BY BETSY FARLEY
DECATUR, Illinois - Striking and locked-out unionists in this city are urging supporters to attend a June 25 solidarity march and rally. Called by United Paperworkers International Union (UPIU) Local 7837, United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 751, and United Rubber Workers (URW) Local 713, the date marks the two-year anniversary of the lockout by A.E. Staley Mfg. of 760 corn processing workers here. It is also five days after the one year anniversary of the nationwide strike of UAW members against Caterpillar.

URW Local 713 members on strike against Bridgestone/Firestone, who voted May 7 to unconditionally return to work, will also be participating in the action.

"What's happening to workers here is what's in store for everyone," said Tonia Van Scyoc, a volunteer worker in the Staley Worker's Campaign for Justice office and wife of a locked-out Staley worker.

The call for the protest action comes as Caterpillar management steps up its assault on the UAW. On May 1, the Peoria Journal Star reported that all UAW members on strike had received a letter from Caterpillar's vice president of human services, Wayne Zimmerman, informing them they must return to work by June 1 or they will cease accruing pension benefits.

"It's not going to bother me," said Don Mason, a boiler room fireman with 27 years' seniority. "They're just trying to use scare tactics to get people to cross. I'm going to stay right out here," he said, pointing to the picket shack at Caterpillar's HH gate in East Peoria, Illinois.

On May 9, Caterpillar rejected the UAW's proposal to negotiate May 11 in St. Louis. Zimmerman accused the union of not revealing its position on many of the demands the company is placing on the workers such as wages, benefits, and seniority.

"We're getting used to that," said Larry Harris, a member of UAW Local 974 in East Peoria. "We all want them to get in there and get something settled but I'm not going back in there without a signed contract."

Several workers on the picket lines in East Peoria said they will be going to Decatur June 25. Unionists are also planning a one-day labor conference June 24 at the Allied Industrial Workers union hall.

Meanwhile, representatives of UPIU Local 7837 and A.E. Staley met with federal mediators May 10 in Hinsdale, Illinois, to discuss a settlement. In January, the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., ruled against the union, upholding a regional labor board's decision that the company lockout was legal.

At a union meeting in March, the majority of the local members voted to mandate the UPIU bargaining committee to seek a resolution to the lockout and bring any company offer directly to the membership for a vote.

Company negotiators took the proposals from the meeting and said they would respond in two weeks.  
 
 
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