We don't need pizza, ATI; we need to return to work

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2015/11/19/We-don-t-need-pizza-ATI-we-need-to-return-to-work/stories/201511190134

November 19, 2015 12:00 AM

When I returned home after two tours of duty in the Middle East as part of my U.S. Air Force service, I was thrilled to start a career as a steel worker at the Allegheny Technologies (ATI) mill. I found much personal satisfaction in my job, and it gave me the ability to support myself and my family.

And then the unthinkable happened. On Aug. 15 of this year, more than 2,200 members of the United Steelworkers were locked out of their jobs by ATI after contract negotiations failed to achieve consensus. Workers have offered to continue working while negotiations proceed, but ATI’s management rebuffed the offer and demanded that the union submit to deep concessions before allowing workers back to their jobs.

The company has decided that a punitive move to keep its employees out of a job and without pay would incentivize workers to agree to its unfair demands. The company thought that withholding employment opportunity and family-sustaining paychecks would help it to get its way.

Adding insult to injury, the company sent out postcards recently inviting employees to come to the Veterans Day parade and get a free slice of pizza. As a veteran, I was personally offended that the company felt it could honor my service with free pizza all the while locking veterans like me out of a much-needed job.

So, ATI, hold the anchovies, and give me back my job!

DONNA ANSANI
Plum

Permission from Will Fischer Union Veterans Council to post in it's entirety.

[Powers Hapgood]

1. This is a practical example of why . . .

. . . Socialism has to include workers' control of the workplace. Bernie stated in his speech yesterday that he didn't support "government ownership of factories" -- I wish he had been a little clearer about supporting "workers' ownership" or "workers' control." Don't get me wrong, I love Bernie Sanders, and will support him all the way. But socialism means the democratic control of economic production by the the workers!