golden lodge news november 2010

8/8/2019 Golden Lodge News November 2010

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Volume 57, No. 10 November 2010

Children Children Children Children Children ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ s s s s s

Christmas P Christmas P Christmas P Christmas P Christmas P arty arty arty arty arty

Doors open 11:00 a.m.

Kilgen Organ music begins at 11:30

Palace Theatre

6th & Market Ave. N., Canton

Saturday,

December 4, 201012:00 noon

Kids of all ages will enjoy the popular

family movie ‘Elf’ starring Will Ferrell. All children will receive popcorn,

a soft drink, a bag of candy and a

visit from ole' Santa himself!



November 20102

GOLDEN LODGE NEWS

GOLDEN LODGE NEWS STAFF

Tom Sponhour, Editor

Joe Hoagland, Managing Editor

Ron Roberts, Associate Editor

Chris Tunney, Associate Editor

LOCAL 1123 OFFICERSJoe Hoagland, President

Dan Ellington, Vice President

Pat Eslich, Recording Secretary

Joey Shearer, Financial Secretary

Kathy Boyd, Treasurer

James Schweitzer, Trustee

Susie Camper, Trustee

Keith Strobelt, Trustee

Paul McKenzie, Guide

Bill Webler, Outside Guard

Bob Seward, Inside Guard

Published monthly, except July, by

the United Steelworkers, Golden Lodge

Local 1123, AFL-CIO, in the interest of its members and to further the aims and

programs of the Union.

USW Local 1123 represents bar-

gaining unit workers at the Canton, Gam-

brinus, and Faircrest plants of The

Timken Company.

USW Golden Lodge Local 1123

1234 Harrison Ave. S.W.

Canton, OH 44706

(330) 454-6137

Fax (330) 454-3461

Email - [email protected]

Let’s stop being ourown worst enemy

We all have pledged to

‘never knowingly wrong a member’

“Recognizing that the United Steel-

workers is a strong labor organization

dedicated to the advancement of my in-

terests and the interests of all working

men and women and that the strength of

the Union depends on the commitment

which its members make to it and to each

other, I do sincerely promise, of my own

free will, to abide by the laws of this

Union; to bear true allegiance to, and

keep inviolate the principles of the Unit-

ed Steelworkers; never to discriminate

against a fellow worker on account of

creed, color, sex, or nationality; to de-

fend freedom of thought, whether ex-

pressed by tongue or pen, to defend on alloccasions and to the extent of my ability

the members of our organization, and

never to reveal to any employers or their

agent a member’s name without proper

authorization. I will cease work when

authorized and approved by the organi-

zation to do so.

That I will look upon my fellow

members of this Union as my brothers

and sisters and will never knowingly

wrong a member or see a member

wronged if I can prevent it. That I will as-

sist all members of our organization to

obtain the highest wages possible for

their work; that I will not accept a mem-

ber’s job who is idle for advancing the in-

terests of the Union or seeking better re-

muneration for the member’s labor; and

as the workers of the entire country are

competitors in the labor world, I promise

to provide my solidarity and support

whenever I am called upon by the organi-

zation to do so. And, I further promise to

help and assist all members to organize

and join our Union in order to enjoy more

fully the fruits of their labor.

To all this I pledge my honor and I

further pledge that at every opportunity I

shall ‘Say A Good Word About My

Union.”

The above quote is the Initia-

tion of New Members. Approxi-

mately one-quarter of this quote is

printed on the back of your Union

membership card.

I’m sure some of your first

thoughts about what it means to be

a union member are strength in

numbers or collectively bargain-

ing for a contract. Maybe it’s bet-

ter wages and benefits than non-

union employment in the same

line of work. All are true, and in

the forefront of reasons to be orga-nized.

What I would like to focus on

is how we treat each other.

“That I will look upon my fel-

low members of this union as my

brothers and sisters and will never

knowingly wrong a member or see

a member wronged if I can prevent

it.”

We have had our share of sus-pensions, discipline, and dis-

charges over the last year and a

half. Some of these cases are the

result of the particular members’

actions. Remember that no stew-

ard, no committee person, or no

officer can protect you from your-

self or the things that you may do

in the workplace.

Other cases, I am convinced,

stem from the chatter of our own

members (at times unintentional)-

our brothers and sisters, as men-

tioned above.

The Company has 51 Rules of

Conduct in the employee hand-

book. They do NOT need our

help. They have a bogus Company

safety committee at the Gambri-

nus Steel facility that includes

some of our members.

There are individuals on the

committee that run to supervision

if they see a member without safe-

ty glasses, instead of just remind-

ing the member safety glasses are

required.

Joe Hoagland

President



November 2010 3

Most of us enjoy a good time.

If we can enjoy each other’s com-

pany, have that camaraderie on the

shop floor and get our work done,

it is definitely a plus to the work

environment. After all, a happy

worker is a productive worker.

But when we are talking back

and forth and see that our co-

worker is not having fun anymore,

it’s time to stop. The flip side of

this is that if you are going to dish

it out, make sure you can take it

when it is directed at you.

Let’s stop being our own worst

enemy. There’s enough pressure

on the job, whether it’s the physi-

cal and mental requirements, orthe environmental conditions.

Please remember the pledge,

“never to discriminate against a

fellow worker” and “never know-

ingly wrong a member or see a

member wronged if I can prevent

it.”

And remember to: “Say a good

word about your Union!”

Applications are available for the 2011 Union Plus Scholarship Pro-

gram, which provides $150,000 in scholarships to union members, their

spouses and dependants. Union Plus Scholarship awards are presented

annually.In 2010, 121 students were awarded a total of $150,000 in scholar-

ships from the Union Plus Scholarship program, which is offered

through the Union Plus Education Foundation with funding from HSBC,

the issuer of the Union Plus Credit Card.

How the Scholarship Program Works: In addition to demonstrat-

ing academic ability, applicants are required to submit essays of no more

than 500 words describing their career goals, detailing their relationship

with the union movement and explaining why they are deserving of a

union scholarship.

Individuals must be accepted into an accredited college or university,community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the

award is issued. Graduate school students are also eligible for Union Plus

Scholarships.

To download the application, visit: UnionPlus.org/Scholarships. Or,

send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and

international union name to: Union Plus Education Foundation, c/o

Union Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800. The ap-

plication deadline is January 31, 2011.

Union Plus scholarshipapplications now available

Simmons named to FSPGrievance Committee

Arnette Simmons, an Operator-Billet

Conditioning, left, is sworn into office by

Local 1123 President Joe Hoagland

October 21 at Golden Lodge. Arnette was

selected by the officers of Golden Lodge to

fill a vacancy on the Faircrest Steel Mill

Grievance Committee. He will complete

the current term of office that ends in May,

2012.



November 20104

The United Auto Workers

union agreed in October to slash

wages to save jobs in Michigan.General Motors will pay the

full union wage of $28 an hour to

60 percent of the Orion GM

plant’s 1,550 workers, while the

rest of the workers will get just

$14 an hour.

The UAW had previously

agreed to the lower wages for new

hires, but some of the second-tier

workers at the Orion plant couldbe among current GM employees

called back from layoff.

The Orion plant is being re-

tooled to build a subcompact

Chevrolet model, and is key to

GM’s bid to compete with sub-

compacts made in other low-wage

countries.

“This is the place that we want

to start making small cars inAmerica, in Michigan, for profit,”

said Mark L. Reuss, head of GM’s

North American operations.

GM said that it would invest

$145 million in the Orion plant

and add the Buick Verano, a some-

what larger car, to production

there.

Although the United Auto

Workers constitution gives mem-bers the right to vote on contract

changes, reported Jane Slaughter

in the publication Labor Notes ,

“GM and the UAW apparently

learned a lesson from a recent de-

feat at an Indianapolis stamping

plant, where workers voted 457-

96 not to accept half pay.

“At an October 3 union meet-

ing at Lake Orion UAW Local

5960, shop chair Mike Dunn toldmembers they wouldn’t be al-

lowed to vote on the pay cuts.

“The germ of the idea, he said,

had been included in the national

contract ratified in 2009 when GM

was on the verge of bankruptcy

and seeking government help.”

Slaughter reported that 200

UAW members picketed UAW

headquarters in Detroit to expresstheir opposition to the deal.

Manufacturing consultant Ron

Harbour told Automotive News

that the lower-wage workers will

generate modest production-cost

savings for GM.

Harbor explained, according

to the industry publication, that

the lower-wage workers will ac-

count for 40 percent of the work force, or 8 hours of the 20 or so

needed to assemble a car at Lake

Orion.

With lower-wage workers

earning $14 less per hour, that’s

$112 per car. The savings will be

slightly higher, because benefits

will be lower for some of the low-

er-wage workers, he says.

“Labor is just one cost,” Har-bour told Automotive News . “But

it is the contribution that the UAW

is making to bring small-car pro-

duction to America.”

GM and Chrysler’s bankrupt-

cies last year forced the union to

make “very difficult decisions” to

safeguard jobs, said UAW official

Autoworkers’ wages slashedto save jobs at Mich. GM plant

Megan Welker is one of the winners of the

Hall of Fame Central Labor Council/

American Income Life Scholarships for

2010. She is shown here with her father

Scott Welker, an Equipment/Mechanica

Maintainer at Gamb Steel, at the 42nd

Annual Delegates’ Recognition Dinner Oct

29 at Santangelo’s Party Center in

Massillon where the award was made

Megan attends Kent State University-Stark

Campus, majoring in Radiology. Four

scholarships are given each year to

graduating seniors whose parents are

affiliated with one of the locals of the Hal

of Fame Central Labor Council.

Scholarship winner

Garry Bernath. “During this crisis

the UAW developed a new under-

standing of the realities in the

21st-century global auto indus-

try,” he said.

“The union has made it very

clear they are willing to sacrifice

to ensure recovery,” Harley Shaik-

en, a professor at the University of

California, Berkeley told the New

York Times. “But they want to

share in the gains of that recov-

ery.”

The plant, which is about 30

miles north of Detroit, will reopen

in 2011.



November 2010 5

For the fifteen day period after November 15, November 16-30, a

union member is able to apply for assignment to a different shift or

shifts on the occupation he or she is working.

The application remains in effect so long as the member

remains on that occupation or the length of the contract.

The name is removed if the member leaves the occupation. A

member transferred into a different occupation will be placed at thebottom of the shift preference list for six months. After six months the

name will be arranged on the list on the basis of continuous service.

A member may, at any time, request that his name be removed

from the list. If absent when the shift would be offered, the member is

considered to have accepted the offer.

When a new shift is created, the vacancies will be filled by

canvassing, on the basis of continuous service, in the occupation for

which the new shift is being created.

Shift preference sign up Nov. 16-30

Recent RetireesGolden Lodge congratulates

the following members who have

recently retired and will now enjoy

their union-negotiated retiree pen-

sion and healthcare benefits.

Ronald A. Dubel

Mary L. Eibel

Randy K. McCarty

Michael C. Norris

Bryan W. Webler

ARNOLD SALYERS, 94, Dept. 186, 1439

Shorb Ave. NW, Canton, passed away in Feb-

ruary, 2010. Brother Salyers joined the Union

in 1947 and retired in 1977.

RANDALL J. SCHULER, Dept. 75, 270 NW

Lebanon Rd, Dalton, passed away August 18,

2010. Brother Schuler retired in 2003.

HOWARD W. EDIE, Dept. 68, 710 Haw-

thorn Drive, Dover, passed away August 29,

2010. Brother Edie joined the Union in 1942

and retired in 1983.

WILLLIAM G. MITZEL, 73, Dept. 125, 5983

Thistlehill Circle NW, Canton, passed awayOctober 10, 2010. Brother Mitzel joined the

Union in 1964 and retired in 1996.

JAMES OTIS MACK, 64, Dept. 75, 3125

Dueber Ave. SW, Canton, passed away Octo-

ber 8, 2010. Brother Mack joined the Union in

1965 and retired in 1997.

JOHN YACKO, 84, Dept. 79, 4770 Hilmont

SW, Canton, passed away October 8, 2010.

Brother Yacko joined the Union in 1948 and

retired in 1986.

NORMA JEAN KINSINGER, 83, Dept. 52,

6150 Hollydale NE, North Canton, passed away

October 20, 2010. Sister Kinsinger joined the


CLAUDE E. SWARTZEL, 54, Dept. 181,

720 Sterling Ave., Dover, passed away October

23, 2010. Brother Swartzel joined the Union in


Contact Golden Lodge

by email at:

[email protected]

Questions?Comments?

Suggestions?(Address changes, too)

October 6 Meeting

Jim Beneleit

Dale Jones

Tony Wojtaszek *Steve McCoy

*Carol Maney

October 20 Meeting

Dean Sills

Tony Wojtasek

Marvin Babe

*Chuck Morris

**Brenda Bain

*Donated to Meals on Wheels

**Donated to the USO

THOMAS G. NELSON, 87, Dept. 188, 1598

- 1st St. NE, Apt. F, Massillon, passed away

October 25, 2010. Brother Nelson joined the


ARTHUR J. CIRELLI, 85, Dept. 68, 6264

Sandova NW, Canton, passed away October

27, 2010. Brother Cirelli joined the Union in


ANDREW H. ARKO, 70, Dept. 84, 3614Manchester SW, Massillon, passed away Octo-

ber 28, 2010. Brother Arko joined the Union in


JOSEPH RACO, 78, Dept. 135, 5019 Lindford

Ave. NE, Canton, passed away November 3,

2010. Brother Raco retired in 1989.

BRADLEY E. MULHEIM, 68, Dept. 79, 5965

Shore Dr. NW, Canton, passed away Novem-

ber 3, 2010. Brother Mulheim joined the Union

in 1964 and retired in 2001.



November 20106

SOAR NOTESI.W. AbelChapter

1/27

By Jim Reed

New credit card

rules take effect

The crisis in our financial sys-

tem has led Congress to pass legis-

lation dealing with credit cards.

Recently, the Federal Reserve is-

sued new rules to protect consum-

ers from sudden rate hikes on their

credit cards.

There are a number of changesthat took effect February 22, 2010

from credit card companies.

General Disclosure: When

credit card companies plan to in-

crease your rates or fees, such as

cash advance fees, annual fees, or

other changes, they must now send

you a notice 45 days in advance.

They must also give you the

option to cancel the card beforecertain fees take effect. If you de-

cide to cancel however, the credit

card company may close your ac-

count and increase your monthly

payment.

However, the credit card com-

pany does not have to send you a

45 day notice, if you have a credit

card variable rate tied to an index.

The new rules further providethat your credit card company can-

not increase your rate for the first

12 months after you open an ac-

count, however, there are excep-

tions.

If you are more than 60 days

late in paying your bill, your rate

can go up. In the event your credit

card company does raise your in-

terest rate after the first year, the

new rate will only apply to new

charges.

Finally, the new rules provide

for standard payment dates and

times. Your credit card company

will be required to mail, or deliver

your credit card bill at least 21

days before the due date. Also,your due date shall be the same

date each month.

If your due date falls on a

weekend or holiday, you will have

until the following business day to

pay.

Also effective August 22,

credit card companies cannot

charge a penalty fee of more than

$25 for paying a bill late. Theyalso ban so-called inactivity fees,

when customers don’t use the ac-

count to make new purchases.

The new rules require that late

payment and other penalty fees be

assessed in a way that is fairer and

less costly for consumers.

Congress directed the govern-

ment to implement the new credit

card protection in legislation that

was signed into law by PresidentObama last year.

AT OUR SOAR MEETING

One could tell that an election

is not far off. We had numerous

speakers that want to address our

members. We did settle on two

that we thought might inform us as

to which candidates would be

worthy.

First was Bruce Bostick, who

is an organizer for the USW and

also a coordinator for the Alliance

for Retired Americans. I have

worked with Bruce on some

projects and found him to be a go-

getter.

Bruce worked for Republic

Steel in Lorain. He had his 30

years of service when the plant

filed for bankruptcy and closed.

He lost his pension and insurance,

as many others did. He got mad

and became active and has been

fighting for a cause ever since.

Bruce spoke about labor-en-

dorsed candidates and the impor-

tance of re-electing John Boccieri

to Congress. He also touched on

Social Security and separated factfrom fiction.

Keith Strobelt, a trustee and

Rapid Response Coordinator with

Golden Lodge, spoke about to the

audience about the importance of

voting for labor-endorsed candi-

dates.

He passed out flyers listing the

people with the labor endorse-

ment, as well as information abouta forum to be held October 13 at

the Mayfield Manor with Con-

gressman Boccieri.

Our country is in a bad situa-

tion, one of the worst in history.

We can only hope that those who

we elect can make a difference for

the better. Our future depends on

it.

Just a Thought

The best thing about the

future is that it comes only

one day at a time.

– Abraham Lincoln



November 2010 7

Ground breaking for Golden Lodge Union HallClinton S. Golden, turns the first shovel of dirt for the Golden Lodge Union Hall at the corner of Harrison Ave. and Fremont Place S.W.

in the Fall of 1940. Local 1123 was named in honor of Golden, who was the regional director of the Steelworkers Organizing Committee

when Timken workers were signing up to join the Union in 1936. Standing to the right of Golden is I.W. Abel, president of Local 1123

and later elected president of the USWA International Union.

en Lodge Local 1123. Negotia-

tions between the union and the

company led to significant gainsfor union members. The first

agreement, signed in April, estab-

lished seniority, provided a 12 ½

cent raise, an 8 hour day, time and

a half for overtime and a vacation

of one day for each year worked,

with a maximum of six days.

After the signing of the agree-

ment the union opened an office in

a gas station at the corner of Na-

varre Road and Harrison Avenue.

1939: The members adopted

blue and gold as the lodge colors

and expressed a desire to own a

building for meetings and office

space. I.W. Abel was elected pres-

ident.

1940: The union trustees and

officers began to search for a

building site. In August, the mem-

bership approved the purchase of

lots on the corner of Harrison and

Fremont Avenues. A building

fund was established and con-

struction began.

The first meeting was held in

the new building on December 4.

The Golden Lodge was the first

Congress of Industrial Organiza-

tions (C.I.O) union to build its

own home.

So, if someone asks you why

your local is named the Golden

Lodge tell them it is in honor of

Clinton Strong Golden. A grassroots man and true labor intellec-

tual. And tell them you are damn

proud of it!

(Continued from Page 8)

...Golden LodgeCelebrating Birthdays: Ruth

Slay, Dick Johnson, Jim Toms,

and Linda Reymond.

Anniversaries: Gary and Lin-

da Reymond.

Guests: Mary Ann Wengard,

Penny Studer and Mary Karcher.

Death: Freda Cavanaugh, age

95, passed away October 4. She

had been a resident of Altercare in

Navarre. Freda retired from the

Timken Co. after 32 years of ser-

vice.

She was a charter member of

SOAR and just a wonderful lady.

DECEMBER

LUNCHEON MENU

Pork Chops

AuGratin Potatoes

Succotash

Tossed salad

Pie

With YOU,

THERE’S A WAYGive to the United Way of

Greater Stark County



November 20108

Steelworke rsLocal1123,GoldenLodge

1234HarrisonAve.SW

Canton,OH44706

_________________________________

ADDRESSSERVICEREQUESTED

N O

N-PROF

ITORG.

U. S

.POSTA

GEPAID

PERMITN

O.973

CANTON,

OH

Someone once asked me why

Local 1123 is named the Golden

Lodge. I didn’t know the answer.

After doing

some re-

search I found

out why.

Local

1123 and the

building at1234 Harri-

son Ave.

S.W. is

named the

Golden Lodge to honor Clinton

Strong Golden, one of the 12

founding fathers of the Steel

Workers Organizing Committee,

(S.W.O.C.) the forerunner of the

United Steelworkers of America.

Clinton Golden was born No-vember 16, 1888 in Pennsylvania.

He began working in the mines at

the age of 12. He became a loco-

motive fireman and was a member

and officer of the Brotherhood of

Locomotive Firemen and Engi-

neers. In 1915 he gave up railroad-

ing and became a machinist.

His interest in labor led to him

becoming district representativeof the International Association of

Machinists in Philadelphia. From

1921 to 1923 he was on the staff of

the Amalgamated Clothing Work-

ers. Golden’s interest in labor edu-

cation led him to become founder

and president of the Philadelphia

Labor College.

In 1935, Mr. Golden was ap-

pointed director of the NationalLabor Relations Board in Pitts-

burgh. From there he began his in-

volvement with the S.W.O.C. At

the first constitutional convention

of the S.W.O.C., Clint was elected

vice president of the newly formed

United Steelworkers of America.

During World War II, he

served the nation in various mem-

berships in Labor, Labor Manage-

ment and Labor Production com-

mittees.

After his resignation as

USWA vice president, Golden

was a sought-after expert in the

fields of automation and technolo-

gy changes in the steel industry.

He maintained close ties with the

union. In April, 1961 he suffered a

stroke while addressing a USWA

district conference. He died thefollowing June.

Some of our history

1936: Timken employees were

dissatisfied with working condi-

tions and talked of organizing into

a union. Some of the more outspo-

ken employees contacted the

S.W.O.C. The Timken Roller

Bearing Company was opposed to

an international union and, in anattempt to quell the organizing

drive, fired Frank Hardesty of the

Gambrinus Mill and Claude

Cooley of the Canton Mill.

These two men were put to

work by S.W.O.C. Regional Di-

rector Clint Golden to sign people

to the organizing drive. In October

of that year a meeting was held in a

basement at the home of Howard

Davis. Weeks later another meet-

ing was held in the old German

Hall on East Tuscarawas where

Clint Golden was the principal

speaker. Subsequent meetings

were held in the Slovak Hall on

Henry Avenue.

The members named the lodge

after the regional director and ap-

plied for a charter. In December, a

charter was issued for Local 1123

S.W.O.C., Golden Lodge.

1937: Howard Davis was

elected the first president of Gold-

By Ron Roberts

Associate Editor

Why are we the‘Golden Lodge’?

Clinton S. Golden

1888-1961

(Continued on Page 7)

golden lodge news november 2010

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