to help us in our daily lives.
• COMMUNICATIONS – This once was a simple telephone and today is a powerful computer that we can carry in our pockets and purses, symbolizing the changes in our world, how fast computers are changing the face
of work and everyday life and enable us to stay steady.
Louis concluded: “May the souls of our departed brothers and sisters here and around the world rest in
peace. Amen.”
THE MEANING OF WORK
Mass was celebrated by Father Tom Santen of Regina Cleri House, with Pat Kellett, president of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, serving as lector.
In his homily, Fr. Santen reflected on Jesus who worked as a carpenter before starting his work spreading the word of God, and the nature and meaning of work.
He reflected on the work of the poor immigrants who built the Shrine of St. Joseph and the volunteer labor of union members who restored the church in the 1980s and onward when it had fallen into disrepair, “We do the will of God,” Fr. Santen said, “in the works of our hands and the works of our hearts.”
SUBSCRIBE
Painters DC 58
with that and make it flow. It’s a poor neighborhood of the city, and we’re just trying to help out and make things better for them.”
District Council 58 Director of Business Development Rich Lucks, who was also on hand for the event, said District Council 58 represents eastern Missouri, Southern Illinois and parts of Tennessee.
‘ALL ABOUT GIVING BACK’
“We have about 5,000 members and 244 contractors, and our members and contractors are very kind, and they will step up to help out whenever needed,” Lucks said. “It’s all about giving back.”
Jeffrey Fearnley, an apprentice with Painters Local 1156, echoed that sentiment.
“It’s always nice to help out in the community and give back where I can,”Fearnley said.
Traffic Control, the District Council 58 signatory contractor taking care of the parking lot striping, said it was thrilled to partner with District Council 58 and the
need.
From page 1
significant step toward our shared goal of contributing to the betterment of St. Louis,” said a company spokesperson. “Working together, we aim to foster positive change and create opportunities that will benefit our community.”
John Saunders Jr., Wesley House executive director, was beaming with joy at the event.
“This is something we’ve been trying to get done for about two years,” he said. “We are actually applying for a state license to be a childcare provider and getting the mulch on the playground is one of the requirements.”
Saunders said he was grateful for the assistance.
‘TAKES
A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD’
“This is just great,” he said. “We got connected to these guys and one thing led to another. It’s an example of ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ and what we have here today is a village of people from all over the St. Louis area.”
For more information on the Wesley House Association, visit wesleyhousestl.org
Three ways to give: Mail: Check/money order payable to “$5 for the Fight.” Mail to: $5 for the Fight, c/o St. Louis Labor Council, 3301 Hollenberg Drive, Bridgeton, MO 63044; Please include union affiliation. On line: labortribune.com, click “$5 for the Fight.” Reoccurring credit card donation: labortribune.com, “$5 for the Fight.” Select “Automatic monthly deduction,” amount and number of months donation. NOTE: Credit card billing statement will read “505 Publications.”
Durbin From page 1
ing up for working people and the vulnerable,” Drea said.
“From his humble roots in East St. Louis to leadership in the nation’s highest legislative body, Sen. Durbin has reflected the best of us. On behalf of Illinois’ Labor Movement, the Illinois AFL-CIO wishes him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”
the DREAM Act and standing strong for DACA recipients when their futures were most at risk… His retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy will inspire generations to come.”
LOCAL RESPONSE
replace Durbin. “We’ve been very lucky, he’s a hometown guy from the Metro East,” he said. Webb said he hopes whoever runs on the Democratic ticket is also from downstate.
POSITIVE IMPACT
work ahead.”
POSSIBLE SUCCESORS
Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery said the senator’s career was defined by “principled leadership, fierce advocacy and an unwavering commitment to working people.
“Throughout his decades of public service, Sen. Durbin stood up time and again for teachers, school staff, higher education, public employees and the right of every worker to organize and be treated with dignity,” Montgomery said. “He was a vocal champion of immigration reform, co-authoring
Trump’s tax cuts for the rich and corporations will hurt working families
A new Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report finds that extending Trump’s tax cuts for the rich and corporations would likely cause more damage to working families and the U.S. economy than previous rounds of tax cuts.
Republicans in Congress are considering financing the $4 trillion needed to extend Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) through either deficit spending — like they did in 2017 — or through massive spending cuts, including to key social safety net programs like Medicaid.
Unlike previous rounds of Republican tax cuts in 2001, 2003, and 2017, there is no way to finance these extensions without causing noticeable economic pain to the majority of U.S. households.
Earlier tax cuts could be deficitfinanced without doing harm to the economy because they were enacted during times when too-slack spending in the economy was leading to low interest rates, low inflation, and rising unemployment. This meant that the cuts actually provided some useful boost (no matter how inefficient or tilted to the rich) to growth.
But today’s environment is different—the economy does not need macroeconomic stimulus. Unemployment has been at or below 4.2 percent since 2021, and inflation and interest rates are substantially higher. This means that large, deficitfinanced tax cuts would put upward pressure on inflation and interest rates, slowing growth and causing pain to households.
If policymakers want to avoid deficit-financing the tax cuts and instead rely on spending cuts, this would do even greater damage to the economic security of working families.
Read the full report at www. epi.org/publication/tcja-extensions-2025.
Scot Luchtefeld, president of the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council, thanked Durbin for his many years of service to all Illinoisans and especially to the men and women of Labor.
“We have had a true champion that we could rely on,” Luchtefeld said.
B. Dean Webb, president of the Madison County Federation of Labor, shared Luchtefeld’s sentiments. “He’s been great to us, welcomed us every time we go to Washington,” he said. “We hate to see him leave.”
Webb also expressed concern over who might
“ARE
Gov. JB Pritzker spoke of Durbin’s legacy ranging from the DREAM Act to the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, as well as bringing in major federal infrastructure funding to Illinois.
As far as who might succeed Durbin, St. Louis Public Radio listed former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and several more. Lisa Hernandez, chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, listed Durbin’s accomplishments in her statement.
a Republican to the Senate was Mark Kirk in 2012, but he was defeated by junior Sen. Tammy Duckworth in 2016, and she continues to serve.
“His legacy is defined not just by the legislation he passed, but by the undeniable positive impact his character and moral leadership has had on the nation,” Pritzker said. “The people of Illinois should take great pride in having a leader like Dick Durbin represent us in the U.S. Senate. I have been proud to be his partner and am even more proud to call him my friend. He will leave some extraordinary shoes to fill and has given us all an example of courage and righteousness for the
“Sen. Durbin’s leadership exemplified what it means to be a Democrat in Illinois: principled, compassionate, and unafraid to take on tough fights,” Hernandez said.
“His retirement marks the close of an extraordinary chapter. But the work isn’t over. At the Democratic Party of Illinois, we are focused on protecting the progress he helped build and preparing for what comes next. We will organize, mobilize, and fight to keep this seat blue in 2026, and to carry his legacy into the future.”
The last time Illinois elected
Duckworth said that Durbin is and always will be “a giant” of the U.S. Senate, and a personal friend going back to when he visited her in Walter Reed Veterans Hospital following her catastrophic wartime injuries that cost her both legs.
“He has dedicated his life to making our state — as well as our nation — stronger, and we are all better for it,” Duckworth said. “There are no words to adequately express how grateful I am to call him a friend or how honored I’ve been to call him a mentor. And while I will miss working with him so closely in the Senate, I know he will find a new way to keep serving his country in the years ahead — just as he encouraged a wounded soldier in a Walter Reed hospital room to do, all those years ago.”
DUCKWORTH
DREA
WEBB
HERNANDEZ MONTGOMERY LUCHTEFELD
DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS
ALTON AREA HEADQUARTERS
Record-breaking attendance at IAM Local 822
Easter Egg Hunt
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 4 PLAYERS AND 1 HOLE SPONSOR * TEAM/PARTICIPANT - $550 FOR 4 PLAYERS
Organization Name: Address:
* HOLE SPONSOR - $225 PER HOLE
Phone: Email Address: Contact Person:
Names of participating players:
For Rental Clubs, please reach out to The Golf Club of Florissant 314-741-7444
Check form of participation: Team with Hole Sponsor $750.00 Team/4 Participant $550.00 Hole Sponsor $225.00 IAM
Make checks payable to: Chapter Nine, Guide Dogs of America
Mail entry by May 1, 2025 to: Tracy Gardner, Chairperson G.D.A., Chapter Nine 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044 Telephone: 314-739-6200
No.
IAM District No. 9 will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025 for the Juneteenth holiday