What’s Inside
Join the March for Babies May 31 Page 3
Wiegmann plant laying off 110 workers in Freeburg, Ill. By ELIZABETH DONALD Illinois Correspondent
Freeburg, IL – A southern Illinois manufacturing plant will lay off 110 workers to transfer its operations to Aurora, Ill. and Juarez, Mexico. Among the workers being laid off at Hubbell Inc.’s Wiegmann manufacturing plant in Freeburg, Ill., are 98 members of International Association of Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation Workers, or SMART. The plant manufactures electrical enclosures. SMART Regional Organizer Richard Harris said the layoffs
be hired for just $21 a day, and that moving the operations there would generate $40 million in profits over the next 10 years. The union workers make an average of $23 an hour. “Those profits come at the direct expense of American jobs, families and a community that has supported this plant for generations,” Harris said. “For 96 years, our members dedicated their skill, labor and lives to building this company. In return, Hubbell turned its back on them – gutting jobs, closing a union shop, and walking away from a proud legacy of American manufacturing.”
HUBBELL INC.’S WIEGMANN PLANT in Freeburg, Ill. has announced plans to lay off 110 employees and close the plant. – Joshua Carter/Belleville News-Democrat photo
are the result of “pure corporate greed.” Harris said the company told shareholders Juarez workers could
VOLUME 88 No. 42 ® ★
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PROFIT OVER PEOPLE Harris said the union did everything in its power to convince Hubbell to keep the plant open, negotiating in good faith and appealing to the company’s responsibility to the workers and the community. “But in the end, profit won over people,” he said. Hubbell Inc. is an international corporation with annual revenue of $5.6 billion. It has operated in Freeburg since 1928 with the current location opening in 1964, according to the St. Louis Business Journal. See LAYOFFS page 15
Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
★
88
YEARS
Midwest Tradeswomen Summit set for May 31 Page 3
Missouri Works Initiative’s Megan Price honored by Construction Forum By SHERI GASSAWAY Missouri Correspondent
Iron Workers Local 396 celebrates 2025 graduates Page 4
Sunset Hills, MO – Megan Price, executive director of the Missouri Works Initiative (MWI), has been honored by the Construction Forum with an Emerging Leader Award. Price received the prestigious award at the Forum’s 2025 Building Tomorrow Awards program May 7 at the LiUNA Event Center in Sunset Hills. The awards recognize those who have made contributions in alignment with the values and initiatives supported by the Forum’s strategic vision of social equity and economic opportunity and growth.
‘IMPRESSIVE’ “Megan has created a strong record of both achievement and
Laborers Local 42 treats retirees to a day at the ballpark Page 6
St. Louis Union Solidarity Ride/Poker Run set for June 22 Page 14
relationship building,” said Diana Wilhold, the Construction Forum’s deputy executive director/COO. “Whether its building partnerships among unions, employers, educators and government officials or managing the nuts and bolts of workforce efforts, her energy, knowledge and effectiveness are impressive.” Supported and sponsored by the Missouri AFL-CIO, the Missouri Works Initiative eliminates barriers to economic opportunities by connecting Missourians to the necessary resources to build life-sustaining careers through a variety of programs.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS Most in the construction indus-
MISSOURI WORKS INITIATIVE Executive Director Megan Price (left) receives the Construction Forum’s Emerging Leader Award from Justin Schmeltz, a Construction Forum board member and co-chair for the organization’s Emerging Leaders Network, during an award ceremony May 7 at the LiUNA Event Center in Sunset Hills, Mo. – Labor Tribune photo
try are familiar with the MWI’s Apprenticeship Ready Construction (ARC) program, formerly known as the St. Louis Building Union Diversity (BUD) program. The ARC program, which serves as a recruitment tool to encourage more minorities and women to get into the union building trades, provides potential pre-apprentices with the opportunity to visit participating local building trade unions to get hands-on basic training and a feel for each of the trades. It has a 92 percent graduation rate. Price has also been instrumental in launching a similar program called the Apprentice Ready Manufacturing (ARM) program, which is designed to address See PRICE page 15
Trump delivers ire with appointment of postmaster general David Steiner was CEO of Waste Management Inc. and served on the FedEx board Washington – President Trump’s choice for the new postmaster general immediately drew criticism from union leaders, postal worker representatives and pro-Labor elected officials alleging anti-union, pro-privatization agendas at work. U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (DIllinois) criticized the choice of David P. Steiner to take over the U.S. Postal Service. “I’ve long fought to strengthen and improve the U.S. Postal Service for my constituents and have been outspoken against efforts to privatize the postal service,” she said. “Now we have a
Periodicals Publication
board of FedEx. In the past, FedEx collaborated with the USPS for package deliveries in hard-to-reach rural areas and on air transportation, but those partnerships ended last year.
STRAIGHT FROM COMPETITION, UNION-BUSTER new Postmaster General who comes directly from one of the Postal Service’s chief competitors and has a record of opposing the right of workers to join a union. This raises real concerns about the direction Mr. Steiner may take the Postal Service, where over 91 percent of the workforce is unionized.” Steiner is a former CEO of Waste Management and served on the
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Brian L. Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, strongly condemned Steiner’s appointment. “Steiner didn’t just stroll in from the private sector – he comes straight from one of the Postal Service’s top competitors,” Renfroe said. “His selection isn’t just a conflict of interest — it’s an aggressive step toward handing America’s mail
system over to corporate interests. Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years. Steiner’s selection is an open invitation to do just that.” Renfroe alleged that Steiner built his brand at Waste Management on union-busting, slashing jobs and replacing workers with machines. “He has publicly bragged about shrinking the union footprint,” Renfroe said. “Now, he’s being handed the keys to one of the nation’s largest unionized employers. At a time when collaboration with workers helped USPS turn a $144 million profit in the last quarter of 2024, this decision flies in the face of everything that’s working.” See USPS page 10
Members of the following unions and councils see page 5 for changes in your notices ILLINOIS
• IBEW 309 Retirees • Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council
MISSOURI
• St. Louis Labor Council
2 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
When funding cuts go too far By REP. NIKKI BUDZINSKI (D-IL) Urbana Alderwoman Chaundra Bishop was just 29 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma — a BUDZINSKI rare and aggressive cancer in the bile ducts inside the liver. No one expects to face that kind of news, especially not at such a young age. She started with traditional chemotherapy and later underwent a surgery that involved removing 60 percent of her liver to get rid of the cancer in that part of her body. It seemed like a real step forward. But that same year, more tumors showed up in her lungs. Fast forward to today, Chaundra has enrolled in every clinical trial she can find. She’s undergone countless treatments, faced excruciating pain, and is still waiting for a cure. While Chaundra hasn’t found that cure yet, she has seen progress. In the last five years, she’s had access to promising new therapies — many made possible by increased funding and breakthroughs in medical research.
FUNDING CUTS That’s why the Trump administration’s decision to drastically reduce funding for National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trials hit so hard. For people like Chaundra, these types of announcements are life or death. For those of us in Congress, they’re a call to action. Since taking office, President Trump has led a campaign to slash federal spending under the banner of eliminating “waste, fraud, and abuse.” But some of those cuts go too far. He first tried to cap NIH grant funding for indirect costs — things like lab equipment, facilities, and staff—at just 15 percent. At first glance, that might not sound like much, but those indirect costs are the foundation of research. Without them, labs can’t run, staff can’t work, and studies can’t move forward. That move was blocked — for now — by a judge. But the threat still looms, especially for major research institutions here at home like the University of Illinois. In April, the administration sent layoff notices to thousands of employees in the Department of Health and Human Services. As a result, the NIH stands to lose about six percent of its workforce. Five institute directors and top lab leaders were forced out in a recent shakeup — scientists who helped decide which diseases we study and which treatments we develop. The administration claimed NIH scientists wouldn’t be affected. But researchers were let go.
GOING TOO FAR Now, I understand the importance of finding efficiencies in government. I get the
need to lower the deficit, root out instances of fraud and cut red tape. But cutting NIH funding isn’t trimming fat — it’s cutting deep into the muscle of our medical system. And for patients with rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma, it could mean the difference between living in constant pain, and finding a cure. Chaundra is part of a support group for patients in similar situations. Some are in NIH trials. Others are hoping to join. They share links to trials listed on ClinicalTrials. gov, hoping for a shot at something that could buy them more time. But now there’s fear in those circles: Will that trial still be there tomorrow? What if the doctor leading the study loses funding midway through? What if they were this close to a breakthrough, and the money just ran out?
DELAYING TRIALS, LIMITING ACCESS
Trump 2.0 at 100 days: An onslaught against workers By SARAH ANDERSON Institute for Policy Studies Well, we’ve passed the 100-day mark of the second Trump administration. Donald Trump campaigned as a ANDERSON champion of working-class voters. But straight out of the blocks, his policy choices have undermined workers at nearly every turn. A recent fact sheet from the Institute for Policy Studies, Economic Policy Institute and Repairers of the Breach rounds up the damage so far.
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Trump started by illegally removEven small funding cuts ing National Labor Relations can impact patients in big Board Chair Gwynne Wilcox ways — by delaying trials, for allegedly favoring workers’ Guest limiting access, or reducing interests over employers. The the number of participants a NLRB cracks down on union study can accept. busting and other abuses, but Some patients find a trial Views from Near and Far now it can’t function. A federal because their doctor brings it court ruled to reinstate Wilcox, to them. Others do the research themselves but the Republican-dominated Supreme and bring the trial to their doctor. Either way, Court blocked this action while litigation the system depends on support and stabil- is pending. ity—and right now, both are being threatened. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Chaundra is one of those patients. She Through a series of executive orders, recently traveled to Texas for treatment after discovering a promising trial. She brought Trump has also removed long-standing job it to her doctor in Chicago, who coordinated protections for federal career employees, with the team down south. Thankfully, the making it easier to fire these workers for no reason and taking away the rights of federal trial covered her travel and lodging costs. Chaundra knows she’s one of the fortunate workers to collectively bargain. ones. She has good insurance and the means UNION RIGHTS to cover additional expenses when needed. Trump’s assaults on union rights will But for countless others, that’s simply not have damaging ripple effects throughout the case. our economy. Unionized workers earn on GROWING UNCERTAINTY average 13.5 percent more than their nonWith Medicaid funding at risk, the uncer- unionized peers and enjoy better access to tainty grows even deeper. I recently visited health care, paid sick leave and retirement community health centers across my district benefits. Without competition from these jobs, — from Carlinville to Champaign — to learn many employers may cut non-union wages how Republicans’ proposed Medicaid cuts and benefits even further. would affect their ability to care for patients. Meanwhile, President Trump’s picks for And I’ve spoken to individuals relying on Treasury and Labor secretaries have made Medicaid who simply have no other options. clear they don’t support raising the minimum These cuts, these executive orders, these wage, even though it’s been stuck at just $7.25 quiet decisions from the White House— per hour for over 15 years. Some 20 states still they’re impacting people in real, immediate use the federal minimum, which is a poverty ways. They’re affecting the care our friends, wage even at full-time hours. family, and neighbors rely on—care that could TARIFFS mean another year, another month, or even another day. And the Economic Policy Institute estiWe cannot let short sighted policy decisions mates that 14 million U.S. workers earn less derail decades of medical progress, especially than $15 per hour, the level many advocates for cancer patients like Chaundra. We must want to raise the minimum to. Meanwhile, ensure that every patient has a fighting chance the Trump administration’s chaotic tariffs for a better and healthier life. Now more than threaten to increase consumer prices, making ever before, that’s exactly what I plan to do. it even more difficult for low-wage workers (Originally published in The News-Gazette.) to get by.
Opinions
DOGE ATTACKS ON FEDERAL WORKFORCE Led by Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, the administration has also been on a rampage against the federal workforce. As of the middle of April, the administration had fired over 121,300 federal workers, with many thousands more pressured to resign and more rounds of layoffs to come. These arbitrary and reckless cuts threaten to damage vital public agencies. For example, the administration is planning to cut over 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the agency that provides health care for retired military personnel. Labor Department cuts have led to the closure of more than 40 offices that inspect mines and other workplaces for safety. Additional planned layoffs will reduce the agency’s ability to ensure retirement benefits rights and prevent wage theft, discrimination, and child labor.
USAID The slashing of 10,000 U.S. Agency for International Development employees will lead to an additional 6.3 million people around the world dying from HIV-AIDS in the next four years.
SOCIAL SECURITY The Social Security Administration has laid off 7,000 employees and plans to cut 87 percent of regional office staff. These moves have already led to long wait times for support for people worried about losing this essential retirement benefit.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION And finally, the administration is attempting to fire 90 percent of the 1,700 employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. During its 14-year history, the CFPB has won nearly $21 billion in compensation for victims of fraud, racial discrimination in lending, and other financial abuse. At this key 100-day benchmark, the Trump administration faced a barrage of lawsuits, growing protests and falling approval ratings. So, while these early actions against working people have inflicted devastating effects on families across the country, the battle is by no means over. (Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project and co-edits Inequality. org at the Institute for Policy Studies. This op-ed was adapted from Inequality.org and distributed for syndication by OtherWords.org.)
LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 3
Help save babies’ lives, join the March for Babies May 31 Want to help provide support for mothers undergoing difficult births? Participate in the March for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes May 31 at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Team/individual registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m. March of Dimes National Labor Liaison Garry Torpea, a retired union representative with UFCW Local 655, said the St. Louis event is part of the organization’s annual walking fundraiser across America focused on improving the health and welfare of mothers and babies by raising funds to tackle our nation’s maternal and infant health crisis. Union members are encouraged to build a team of co-workers, family and friends and encourage them to make a donation to the effort, said Torpea, who travels the country for the March of Dimes encouraging unions and union members to support the charity’s efforts.
PROBLEM GREATER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE “The program is designed to raise awareness of issues that plague America in terms of maternal health, which are so much greater than people realize,” said Suzie Voss, executive director of the St. Louis program. Voss said the United States is “one of the most dangerous countries to give birth in because of health inequities and lack of access to proper care across the nation.”
TO SAVE BABIES’ LIVES and support healthy pregnancies, build your union’s team and join in the March for Babies May 31 at Laumeier Sculpture Park to support the March of Dimes.
The March of Dimes is dedicated to improving the health of mothers and babies by focusing on medical research, education, community programs and government advocacy.
SERVICES YOU’LL HELP FUND The March for Babies fundraiser helps support a variety of services and programs, including: • NICU Family Support® for families with a baby in the neonatal inten-
5 Fight
$
for e th
To help out-of-work union members, families
sive care unit (NICU). • Supportive Pregnancy Care® to promote healthy pregnancies and provide prenatal care where it’s needed most. • Funding research and innovation to address the most pressing maternal and infant health challenges. • Educating healthcare professionals and families with vital health information. • Advocating for laws to protect moms and babies.
DONATE To make a donation, go to https:// www.marchofdimes.org/support-march-for-babies?src=MFB.
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Midwest Tradeswomen Summit set for May 31 in Columbia, Mo.
The Midwest Tradeswomen Summit, sponsored in part by Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT), the Missouri Works Initiative (MWI) and the St. Louis Building & Construction Trades Council, is scheduled for Saturday, May 31. The event, which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks, will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Stephen’s College at 1200 E. Broadway in Columbia, Mo. It also includes a happy hour afterward at the college. The summit will include information on 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.
Guest speakers include Wendy Chun-Hoon, former director of the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau; Merri Berry, Missouri AFL-CIO secretary/treasurer; former Sen. Gina Walsh, of the International Insulators Union; Dr. John Gaal, MWI Worker Wellness program director; and Cristina Barillas-McEntee, director of Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment. The registration fee is $25 per person. Hotel accommodations are available at the Broadway Columbia, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, at 1111 E. Broadway in Columbia. Limited scholarships are available. To register, visit hwitkc.org/ registration. For more information, call 636-926-6948.
4 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
WAREHOUSE PRICES FURNACES • AIR CONDITIONERS • SUPPLIES
Iron Workers Local 396 celebrates 2025 graduates
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ST. LOUIS – Iron Workers Local 396 recently celebrated its 2025 graduates during a ceremony at the Local 396 union hall at 2500 59th St. “Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to the trade have earned you a place among the best in the industry,” the union shared on social media. “Welcome to the next chapter of your career – building the future with skill, strength, and union pride. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!”
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562’s Justin Manley opens RGM Plumbing Systems
(314) 739-1600 2550 Harley Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043
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CONGRATULATIONS to Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 member Justin Manley on the start of his new business, RGM Plumbing Systems. Justin (second from right) and his wife, Tiffany (center), are officially signatory with Local 562. Congratulating them on the start of their new business are (from left) Local 562 Business Representative Mark Morgan, Assistant Business Manager Bill Doherty, (Tiffany and Justin Manley) and Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer John O’Mara. – Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 photo
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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 5 the first Black man on the AFL-CIO executive board, and a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.
This Week In
Labor History
MAY 17
MAY 12
MAY 15
2008 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raid the Agriprocessors, Inc. slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrant workers. Some 300 are convicted on document fraud charges. The raid was the largest ever until that date. Several employees and lower and mid-level managers were convicted on various charges, but not the owner—although he later was jailed for bank fraud and related crimes.
1906 – U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Samuel Gompers and other union leaders for supporting a boycott at the Buck Stove and Range Co. in St. Louis, where workers were striking for a nine-hour day. A lower court had forbidden the boycott and sentenced the unionists to prison for refusing to obey the judge’s anti-boycott injunction. 1917 – The Library Employees’ Union is founded in New York City, the first union of public library workers in the United States. A major focus of the union was the inferior status of women library workers and their low salaries. 1920 – The first Labor bank opens in Washington, D.C., launched by officers of the Machinists. The Locomotive Engineers opened a bank in Cleveland later that year.
MAY 13 1909 – The Canadian government establishes the Department of Labour. It took the U.S. another four years. 1980 – UAW President Douglas A. Fraser is named to the Chrysler Corp. board of directors, becoming the first union representative ever to sit on the board of a major U.S. corporation. 1998 – Thousands of Yellow Cab drivers in New York City go on a oneday strike in protest of proposed new regulations. “City officials were stunned by the (strike’s) success,” the New York Times reported.
MAY 14 1953 – Milwaukee brewery workers begin 10-week strike, demanding contracts comparable to East and West Coast workers. The strike was won because Blatz Brewery accepted their demands, but Blatz was ousted from the Brewers Association for “unethical” business methods.
MAY 16 1934 – Minneapolis general strike backs Teamsters, who are striking most of the city’s trucking companies. 1938 – U.S. Supreme Court issues Mackay decision, which permits the permanent replacement of striking workers. The decision had little impact until Ronald Reagan’s replacement of striking air traffic controllers (PATCO) in 1981, a move that signaled anti-union private sector employers that it was OK to do likewise. 1979 – Black Labor leader and peace activist A. Philip Randolph dies. He was president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and
Notices
Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council
Third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Laborers’ Local 459 Hall, 100 N. 17th St., Belleville, Ill.
Greater Madison County Federation of Labor
Fourth Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Machinists Center, 161 N. Shamrock, East Alton.
Southwestern Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council
DELEGATES meet the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., at Steamfitters Local 439 hall, 1220 Donald Bailey Drive, Caseyville, Ill. BOARD OF BUSINESS AGENTS meets the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at IBEW Local 309 Hall. Office Address: 2A Meadow Heights, Professional Park Collinsville, Ill. 62234.
Egyptian Building and Construction Trades Council
Second Wednesday, 10 a.m. (unless notified) at IBEW Local 702 at 106 N. Monroe St., West Frankfort, Ill.
LOCAL UNIONS
Yucko’s Your Pooper-Scooper Service
(Compiled by David Prosten, founder Union Communication Services)
Union Meetings will be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month except December, 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
Boilermakers Local 363
Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 8 p.m. at the union hall, 2358 Mascoutah Avenue, Belleville.
IBEW Local 309
Regular union meetings are held on first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Local Union Hall, 2000 Mall Street, Route 157, Collinsville, Ill. Executive Board — Executive board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday preceding each regular union meeting at the IBEW Local 309 Hall, 2000A Mall St., Collinsville.
Iron Workers 392
Meets the last Friday of the month at 7 p.m. at 2995 Kingshighway, East St. Louis.
Operating Engineers 520
Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Friday of the month at the IUOE Local 520 Hall, 520 Engineer Rd., Granite City, IL 62040.
Operators Local 399
Third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at 24 East Ferguson, Wood River, Ill.
Painters District Council 58 Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 360
MAY 18 1912 – In what may have been baseball’s first Labor strike, the Detroit Tigers refuse to play after team leader Ty Cobb is suspended: he went into the stands and beat a fan who had been heckling him. Cobb was reinstated and the Tigers went back to work after the team manager’s failed attempt to replace the players with a local college team: their pitcher gave up 24 runs. 1917 – Amalgamated Meat Cutters union organizers launch a campaign in the nation’s packinghouses, an effort that was to bring representation to 100,000 workers over the following two years. 1928 – Big Bill Haywood, a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World (the Wobblies), dies in exile in the Soviet Union. 1950 – Atlanta transit workers, objecting to a new city requirement that they be fingerprinted as part of the employment process, go on strike. They relented and returned to work six months later. 1979 – Oklahoma jury finds for the estate of atomic worker Karen Silkwood, orders Kerr-McGee Nuclear Co. to pay $505,000 in actual damages, $10 million in punitive damages for negligence leading to Silkwood’s plutonium contamination.
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 101
Important Information From Your Union
ILLINOIS CENTRAL BODIES
2004 – Twelve Starbucks baristas in a midtown Manhattan store, declaring they couldn’t live on $7.75 an hour, signed cards demanding representation by the Industrial Workers of the World, or Wobblies.
Union meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Knights of Columbus Council 1712, One Columbus Plaza, Collinsville, IL 62234.
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 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.
ATTEND YOUR LOCAL UNION MEETINGS
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Trump says he slapped tariffs on foreign films because subtitles encourage reading
Washington – Offering an explanation for his sweeping tariffs on foreign films, on Tuesday Donald J. Trump argued that movies with subtitles “encourage reading.” “Parents think their kids are safely at the movies, not spending two hours reading,” he said. “This should never be allowed to happen in our country.” Calling the practice of reading “disgusting, quite frankly,” Trump said that the tariffs would cut off reading “at the source.” In his most dire warning, he claimed that reading subtitles could lead Americans to read books, and eventually the Constitution.
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 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
Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 1
First Friday, 7 p.m. at the Hoisting Engineers Hall, 3449 Hollenberg. Executive Board meets at 3325 Hollenberg on first Friday at 10 a.m.
Ironworkers Local 396
Union meetings on the last Friday of each month at 8 p.m. at the Union Hall, 2500 59th St., St. Louis, MO 63110.
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6 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
Laborers Local 42 treats retirees to a day at the ballpark St. Louis – Laborers Local 42 treated its retirees to its annual day at the ballpark Wednesday, May 7, at Busch Stadium. A great time was had by all as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-0. – Labor Tribune photos
BANKING MATTERS
Making Smart Financial Moves in an Uncertain Economy By WES BURNS Executive Vice President of Community and Economic Development The U.S. economy is in an in-between moment — steady in some areas, shaky in others. Not booming, but also not in crisis. And that kind of uncertainty can feel confusing when you’re trying to make smart choices for your family, your job, and your future.
WES BURNS
Where the Economy Stands Today • Prices remain high. Inflation has cooled from its peak, but everyday items like groceries, car insurance, and rent are still more expensive than before. Wages have risen, which helps, but for many families, it still feels like treading water. • Jobs are available, but employers are cautious. Unemployment is low (4.2% as of the latest jobs report), and many sectors are still hiring. But we’re seeing signs of a slowdown: job openings are down from last year, and some companies are scaling back on staff or freezing new hiring. • Borrowing is harder. With interest rates at their highest levels in years, loans for cars, homes, and credit cards are more expensive. These rates are helping slow inflation, but they also limit buying power for many families and small businesses. Economists expect the Federal Reserve to begin gradually lowering rates later this year, depending on inflation and job trends. • Consumer debt is rising. Many Americans are relying more on credit cards to cover daily expenses, and some
are only making minimum payments. It’s a sign of growing financial pressure despite a strong job market. • The housing market is tight. Even in St. Louis — where housing is generally more affordable than many other major metro areas — rents remain elevated. While prices aren’t rising as fast as in recent years, affordability is still a challenge, especially for first-time buyers and renters trying to build savings. • Growth is steady, not spectacular. The economy is still growing, but more slowly. Consumer spending is solid, while business investment is mixed. Global uncertainty — like geopolitical conflicts and supply chain shifts — adds to the cautious tone. What Does This Mean for Union Members and Families? Stability matters more than ever. It’s a time when good jobs with fair pay, strong benefits, and job security are worth fighting for — because not everyone has them. It’s also a time when preparation and unity matter. The next few years may bring more changes, but there are steps you can take right now to strengthen your financial footing. What Can You Do Now to Prepare for the Future? • Focus on your budget. Review your income and expenses regularly. Are there areas you can trim back? Even small changes — like canceling a subscription or cutting back on takeout — can make a big difference. • Bolster your savings. Emergency savings are your first line of defense against the unexpected. Don’t have one? It’s never too late to start. Aim to save enough to cover 3 to 6 months of essential expenses. Start small and stay consistent. Even $20 per paycheck adds up over time.
• Manage debt wisely. Prioritize paying off credit cards and other high-interest loans. If you’re juggling multiple debts, consider consolidation to streamline payments and potentially lower your interest rates. Try to avoid taking on new debt unless absolutely necessary. • Invest in your career. Now’s a great time to update your résumé and explore skill-building opportunities. Many unions offer training and certifications that can boost your job security or open new doors. • Don’t neglect your retirement fund. If retirement is years away, stay the course and let your investments ride out the bumps. If you’re nearing retirement, talk to a financial advisor about smart withdrawal strategies to minimize taxes and penalties. • Know your benefits and protections. Review your union contract and learn about unemployment insurance, healthcare options, and other resources available if your hours are reduced or your job changes unexpectedly. Many unions and community organizations offer financial counseling, job support, food assistance, and more. At Midwest BankCentre, we’re here for you — not just when times are easy, but through every chapter. Our team is ready to help you make confident financial decisions and protect what you’ve worked so hard for. Call us at 314-6315500 or visit MidwestBankCentre.com. Together, we can build a more secure future — no matter what the economy brings next. It Matters Where You Bank.
LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 7
Your Health Mind, Body, Spirit
CDC announces salmonella outbreak in Missouri, Illinois The CDC is announcing an outbreak of salmonella involving backyard poultry in six states, including Missouri and Illinois. Seven people have reportedly gotten sick from contact with infected ducks or chickens. Two cases were identified in Missouri, and one each in Florida, Illinois, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. They all had the same strain of salmonella — a version that has been traced to hatcheries in the past. The investigation is continuing, health officials said. The primary cause of Salmonella infection is ingesting contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked poultry, meat, eggs and dairy products, or contaminated produce. Salmonella bacteria can also spread through contact with infected animals, particularly reptiles, and through poor hygiene practices. Most salmonella symptoms show up as diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. The illness tends to last four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. The illness may require hospitalization for some people. Children younger than five and adults 65 and older as well as those with weakened immune
systems are more likely to catch a severe illness.
SYMPTOMS Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these severe symptoms: • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F. • Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving. • Bloody diarrhea. • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down. • Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up. Backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. These germs can easily spread to anything in the areas where the poultry live and roam. CDC health experts are offering tips for reducing risk of salmonella,
saying wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies or collecting eggs. They also recommend using a pair of dedicated boots or shoes for your chicken coop and take them off before entering your house. Salmonella symptoms include fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps six hours to six days after being exposed. You can get sick from touching your backyard poultry or anything in their environment and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing salmonella germs. Chicken owners are advised that healthy-looking and clean backyard poultry can carry salmonella germs. They can become infected by touching the birds or their environment and then touching their mouths or food. Keep birds and supplies outside the home, and keep young children who are more likely to put things in their mouths or not fully wash their hands away from birds.
AVOIDING SALMONELLA Here are some things you should do to avoid salmonella: • Refrigerate eggs to keep them fresh and slow the growth of germs. • Cook eggs until both the yolk and white are firm. Cook egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160°F to kill all germs. • If you have chickens, collect eggs often. Eggs that sit in the nest can become dirty or break. • Throw away cracked eggs. Germs on the shell can more easily enter the egg through a cracked shell. • Rub off dirt on eggs with fine sandpaper, a brush, or a cloth. Don’t wash eggs because colder water can pull germs into the egg.
Move more, live better By DR. GRAHAM A. COLDITZ Siteman Cancer Center It’s likely no surprise to read that physical activity is good for us. In fact, it may be hard to go a full day without seeing something positive about exercise and physical activity on the news or social media. What can sometimes get lost in all that, though, is how wide-ranging the benefits of physical activity can be. Better-known benefits include helping us live longer and keeping weight in check, as well as lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases. But physical activity can also have an impact on many other areas, including some that may sound a little abstract but might feel like they have a more direct effect on our day-to-day lives. One of these is how we feel about our lives, which is often referred to more technically as quality of life.
QUALITY OF LIFE While the research world has specific definitions of quality of life depending on what is being studied, one way to look at it is as an overall measure of how we feel life is going, across many different parts of it. It’s something very personal, and something we define for ourselves. “Scientifically, there’s ‘global’ quality of life, which generally encompasses an individual’s judgment of their satisfaction with life,” said Elizabeth Salerno, a behavioral scientist at WashU Medicine in St. Louis who specializes in physical activity research. “Then there’s health-related quality of life, which
includes physical, mental and social aspects of well-being.” And the evidence that physical activity can boost these quality-oflife measures is just as strong as it is that activity can lower the risk of chronic diseases, Salerno added. “Findings from multiple studies have demonstrated that people who receive physical activity interventions have better quality-of-life outcomes over time compared to those who did not get the interventions,” she said. It’s likely that the more physical activity we get, the bigger boost we get to our quality of life. At the same time, any amount of activity may also help.
GUIDELINES Recommended guidelines to get 150 minutes or more of physical activity each week is a great goal to work toward. But just moving more, whatever our starting point, likely has benefits too. Walking, cycling and gym classes are classic examples of physical activity. But gardening and dancing are See MOVEMENT page 15
8 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
Drive
American Union Wages, Union Wheels
2025 Lincolns have long history Named for a president and designed by a hat maker The radio station in my hometown of Paris, Tenn., only broadcast from dawn until dusk and played mostly country and gospel muWEAKS sic. I discovered KXOK-AM and Johnny Rabbitt one summer while visiting St. Louis. It was glorious. Until then I thought “Top 40” was a farming term. KXOK is long gone, but Johnny Rabbitt is alive and well. I spoke with him the other day. His real name is Ron Elz, a raconteur every bit as fun and famous as the character he portrayed on St. Louis radio for decades. A reader
of this humble column, Ron and I were chatting about cars, and he described a 1925 Lincoln that had been kept in a barn. The owner would start the car occasionally but never drove it and so the Lincoln remained remarkably intact over the years. While automobile brands have come and gone, Lincoln — like Ron and his alter ego Johnny Rabbitt — have endured.
FROM AIRCRAFT ENGINES TO CARS Henry M. Leland was one of the founders of Cadillac in 1902, which was purchased seven years later by General Motors. After a run-in with GM boss William C. Durant, Leland, then 74 years old, left to form the Lincoln Motor Company in 1917, primarily to build aircraft engines for the first World War. He chose the name Lincoln in honor of the
THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR is the most expensive model, starting at $99,995 and upwards to over $120,000. Based on the Ford Expedition, the 2025 Navigator introduces significant changes in its interior design and technology.
president he had voted for in 1864. When the war ended, Leland transitioned to manufacturing luxury automobiles. The Lincoln Model L was introduced in 1920, designed by Leland’s son-in-law, Angus Woodbridge, who had been trained as a lady’s hat maker, but the company went bankrupt in 1922. Lincoln was purchased by not-so-friendly rival and former business associate Henry Ford, who wanted to create a luxury brand for his company. It became a top-level competitor to Cadillacs, Packards and Rolls-Royces. The 1925 Model L got factory-installed bumpers and a nickel-plated radiator shell with a greyhound hood ornament. It also had a posh price tag from the $3,000s to upper $6,000s (over a hundred grand in today’s dollars). During 1925, 8,451 Lincoln Ls were built. Ford continued to improve on the car’s design. In 1936, the unibody-built Lincoln Zephyr was introduced with modern and aerodynamic styling that quickly caught the attention of consumers. The Zephyr was joined by the sleek Continental in 1940.
ALL-SUV LINEUP The Lincoln brand has been on a variety of body styles from twopassenger coupes in the 1920s to, inexplicably, a pickup truck in the 2000s. Luckily Lincoln rebounded from the ill-received Blackwood luxury pickup. The last sedan was the Continental, which ceased production in 2020 as Lincoln subsequently focused on an all-SUV lineup. Whether you’re looking for advanced technology, enhanced luxury, or a combination of both, the 2025 Lincoln lineup offers significant upgrades across all models. Three of the 2025 Lincoln
vehicles are made by UAW members in the United States. The Lincoln Nautilus is built in China for the Chinese and U.S. markets. The popular Lincoln Aviator is built in Chicago and the Lincoln Corsair and the Navigator are both made in Louisville, Ky. Lincoln remains Ford’s luxury brand, and most Lincoln models are fancier, quieter versions of existing Ford SUVs. The Lincoln Navigator, for example, is based on the Ford Expedition. Some models are available as hybrids. Here’s a look at what Lincoln offers for 2025.
2025 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR The top-of-the-line Navigator is not only the largest Lincoln SUV, but the most expensive, starting at $99,995 and upwards to over $120,000. The 2025 Navigator introduces significant changes, most notably in its interior design and technology. The Lincoln Navigator Black Label is the flagship of the Lincoln lineup, offering a luxurious and upscale experience with premium materials, advanced features and exclusive options. The most striking upgrade is the new 48-inch widescreen display that spans the entire dashboard, seamlessly integrating two curved screens for a truly immersive experience. The Navigator also adopts touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, which are displayed on the dashboard when activated, adding to the futuristic feel. On the outside, the Navigator sports a more refined front end with a full-width light bar inspired by the Nautilus. While the powertrain remains largely unchanged with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 producing 440 horsepower, the 2025 model includes some suspension tweaks
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THE 1925 LINCOLN MODEL L was priced from the $3,000s to upper $6,000s (over a hundred grand in today’s dollars). The Model L was introduced in 1920, designed by Angus Woodbridge, who had been trained as a lady’s hat maker.
•
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2025 LINCOLN AVIATOR The Lincoln Aviator, which hints at its Zephyr heritage, has received a fresh facelift and the addition of Lincoln BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, providing a more relaxed driving experience on compatible highways. The Aviator also features a larger 13.2-inch infotainment screen, replacing the previous 10.1-inch version, and now integrates Google Assistant for voice-activated controls. Priced from $57,530, the 2025 Aviator retains its 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine delivering 400 hp.
2025 LINCOLN NAUTILUS No one knows what effect President Trump’s tariffs will have on the Chinese-built 2025 Nautilus, which currently starts at $51,890. One of the key upgrades for 2025 is the enhancement of the Lincoln Digital Experience, which now offers a more intuitive interface on the standard 13.2-inch touchscreen. This year, additional driver-assist features, such as upgraded adaptive cruise control, will also be introduced. The Nautilus maintains its powerful engine lineup, but the focus for 2025 is on refining the user experience inside the cabin, making it even more driver-centric and luxurious.
2025 LINCOLN CORSAIR The little-est Lincoln, the compact luxury Corsair, continues to impress in 2025 with updates that prioritize comfort and connectivity. This year’s model comes with enhanced interior materials and additional soundproofing to ensure a quieter ride. With pricing from $39,485 the most affordable Corsair, uptown cousin to the Ford See LINCOLNS page 9
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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 9
Lincolns From page 8 Escape, features improved software for its infotainment system, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The exterior has received minor styling tweaks to keep the Corsair looking fresh and modern, ensuring it remains competitive with the Cadillac XT4, Audi Q3 and BMW X3 Lincoln has come a long way from 1917 and Henry Leland. Still
the innovator, Lincoln now offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions that show how luxury and fuel economy are not mutually exclusive. Ultimately, Lincoln is planning to launch up to five fully electric vehicles by 2026 to compete with GM’s Cadillac Lyriq. Watch this space for more. (Contact Kevin Weaks at kweaks@ labortribune.com.)
THE 2025 LINCOLN AVIATOR now features Lincoln BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, providing a more relaxed driving experience on compatible highways. Priced from $57,530, the 2025 Aviator has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 engine delivering 400 hp.
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2025 COSAIR – The compact luxury 2025 Corsair comes with enhanced interior materials and additional soundproofing to ensure a quieter ride. With pricing from $39,485 the most affordable Corsair is uptown cousin to the Ford Escape.
THE ELEGANT LINCOLN CONTINENTAL was introduced in 1940 and was in production for more than 50 years. The last Lincoln sedans, the Continental and the MKZ, ceased production in 2020 as Lincoln subsequently focused on an all-SUV lineup.
ZEPHYR – A reflection of the era’s Art Deco designs, the unibody-built Lincoln Zephyr was introduced in 1936 with modern and aerodynamic styling that quickly caught the attention of consumers. The Zephyr was joined by the Lincoln Continental in 1940.
10 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
USPS From page 1 RISKING MAIL AND TRUST
Don Maston, president of the National Rural Letter Carriers’
Association, said rural America is more reliant than any other group on the USPS and is the most affected
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when service is reduced. He pointed out that more than 100 million people live in ZIP codes subject to private carrier surcharges due to their remote location. “Any decision that erodes their connection to the postal service risks more than just lost mail; it risks lost trust,” he said. “Lawmakers and leaders alike should understand that the choices made now will shape how rural Americans view their elected representatives for years to come.” Maston stopped short of condemning Steiner’s nomination, instead urging him to “fully embrace” the USPS’ 250-year legacy and values. He said they were ready to work with him, but will be watching closely due to Steiner’s connections to FedEx, which he described as one of the USPS’ “largest and aggressively non-union competitors.” “The postal service is not a business in the traditional sense,” he said. “It is a national network that binds the country together, serving every American, no matter how remote their address.”
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Labor news organization People’s World dug into Steiner’s background with unions. A video posted by NALC showed Steiner bragging that under his leadership, Waste Management dropped from 32 percent unionized to 20 percent, and he had pulled WMI out of Teamsters’ pension fund to set up their own private pension. Teamsters Local 667 was the latest to try to organize a WMI site, in Memphis, Tenn. – home of FedEx. It lost 44-4, according to
People’s World. Steiner is expected to leave FedEx’s board before he takes over USPS, according to NPR. However, People’s World reports that he owns $8 million in FedEx stock. ActBlue estimates it at $7.4 million for nearly 35,000 shares.
WORSE THAN DEJOY “We can’t sugarcoat it. This is worse than when Trump installed DeJoy, much worse,” read the call to action from Annie Norman, campaign director for the Save the Post Office Coalition (SPOC). “DeJoy was a disaster, but at least he wasn’t on the board of a company that would actively profit from USPS’s destruction.” SPOC mobilized within hours, with more than 22,000 direct messages to the postal board in less than 24 hours to protest Steiner’s appointment. “We will not let the Trump administration, FedEx, or the postal board of governors privatize the post office. Not now. Not ever,” Norman said.
‘BLATANT CONFLICT OF INTEREST’ Other congressmen have issued their concerns: U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia) called it a “blatant conflict of interest and an attempt by President Trump to install a handpicked loyalist who he believes will put his interests over what may be best for the postal service and the American people,” according to NPR. A few months ago, Trump suggested a merger between the USPS and the Commerce Department, which was strongly protested by
USPS unions. Trump called the USPS “a tremendous loser” for the government. However, Steiner’s statement said he believed “strongly” in maintaining the USPS’s role as an independent establishment of the executive branch. The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 set up USPS to be independent of the White House, while previously it was a cabinet-level agency. Budzinski said keeping the postal service as a public good and defending the rights of postal employees are “non-negotiable.” “Our mail carriers and postal workers are the backbone of communities across the nation,” she said. “They are essential workers and everyday heroes who deserve respect, fair treatment, and the resources needed to serve the public effectively.” Steiner’s comments were included in the USPS press release announcing his appointment. “As the entity with the largest union membership in the United States, I look forward to engaging with the unions and management associations to ensure that together we create a world-class employment experience,” Steiner said. “I also look forward to working with industry associations, customers and policymakers as we chart a positive path forward. I am excited by the challenges ahead and by the many opportunities to shape a vibrant, durable and increasingly competitive future for the Postal Service.” NALC represents 295,000 active and retired letter carriers. NRLCA was established in 1903 and represents 130,000 career and non-career rural letter carriers.
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LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 11
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562’s Adam Johnson opens Johnson and Sons Mechanical
CONGRATULATIONS to Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562’s Adam and Megan Johnson (and family) on opening their new business earlier this year, Johnson and Sons Mechanical, a Local 562 signatory contractor. “Thanks for signing with Local 562,” the union shared on social media. ”We cannot wait to see where your future goes and for the ‘sons’ part of your name to be active one day.” – Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 photo
Teamsters Local 688’s Scott Daniels retiring after 31 years
BEST WISHES to Teamsters Local 688’s Scott Daniels (right) on his retirement from the union after 31 years, 26 of which were spent driving for Willow Springs UPS. Celebrating the occasion with Daniels is Local 688 Shop Steward Andrew Brower. – Teamsters Local 688 photo
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Forbes’ Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rankings are based on the 12-month period ending June 30 of the year prior to publication and selected by SHOOK Research, LLC from a pool of nominations as indicated in the methodology. The rankings may not be representative of any one client’s experience and are not indicative of the financial advisor’s future performance. For more information, see www.stifel.info/award-disclosures. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com
12 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 Register at http://www.nawicstl. org/golf-tournament.html.
Golf
Tournaments Coming to Your Area
Union and worker-friendly golf tournaments 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 17 – IBEW Local 1439 Tom Kraus 29th Annual GolfTournament, 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 GolfTournament, 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. 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. May 28 – National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Scholarship Golf Tournament will tee off at 8 a.m. at Tapawingo National Golf Club, 13001 Gary Player Dr, St. Louis, Mo. 63127. Entry fee is $175 per golfer or $700 per foursome with Mulligans and skins available. Available sponsorships range from $150 to $1,200.
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 Park 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 314739-6200.
June 10 – LiUNA Midwest Region Annual Charity Golf Outing will begin with an 11:45 a.m. registration and lunch, followed by a 1 p.m. start at The Oaks Golf Course in Osage Beach, Mo. Entry fee is $250 per golfer, or $1,000 for a foursome. Hole sponsorships at $400. Platinum sponsorships, which includes a tee sign and table recognition at two events, are $800. Make checks payable to Midwest Region Laborers Veterans Committee and mail to LIUNA Midwest Region, 1 N. Old State Capitol Plaza, Suite 525, Springfield, Ill. 62701. For more information, contact Tim Ryan, TriFunds coordinator at 217-522-3381. June 10 – The 18th Annual Illinois AFL-CIO Golf Outing will begin with a 1 p.m. tee off at The Rail Golf Course, 1400 S. Club House Drive, Springfield, Ill. For those who would rather golf in the morning, 7:30 a.m. tee times are available on a first come, first served basis. Dinner will follow golf at 6 p.m. Entry fee is $250 per golfer. Hole sponsorships are $300. Other sponsorships range from $1,500 to $5,000. Make checks payable to Illinois AFL-CIO COPE, 534 S. Second St., Ste. 200, Springfield, Ill. 627011764. For more information, contact Terri Payne at 217-492-2622 or email terrip@ilafl-cio.org. June 13 –Wood River Township Democratic Committeemen’s Golf Scramble will begin with registration from 10 a.m., followed by a noon shotgun start at Belk Park Golf Course at 880 Belk Park Road in Wood River, Ill. Dinner and awards will immediately follow golf. Entry fee is $100 per golfer or $400 for a foursome and includes golf, carts, lunch, dinner and refreshments. Sponsor-
ships range from $125 to $1,000. Register by June 6. Make checks payable to Wood River Township Democrats and mail registration form and check to B. Dean Webb, 161 N. Shamrock St., East Alton, Ill. 62024. For more information, call Phil Little at 618-444-2382, Bill Robertson at 618-251-4600 or B. Dean Webb at 618-259-8558 or 618-604-0858. June 14 – The 10th Annual Page A. Lucks Memorial Charity Golf Scramble, hosted by Painters District Council 58 P.A.T.C.H. (Painters and Allied Trades for Children’s Hope) Fund will begin with an 8 a.m. four-person scramble shotgun start at Florissant Golf Club, 50 Country Club Lane, Florissant, Mo. 63033. Registration opens at 7 a.m., and 50/50 tickets and mulligans can also be purchased. Sponsorships range from $200 to $800. Entry fee is $600 for a foursome. Make checks payable to DC 58 PATCH and mail to 2501 59th Street, St. Louis, Mo. 63110. Send hole sponsorship name and logo to swayland@dc58.org no later than Friday, May 16. For more information, contact 314-647-3327. June 17 – SEIU Local 1 Charitable Trust Golf Outing Scholarship Fundraiser will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start at COG Hill Country Club, 12294 Archer Ave., Lemont. Ill. 60439. Individual entry fee for golf/dinner is $250, or $1,000 for a foursome. Dinner only is $100. Sponsorships range from $1,000 to $5,000. For more information, contact Efrain Elias at 312-233-8777 or eliase@seiu1.org or Rosy Villa at 312-233-8889 or villar@seiu1.org. June 21 – Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Golf Tournament to benefit the BAC ADC of Eastern Missouri PAC Fund will begin with a 7 a.m. registration and 8 a.m. tee-off at Sugar Creek Golf Course and Banquet Center, 5224 Country Club Drive, High Ridge, Mo. 63049. Entry fee of $75 per golfer includes green fee and cart. The tournament will include attendance prizes, food and refreshment, plus prizes awarded for Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive. Luncheon and awards will be held after the tournament at the ADC Hall, located at 1670 Fenpark Drive in Fenton. Entry limited to first 40 teams. Entries must be pre-paid and received by June 16. No payments will be allowed the day of the event. For more information or donation inquiries, contact committee member Terry Daniel at 314-621-5560. Sept. 27 – AFSCME Local 799 Golf Tournament will tee off with an 8 a.m. fourperson scramble shotgun start at Arlington Greens Golf Course, 200 Arlington Dr., Granite City, Ill. 62040. Entry donation of $90 per person or $360 per team includes golf, food, beverages and prizes. Sponsorships range from $100 to $1,000. Make checks payable to AFSCME Local 799 and mail to AFSCME, P.O. Box 125 Edwardsville, Ill. 62025. For more information, contact Bruce at 618-301-2496 or Mike at 618-550-4321.
LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 13
Calendar of Events Save the Date MAY May 17 – Painters District Council 58 Riding Club Poker Run will begin with registration from 10 to 11 a.m. at the District Council 58 union hall at 2501 59th St. in St. Louis. All vehicles are welcome. The cost is $20 per hand and $5 for additional hands. There will also be a shotgun raffle and attendance prizes. To register, visit facebook.com/share/192CheqJjL /?mibextid+wwXlfr. May 17 – Teamsters National Black Caucus St. Louis Chapter Fish Fry & Cigar Event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at Teamsters Local 688 at 4349 Woodson Road in North St. Louis County. A $20 admission fee includes a meal and one beverage, and there will be raffle prizes. For more information, contact Ron Taylor at 314-513-5808 or LaMark Thompson Sr. at 314-513-5803. 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 Missouri 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. May 31 – St. Louis City Legislative Labor Club Annual Pinball Tournament Fundraiser opens at noon and play begins at 1 p.m. at the Silver Ballroom at 4701 Morganford in St. Louis. The cost is $20 per person, and players must be 21 or older. Proceeds for the event will benefit the club’s Political
5 Fight
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To help out-of-work union members, families
Action Committee, which provides funds to support Labor-friendly candidates.
JUNE June 7 – 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 St. Louis. The cost is $40 per person or $75 per team. Lane sponsorships are $100 each. To register, visit etapestry.com/onlineforms/MissouriWomenInTrades/cornhole.html. 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 636-926-6948.
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Have something for the Calendar? Send it to Sheri Gassaway at Labor Tribune, 301 S. Ewing Ave., St. Louis, MO 63101 or email sheri@labortribune.com.
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14 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
St. Louis Union Solidarity Ride/ Poker Run set for June 22 The IBEW Local 1 Electrical Workers Riding Club (EWRC) is once again hosting its annual St. Louis Union Solidarity Ride/Poker Run on Sunday, June 22. The ride/poker run, which is open to all union members, starts with registration at 8:30 a.m. at the Local 1 union hall at 5850 Elizabeth Ave. in St. Louis. The last bike will leave the hall at 10 a.m. The event will include attendance prizes, raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle and a cash award for the winning hand. Last year’s event was a huge success, drawing members of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, Teamsters, Painters and other regional electrical unions. “Last year, we had between 50 and 70 participants, and we’re hoping for even more this year,” said EWRC President Mike Crocker. “We started doing this a couple years ago because it would be a good way to get everybody from all unions together.” The fee is $30 per person and includes breakfast at the second stop. Stops include UNITE HERE Local 74 houses, The Irish Gypsy
UNION SOLIDARITY – The IBEW Local 1 Riding Club is hosting its annual St. Louis Union Solidarity Ride/Poker Run on Sunday, June 22. Last year’s event was a huge success, drawing members of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562, Teamsters, Painters and other regional electrical unions . – Labor Tribune file photo
in O’Fallon, Mo. and Moose Lodge in Wood River, Ill., as well as Hawg Pit in Grafton, Ill. and Hotshots in
Wentzville. For more information, contact Mike Crocker at 636-275-8768.
UAW Local 2250 welcomes 16 new members
WENTZVILLE – UAW Local 2250 recently welcomed 16 new members (14 of whom are shown) during an April 10 orientation at the Local 2250 union hall at 1395 E. Pearce Blvd. The members will work in production at the Wentzville GM Assembly Plant across the street. – UAW Local 2250 photo
Notices From page 5
Laborers Local 110
4532 S Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63127. Meetings are the second Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
Painters District Council 58 Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562
Second Wednesday of each month, 6 p.m. at Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 Training Center, 3755 Corporate Trail Dr., Earth City, MO 63045.
Roofers Local 2
The regular meetings of Roofers’ Local 2 are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Roofers’ Hall, 45 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. The Executive Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday before the regular monthly meeting.
Sheet Metal Workers Local 36
St. Louis Area Regular Monthly Meeting: Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6 p.m., Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Avenue, 63103 St. Louis Area Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee Meeting: Third Monday of each month, 5 p.m., Grand Hall, 2319 Chouteau Avenue, 63103 South East MO Area Monthly Informational Meeting: Last Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Communication Workers Hall, 1131 N. Kingshighway, Suite 2C, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 Central MO Area Monthly Informational Meeting: Last Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., Labor Temple, 209 Flora Ave, Jefferson City 65101.
Sprinkler Fitters and Apprentices Local 268
Regular meetings at 5 p.m. second Thursday of month at the Union Hall, 1544 S. Third St., St. Louis, MO 63104.
St. Louis Theatrical Brotherhood Local 6 I.A.T.S.E.
Regular monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at 1611 S. Broadway.
Teamsters Joint Council 13 Teamsters Local 688
4349 Woodson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63134
Tile-Marble Setters & Finishers, Mosaic & Terrazzo Workers & Finishers Local 18 MO
Meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at ADC Union Hall, 1670 Fenpark, Fenton, MO 63026.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 655
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. — Monday through Friday. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. 300 Weidman Rd., Ballwin, MO. Retirees’ Club: The UFCW Local 655 Retirees’ Club meets at The Christy Banquet Center, 5856 Christy Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63116, on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. Regular Quarterly Business Meetings of the Local: Effective January 1, 2020, The Regular Quarterly Business Meetings of UFCW Local 655 will be on the third Monday of February, May, August, and November at 7 p.m. The meetings are held at the Local 655 Union Hall. You can also view a live stream of our Quarterly Membership Meetings on our Facebook page, www. facebook.com/UFCW655.
UFCW Meat, Deli & Seafood Local 88
Office: 5730 Elizabeth Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: (314) 644-6328.
United Media Guild Local 36047
Executive board meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday at the TNG-CWA Local 36047 office, Room 1040 at 1015 Locust St., St. Louis.
Utility Workers Local 335
74 Woodstream, Moscow Mills, MO 63362
BUY
AMERICAN
LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025 • 15
Layoffs From page 1 Freeburg Village Administrator Matt Trout told the Belleville News-Democrat that it would have a big impact on the small Illinois town. Freeburg Mayor Seth Speiser told KSDK that while there had been multiple rumors that the plant could close, the company had just invested in six expensive robots. “We thought maybe they weren’t leaving,” he said.
‘CALCULATED BETRAYAL’ Harris said this is more than just a plant closure. “It’s a calculated betrayal of working families by a corporation that has lost its moral compass,” he said. “Today, the town of Freeburg mourns not just the loss of jobs, but the loss of dignity, stability, and nearly a century of American craftsmanship.”
LAYOFFS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER
He also pointed out that the Wiegmann workers stayed on the job during the pandemic, classified as essential workers. “Now, in pursuit of an estimated additional $4 million in annual profit, the company has opted to abandon these loyal, skilled union members,” Harris said. “Such a decision reflects a clear prioritization of short-term financial gain over long-standing commitments to its workforce and community.”
The workers will be laid off beginning Sept. 1 through early 2026, according to the WARN notice required by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for large-scale layoffs. Harris said the union will work with state officials to make sure the affected workers receive the support they deserve.
tion services in six states throughout the Midwest. • The Riding Boss Program, which received the Leadership Institute Award. The Riding Boss program is an innovative collaboration between the Mason Contractors Association and the Bricklayers and Allied Crafts Administrative District Council to prevent suicide and provide support within their industry. • Wade Johnson, who received the Digital Hub Award. Johnson
encouraged the development of nontraditional apprenticeships and ways of capturing and tracking the mentor/mentee connection under his role as the U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship representative. Most recently, he was instrumental in encouraging the development of the Construction Forum’s Certified Survey Technician Program. • Kevin Buchek, who won the Knowledge Lab Award. Buchek, CEO of Roanoke Construction, has
This includes access to dislocated worker programs through the Illinois Department of Employment Security, which can provide retraining, resume assistance and job placement; trade adjustment assistance, a federal program for extended unemployment, education and relocation assistance when jobs are outsourced to Mexico; and direct union assistance in job placement both locally and in neighboring regions.
Price From page 1 critical workforce shortages in the general supply chain, aerospace, manufacturing and transportation sectors. Six recently graduated from the first cohort of the ARM program.
Price said after the event. “I’ve had a lot of mentors in the Labor Movement who have helped me along the way. Without our team, none of this would be possible.”
‘HUMBLING’
Other awardees at the event included: • The Goley Companies, which received the Coordinating Council Award. Founded in 1973, the Golay Companies is a third-generation family business providing insula-
Price, who joined the MWI in 2022, said receiving the award was humbling. “My work at the Missouri Works Initiative is truly rewarding, and it’s an honor to receive this award,”
Movement From page 7
types of activities that can also be included. And we can creatively piece these exercises and activities together throughout our busy days and weeks. “Any bit of activity counts toward your ‘total,’ ” Salerno said. “That means that a quick five-minute walk to the store or a 60-second jog up or walk down the stairs contributes to better health. Structured, goal-oriented exercise is still important, but maintaining a physically active lifestyle as much as possible is crucial.”
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16 • LABOR TRIBUNE • Thursday, May 15-21, 2025
Why do Republicans in Jefferson City despise voters? By DAVID A. COOK President Labor unions, despite what some of our loudest critics might say, are generally bipartisan as a rule. We can’t afford to put all our eggs in one political basket, and both Democrats and RepubliCOOK cans have the capacity to be friends of working people if they choose. “Bipartisan” doesn’t mean ‘equally supportive of both sides” though, and while I am happy to say we have a handful of friendly Republican politicians in Missouri, it is that same Republican party that has repeatedly shown nothing but contempt for the will of their own voters.
PROPOSITION A Last November, Missouri voters approved Proposition A, a sweeping change to our minimum wage law that also provided for earned paid sick time for all Missouri workers, both union and non-union. This was unquestionably a victory for working people. Paid time off, particularly for illness, is a crucial benefit enjoyed by many workers around the world, often far beyond what Americans typically get. In the past few months, politicians in Missouri and specifically Republican Party politicians have actively sought to gut this law despite its approval by Missouri voters. It should be worth noting that Prop A was popular in both rural and urban communities and passed with clear bipartisan support. The voters spoke clearly on this issue and their voice was heard. Well, their voice “might” be heard. By the time you read this, we may know what has ultimately come to pass, but I write this days before the end of the legislative session in Jefferson City. One of the final priorities of the Missouri Senate Republicans
is to overturn the will of the voters and take away a benefit they have clearly supported.
GUTTING PAID SICK LEAVE Led by Senate Pro-Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, whose district covers a large portion of the northeast corner of the state, Senate Republicans are fighting hard to overturn any paid sick time for workers. If they can’t fully gut the law don’t worry, they’ll just make sure that union members aren’t entitled to it if they get their way. I’ve rubbed elbows with plenty of politicians in my day, I’ve seen contentious negotiations up close and I’m proud to say I’ve worked hard to forge bipartisan allies to fight for workers and push back against the staggering power of big business. In my decades of experience, I have found Sen. O’Laughlin to be one of the most disingenuous and frustrating politicians I have ever worked with. The Senate Pro-Tem has not negotiated in good faith and has repeatedly moved the goal posts, changed her positions, and worked to undermine any attempts to reach a reasonable compromise on this issue. I am proud to say that Senate Democrats are doing everything in their power to put a stop to this undemocratic attempt to undermine voters. Leadership in the upper chamber has done everything possible to preserve the voters’ will and I’m proud to have worked with them to achieve this goal.
FRUSTRATING The most frustrating part of this process is that I fully expected it to happen. As many of you know, Jefferson City politicians – and Republicans in particular – have a long history of simply ignoring the will of voters when that will does not align with their own views: • When voters tried to curtail puppy mills, Republicans stepped in and overruled them. • When voters went to the ballot and voted for reasonable regulations on concealed weapons, Republicans went to Jefferson City to stop them.
UFCW Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month The month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to pay tribute to AAPIs and their many contributions to our communities, country, and union family. The origins of this celebration date back to 1977, when Representative Frank Horton of New York and Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii introduced resolutions to proclaim a week in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. When neither of these resolutions passed, Representative Horton introduced a similar resolution in 1978, which was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by President Jimmy Carter that same year. In 1992, Congress designated the month of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.
Emerging from a history of legalized exclusion—ranging from barriers to entering the U.S. to restrictions from participating in acts like owning land—the role Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played in Labor history is an important one. Labor heroes like Philip Vera Cruz, a Filipino Labor organizer instrumental in the formation of the United Farm Workers Union, and Gene Viernes and Silme Domingo, who cofounded the Alaska Cannery Workers Association, were instrumental in building an AAPI labor alliance and helped move towards an era where there are now more than 600,000 AAPI union members across the country. Throughout the month, the UFCW will pay tribute to the culture and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their positive impact on the Labor Movement. If your local has a member activist you would like to profile during AAPI Heritage Month, please contact Julie Anderson at janderson@ufcw.org.
PROP A VICTORY – The Rev. Teresa Danieley, of Missouri Jobs with Justice, cheers after Missouri voters passed Proposition A, which raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and provides paid sick leave. – Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio photo
• Legal cannabis, minimum wage, paid sick leave, campaign finance reform — all of these issues were put before the voters at the ballot box. Each time, the voters spoke with a clear voice about what they wanted. Each time, Republicans stepped in within a year or two and gutted or outright reversed what the voters chose. Every. Single. Time. As if this could not be frustrating enough, many times politicians outright refusing to hear the voters’ voice are residing in districts where the issue in question passed! Their own constituents spoke, and these elected officials put their fingers in their ears and ignored them, a shameful failure to respect the defend the very people who elected them.
ACCEPT THE RESULTS I understand we won’t always agree on key
issues. We wouldn’t need elections if we always agreed. I have lived here long enough to see the voters speak on countless issues. Sometimes I am personally pleased with what they decide, sometimes I am not, but I am always resigned to the outcomes and willing to accept the results. To watch elected officials — the very people we elect to represent us — openly ignore their own voters is simply disgusting. Missouri voters would be furious if they could see the contempt that some of their elected officials have for their will. I don’t have a perfect solution to this problem, but I know where to start; voters should vote on the actual positions their politicians hold. Stop voting based on what letter they have by their name and start voting based on how they stand on issues that impact you.
GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR UNION
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