USW: Rosie Opens the Floor for Special Guests

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USW Political Action Fund - Five Gateway Center - Pittsburgh, PA 15222


	Rosie Opens the Floor for Special Guests

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8:20 am Day 2 began with a special guest appearance of "Rosie the Riveter" (Kim Miller, a National Coordinator with the USW Rapid Response Program.) "I see a lot of progress over the last 60 years," she told the crowd, "But we still have a lot of challenges – discrimination, safety and health issues, dignity for women and equal pay."
	Showing her strength, Rosie stated, "the power of Sisterhood got us this far and it will be the power of Sisterhood that will help us to achieve our goals."
Rosie took time to steal a hug from USW President, Leo W. Gerard and then introduced the next guest, the USW International Secretary Treasurer, James D. English(pictured below).
	8:35 am "Bush did not lead us wrong. He told us he would cut taxes and lead us into war. And that is just what he did" stated English. "But now we are suffering the consequences." He explained the 3-prong strategy of the Steelworkers to win this election. On a final note, he told delegates, "our union has the fire and the spirit to see this through."
8:50 am President Gerard introduced the PACE members whose union recently secured a new alliance with the Steelworkers. Executive Assistant to the International PACE President, Leeann Anderson (far right), addressed the delegation and introduced (L-R) Susan Duffy, Liz Bettinger and Anne Kurtek. Missing from the picture were Hilary Cluz and Becky Plattus.
	9:20 am Marilyn Churley, New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto-Danforth in Ontario, Canada. "Do not let George Bush get elected in the USA," she stated. "Women today have a greater struggle than ever before but it’s women like yourselves that are leading the fight for dignity and equality."
She went on to tell the crowd Canadian women of Steel are in the forefront of the fight for the NDP in Canada. She felt the issues of the next election in Canada would be maintaining the health care system, getting a national childcare system, reforming Canadian pension system and Unemployment Insurance. She gave praise to the Leader of the NDP, Jack Layton, for his work at rebuilding the party and moving it in the right direction.
	Pictured above is USW President, Leo W. Gerard with MPP Marilyn Churley. To the right, Marilyn poses with USW District 6 Director, Wayne Fraser.
9: 50 am USW Assistant to the President and Legislative and political Director, Bill Kleinfelter told the group of 500 that when President Bush took office he knew that "no one would be doing anything for working people." He stated that "the 20,000 lobbyists in Washington are firm allies with this administration and that they are all looking for their fix."

10:20 am District 6 Director, Wayne Fraser was escorted by Women of Steel delegates from that district for a group picture before breaking off into "Mobilizing to Win" workshops.