National College Players Association - United Steelworkers

Delegates to the 2011 Conventionof the Steelworkers Organizationof Active Retirees(SOAR) resolved to increasemembership and activism, two goalssupported later in the week by delegatesto the USW Constitutional Convention,also held in Las Vegas.“The reality is that SOAR chaptersin the United States and Canada continueto make great contributions tothe struggles of our members and thestruggles of society,’’ International PresidentLeo W. Gerard told 164 delegateswho attended a SOAR conference heldin Las Vegas this August before theUSW Convention.Recognizing SOAR as an advocatefor the union and its retirees, Conventiondelegates pledged to assist the retireeorganization in its plan to increasemembership, currently 70,000, throughlocal recruiting efforts and dues collectionchanges.The delegates unanimously approveda resolution honoring SOAR, its currentpresident, Connie Entrekin, and pastPresident Lynn R. Williams, who wasinstrumental in SOAR’s creation.While International President in themid-1980s, Williams pushed the unionto keep activists and leaders connectedto the USW and active in its strugglesafter retirement.“You’ve fought for the future in yourlocal union, in your districts, and in thisinternational union,’’ Gerard told theSOAR delegates. “Some of you foughtto build it, some of you fought to growit, some of you fought to protect it. It’smy generation’s job to fight to nutureit, to make sure it gives our kids andgrandkids at least the same shot at lifethat we had.”In the resolution, USW delegatesalso pledged to assist SOAR in expandingits membership by making it a priorityto negotiate SOAR dues check off inemployment contracts.The resolution also urges all localunions to provide the first year’smembership in SOAR to all retireesand surviving spouses in accordancewith resolutions passed at four previousconventions.“We pledge to SOAR and its membersthat the union will continue toconsider the interests of USW retirees inall of its bargaining, social, legislativeand political efforts in recognition of thecommonality of interest between activemembers and our retirees,’’ the resolutionsaid.“We will build upon our presentlinks to SOAR and seek new ways toinvolve SOAR members and retirees inthe organizing, corporate campaigns,legislative, political and other endeavorsof our union.”SOAR opened its two-day conferencethe weekend before the USW Conventionbegan with a call to arms fromGerard, who urged SOAR delegates to“take to the streets” to defend programsin both the United States and Canadathat are under attack by conservativepolitical parties.“We need to show our anger,’’ Gerardsaid as he urged retirees to continuetheir activism to protect health care,Social Security, Medicare and Medicaidfrom the budget-cutting process underwayin Washington, D.C.18 USW@Work • Fall 2011SOAR delegatesPhoto by Steve Dietz