Pat Barcas photo
Leo Gerard, international president of United Steel Workers, said the tide has turned in favor of the middle class in America with last week’s election. “Our union is not a slot machine. We must be an engine for economic and social justice,” he said Tuesday.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012
     CHICAGO — They said it wasn’t really going to be a political gathering, but they knew they weren’t fooling anyone.
     Minority, labor and faith based leaders gathered Tuesday in Chicago for Arise Chicago’s fourth annual faith labor action breakfast, featuring keynote speaker Leo Gerard, international president of United Steel Workers.
     According to the United Steelworkers, Gerard has focused the United Steelworkers (USW) on strategic contract bargaining in paper, steel, rubber and other key sectors, while at the same time fighting unfair trade and building clout through political action and domestic and international alliances.
     He has been an outspoken supporter of Obama during his re-election campaign, and is leading the drive to restore manufacturing jobs that are the backbone of the middle class in America.
     Gerard wore his “steel blitz for Barack” football jersey Tuesday that he said got the crowds fired up during election season.
     “This is supposed to be a non-partisan, or non-political event. Well let me tell you this: We need to stand up and fight back against any party or individual who believes they’re going to balance the budget on the backs of workers. Workers didn’t cause this mess. The people who have caused this mess have already moved on and lined their pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars in their bank accounts, and now they think they’re going to come back, and make the workers pay by cutting medicare and social security and other programs that workers need,” said Gerard to the packed room at Operating Engineers Local 399.
     Gerard was appointed International President of USW on Feb. 28, 2001 by the USW’s International Executive Board to succeed the late George Becker, who had retired.
     “We need to make it clear, the page was turned a week ago, and you’re not going to walk on us. This is not a fiscal cliff, it’s a fiscal slope. We’re not going to allow more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires,” he said. “Our union is not a slot machine. We must be an engine for economic and social justice.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.