The spirited rally began with a mile-long march from the headquarters of United Steel Workers of America (USWA) Local 338. Demonstrators arrived at the plant gate chanting, "One day longer!" — the slogan that has become popular in the labor movement since the machinists' strike against Eastern Airlines at the beginning of this decade. The march and rally were part of a full day of solidarity activities. These included a well-organized barbecue, live music, a wrap-up rally, and a bonfire to break the fall weather chill at the USWA Local 338 headquarters.

The steelworkers struggle with Kaiser Aluminum began with a strike September 30, 1998, against the employer's plans for dramatic job cuts, increased contracting out, and minimal raises in wages and retirement benefits.

On January 14 the Kaiser bosses refused the steelworkers' offer to unconditionally return to work while continuing negotiations for a new contract.

Kaiser locked out 3,100 workers at its plants in Tacoma, Washington; Gramercy, Louisiana; Newark, Ohio; and two factories here (Mead and Trentwood).

Morale was high at the October 2 rally. "The best thing we can do is be noticed," said Dale Findlay, one of more than 100 women workers at the Trentwood plant, with 22 years at Kaiser. "I'm having the best time of my life. We are on the right road!"

"We have to convince them we're not going away," said Ray Erickson. "I'm not going away after 29 years."

Joe Sexton, a furnace operator at the Trentwood facility, added, "Kaiser never expected a strike with solidarity so strong.… I don't want to see it go another year, but if it does we will get by." Sexton explained how important the lockout has been to his three teenage children. "It is teaching them how the world works. My 16-year-old daughter has been on the picket lines as much as some steelworkers."

Unionists from across Washington joined the protest. Other delegations of workers came from California and Canada to show their solidarity.

Five members of USWA Local 5702 at the Kaiser Gramercy, Louisiana plant traveled here for the rally. Steelworkers in Local 7945 from Kaiser's Tacoma plant joined the march. USWA Local 9241 members from Silverdale, Washington, were also present. Other unionists participating from Spokane included members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1439; Teamsters Locals 582 and 690; Firefighters Local 29; Communication Workers Local 7818; Elevator Constructors Local 19; and the Letter Carriers. A small contingent of Machinists from Seattle-area Boeing plants marched with the Steelworkers.  
 

Environmentalists support strikers

Also attending the rally were environmental activists from northern California involved in a 10-year-long fight against Pacific Lumber Company's plans to cut down the last old growth Redwood forest in the United States. Charles Hurewitz, the principal owner of Maxxam Corporation and Kaiser Aluminum, also owns Pacific Lumber Company. Kaiser Steelworkers have joined the fight against Pacific Lumber.

Michael Evenson, a rancher and member of Natural Resources in Humboldt County California, told unionists gathered at the wrap-up rally, "The kind of fire you have here is what we need. We thought we were at the end. Then all of a sudden the steelworkers came along! When you stand strong we'll stand strong."

Rally speakers included Leon Lynch, USWA human affairs vice president, David Foster, USWA District 11 Director, James Maloney, a representative of the Quebecois aluminum workers federation, and Kaiser local union presidents from Gramercy, Louisiana and Tacoma and Spokane, Washington.

The officials focused on promoting the consumer boycott campaign of Kaiser Aluminum products. The union organized consumer boycott of Pepsi has been a center piece of the USWA's efforts to pressure Kaiser to return to the negotiating table.

Steelworkers union representatives are meeting with the giant Boeing Corporation centered in Seattle. Boeing is a major Kaiser customer. Protests are planned at the Bonneville Power Administration which provides price discounted electrical power to Kaiser.

James Maloney from the Quebec aluminum workers federation stirred an enthusiastic response when he announced Quebecois aluminum workers had raised $11,192 in contributions to aid Kaiser unionists. The funds, he said, came both from union local treasuries and from individual workers' donations. Maloney reported that 530 members of his Local of 800 pledged $1,060 per week until June of the year 2000. More workers, he said, were joining the campaign each day. "You should never bow in front of adversity. We issue a challenge to USWA locals to top our pledges."

No talks are currently scheduled between Kaiser management and the USWA. Steelworkers union officials, however, have drafted a new proposal to be presented to the company.

Jim Gotesky is a member of USWA Local 1440 in Pittsburg, California. Osborne Hart, Ove Aspoy, and Scott Breen contributed to this article.  
 
 
BY SUSAN LAMONT 
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – "We marked the first anniversary of our strike with a candlelight vigil at the picket line," said Wayne Stafford in an October 4 telephone interview. Stafford is president of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 5702, on strike at Kaiser Aluminum's Gramercy, Louisiana, bauxite processing plant. "We had a prayer, some short speeches, and rededicated ourselves in solidarity to the strike." Stafford had just returned from the Kaiser strike rally in Spokane, which he attended along with the other local presidents involved in the year-long battle.

The candlelight vigil actually occurred September 30. Strikers planned it to take place after spending the day in federal district court in New Orleans.

A group of Local 5702 strikers had attended a hearing at which Kaiser petitioned the court to remove the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) from investigating the massive explosion that ripped the processing plant apart July 5. Kaiser asked that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration be put in charge. This was turned down, Stafford said. Kaiser also requested that management personnel not be required to testify in the public hearings MSHA has been conducting around the explosion for the past three weeks, or if they have to, to do so in a closed hearing before the judge. A ruling on this is expected shortly, Stafford said. So far, MSHA has heard testimony from USWA members, strike breakers, and one supervisor, who apparently appeared before Kaiser could object.

One of the replacement workers who testified, Stafford said, was one of the 21 injured in the explosion. He had worked in the unit that blew up. He reportedly confirmed in his testimony that the replacement workers Kaiser has hired since the strike began had been given virtually no training, much less how to handle an emergency situation. This worker was permanently blinded in the explosion.

Stafford was one of two USWA representatives who accompanied MSHA inspectors the first day they entered the plant after the blast to begin their investigation.

Susan LaMont is a member of USWA Local 2122 in Fairfield, Alabama.  
 
 
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