BY DAVE WELTERS

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - Striking steelworkers at Wheeling- Pittsburgh Steel are trying to get out the truth about their fight. The 4,500 members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) struck October 1 at eight mills in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. They walked out in opposition to the company's "final contract offer," which gutted health insurance coverage, eliminated seniority and job protection provisions, and failed to provide an adequate pension plan.

The pension proposal by WHX Corporation, the parent company that owns Wheeling-Pittsburgh, is inferior to all other integrated steelmakers.

More than 2,000 workers attended a pre-strike rally September 22 in a public show of unity in their fight. Strikers have also been asking businesses in communities around steel mills in three states to post signs of support for their struggle. The walls at the union hall list the hundreds of businesses that agreed, as well as a few that didn't.

Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. vice president Laura Garza visited the picket line in Steubenville October 7 to learn about the strike.

One of the 15 pickets, Kenny Poole, told Garza the company is trying to portray the strikers as greedy and overpaid. "They want people to think we turned down a $1,600 per month pension," he said. Poole said that all too often the media repeat company statements without checking the facts.

Strikers agree that a decent pension is the most important issue. The current plan has been in effect since 1985 when Wheeling-Pittsburgh went into bankruptcy and locked out workers for over three months. The company's pension obligations were assumed by the government's Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp.

"In December, I want to get out of here," striker Don Carson, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We've had enough. The company didn't want to give us anything. All we ask is for a better retirement," said the 61-year-old crane operator who has worked in the mill since 1953.

"We saved the company in the '80s. We made big sacrifices," picketer Bill Morris pointed out. "Now the money's there. This is our only shot at a reasonable retirement."

Morris is a committeeman for USWA Local 1190, one of the eight locals bargaining together in the strike. He said under the current pension plan a worker retires with $640 per month after 40 years in the mill. The union wants a plan that guarantees workers $40 per year for each year of service, which is comparable to other steel agreements.

Many of the union members we talked to explained that the company's offer of $1,200 to $1,600 per month was misleading. That plan would apply only to those who reached the age of 62 during the life of the contract, and then be subject to renegotiation. The union wants a permanent plan with protections in the event of a plant shut-down.

Strikers have differing views on how long the walkout will last. "It'll be a long one," said Carson, echoing the remarks of many workers. "I think it's going to get nasty later on."

One picket said the company worked them overtime in preparation for the strike, and has built up a three- to six- month stock.

Others were more optimistic for an earlier settlement.

Morris and Dorothy Swearingen, editor of the union local's newsletter, encouraged others to join them on the picket lines. "One thing we want people to know," Morris said, "is we're in this for the long haul."

Dave Welters is a member of the International Association of Machinists Local 1976 at USAir in Pittsburgh.  
 
 
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