WHITING, Ind. — Members of United Steelworkers Local 7-1 locked out by the bosses at BP here got a rousing greeting as they marched in the huge Whiting Pierogi Fest Parade July 24. On the sidelines thousands applauded, and many shouted slogans and took leaflets and posters for their homes. The float carried union members and their families, and big bags of candy that got passed out to kids.
Scores of food and art vendors lined the streets of downtown Whiting for the three-day weekend event. Many of the vendors featured union signs on their booths protesting the illegal lockout. The USW had its own booth, provided free by the Fest, publicizing why the union is fighting the lockout BP imposed more than four months ago, March 19, after the workers overwhelmingly rejected BP’s “last, best and final” concession contract offer.
A steady stream of participants stopped by, dropping contributions ranging from a few dollars to $100 into a large bucket. Some used to work at BP, others were members of other area unions, and many were community members who support the workers. Some had come planning to make a contribution, others were surprised and glad to see the USW booth.
They told locked-out workers and supporters like me who were staffing the booth, “I always honk when I pass the pickets,” “The lockout hurts everyone in town,” “I’ve been to the picket line,” “Stand strong” and “One day longer!”
The Pierogi Fest brings up to 300,000 people to this small northwestern Indiana town of 5,000 every year. For years, BP has been a major financial backer, but this year the Whiting Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors returned their check. Instead, they announced that they would place cans throughout the event to collect for the USW Local 7-1 Strike and Defense Fund.
This came days after the city of Hammond dropped BP as a sponsor of their Festival of the Lakes and returned BP’s $20,000 check.
On Aug. 8 is a Poker Run for motorcycle and car drivers, sponsored by the Northern Indiana Area Labor Federation, another fundraiser for USW Local 7-1. It will begin at the USW Local 6787 hall in Chesterton at 10 a.m., and ends at Buddy and Pal’s Place in Crown Point, where pizza, wings and refreshments will be available. Everybody who backs the locked-out workers is welcome.
On Aug. 21, there is a punk rock benefit concert for the locked-out oil workers at Avenue 912 at 202 W. Ridge Road in Griffith, starting at 6 p.m. In a statement, the bands said, “The Effigies, The Bollweevills, along with The Rumble are working with USW 7-1 and Avenue 912 to play a morale and welfare concert. These bands are standing with all of our union brothers and sisters!”
In addition, collections of school supplies and children’s clothes are being organized, as well as food and home supplies, which can be brought to the USW hall.
‘A long lockout, but morale is good’
Last week when this Militant worker-correspondent went to the hall to volunteer for picket duty, Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz told me, “It’s a long lockout. It’s stressful. But morale is good. Every day we stay out, we’re more encouraged. Community support is very strong.”
“A lot of us are looking for jobs to support our families,” he said. “Some can still do their shifts on the picket line, or trade shifts with someone who isn’t working. Our negotiating committee and the assistance committee are all volunteers.”
After a long fight against BP opposition, the state of Indiana agreed to give the locked-out workers unemployment benefits. But it’s under $400 a week and it will run out in a matter of months.
On the picket line I spoke with Tanya Moore, a locked-out worker in her 40s. She was filling in for another worker who had found a job. I also worked with her at the USW Pierogi Fest booth. “I went through the national strike in 2015,” Moore told me, “I’m looking for a full-time job now because BP wants to eliminate my job category. But I want to get back into BP!” She has worked there for 22 years.
Part of BP’s proposed contract calls for eliminating 65 workers in her department and among electrical workers, samplers in the labs and some others and replacing them with contract workers. The union says absolutely not.
“It was harder for women to get a job like mine back then. I liked working with the women who were hired a long time ago, they were fighters and they had thick skins,” Moore said. “I feel proud and independent. There’s less harassment from the men than there used to be. Now, men stick up for you.”
If you want to join the picket line or make a donation, visit the USW Local 7-1 hall at 2045 Schrage Ave. in Whiting. It is open 24/7.