BY RAY PARSONS, AMANDA ULMAN, AND VERÓNICA POSES
DES MOINES, Iowa - Hundreds of workers turned out in
support of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 164
at two actions here May 16. Since May 1, some 650 members of
Local 164 have been on strike against Titan Tire over
excessive overtime, job security, pension benefits and
health care for retirees, and other issues. Titan Tire is a
manufacturer of agricultural, industrial, and military
tires.
About 175 strikers, family members, and supporters from other unions gathered early May 16 at Labor Ready, an employment agency hired by Titan Tire bosses to recruit strikebreakers. The protesters leafleted job seekers, appealing for support for their strike. A few days before the rally, Titan owner Maurice Taylor Jr. held a press conference in Des Moines. He threatened to begin using replacement workers if strikers did not return to work while contract talks continued.
Capturing the common response of most Local 164 strikers, one unionist said, "We voted not to do that and that's the way it's going to be."
Taylor also asserted that work would be transferred out of Des Moines to other Titan facilities if the union did not end its strike. Since May 10 ads have appeared in the Des Moines Register for replacement workers. Taylor said he expected 700 to 1,000 to apply. Unionists who rallied at Labor Ready estimated that only 30 people came for Titan applications in the four hours they were there May 16.
One worker who did apply came back out and spoke to the protesters. "I didn't realize how bad the conditions were in there. I'm not going to work like that and I'm not going to cross your picket line," he said.
Other potential line crossers decided not to apply after seeing the union supporters rallied around the Labor Ready office, winning cheers from the crowd. Titan personnel director Joyce Kane was present to oversee the hiring at Labor Ready. She was met with boos from strike supporters.
The Labor Ready office used by Titan for recruiting strikebreakers is located in the Black community of Des Moines. Ako Abdul-Samad, head of nearby community center Creative Visions, reported that Labor Ready sought to recruit out of his facility as well. "We told them we wouldn't participate because we thought it was a divisive move.... We want to find jobs, but not at the expense of others," Abdul-Samad explained.
"We will win!" was the theme of the rally held at the USWA Local 164 union hall later May 16. More than 400 workers participated, with a broad array of unions represented. The unionists marched to the main entrance of the Titan plant and ended the rally there.
At the Bridgestone/Firestone tire plant across town, members of USWA Local 310 circulated flyers to build the rally. More than 25 workers turned out.
A team of Local 164 strikers distributed rally flyers outside the John Deere Des Moines Works May 13. "We need to build solidarity," said Frank Holland, a member of United Auto Workers Local 450. Holland and another UAW member invited the strikers to come to their workplace after learning about Titan's recruiting of strikebreakers. Ten members of UAW Local 450 joined the rally.
Ten members of USWA Local 307 who work at the Goodyear tire plant in Topeka, Kansas, drove up to show their support. Local 307 member Denny Coffee said, "We felt it's important to show unity or we're going to lose." The steelworkers in Topeka are fighting the imposition of the 12- hour shifts now common throughout the rubber industry.
Representatives of USWA Local 303L at the Fidelity tire plant in Natchez, Mississippi, also came. Fidelity is being bought by Titan owner Taylor.
Curt Neumann, a member of Teamsters Local 90 at United Parcel Service (UPS) in Des Moines, said, "Several of us came because we wanted to find out more about this fight. We had good support during our strike, and we want to return the favor." The Teamsters won a major strike victory against UPS last year.
Tom Smith, a member of UAW 974 at Caterpillar in East Peoria, Illinois came to the rally with another UAW supporter. Smith was one of the 160 unionists fired by Caterpillar during the seven year contract struggle there. UAW members at Caterpillar forced the company to rehire the "illegally terminated" as part of the contract settlement reached this year.
Speakers at the rally included two Democratic Party politicians and a number of labor officials.
Jeff Doornenbal, president of USWA Local 310 at Bridgestone/Firestone, spoke to "reaffirm that 310 will be beside you all the way through this damned thing."
John Peno, president of Local 164, closed out the program. He restated the unionists' demands around job security; relief from forced, 60-hour workweeks; an end to the inequities of the two tier wage system; and a pension plan with medical benefits for future retirees.
Peno reported that more than 70 area businesses had placed placards supporting the strike in their store windows, and that 1,400 yard signs reading "We support Titan workers in their fight for justice" had been produced. The signs have started to sprout up on lawns around Des Moines. Peno encouraged rally participants to return to Labor Ready for strike breaker hiring scheduled the next day.
Rick Swin, a mechanic with 10 years at Titan said, "It's my third time on strike but this one is different."
Another striker said, "Taylor thought we'd roll over, but now he's worried."
Ray Parsons is a member of USWA Local 310 and is the Socialist Workers candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Amanda Ulman is a member of UAW Local 450 and is the Socialist Workers candidate for Iowa State Representative District 70.