News from the USWA: Hundreds to Rally at Arizona State Capitol

[USWA via BizWire]

Workers, Retirees to ``Mourn the Dead, Fight for the Living'' at Workers' Memorial Day Event
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PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 29, 2004--News from the USWA:
Hundreds of United Steelworkers of America (USWA) members and retirees
from ASARCO Inc. facilities throughout the Southwest along with the
USWA Solidarity Council for Justice will rally Friday to honor fellow
Union brothers and sisters who have been killed or injured at ASARCO
facilities and workplaces throughout the U.S. in recognition of
Workers' Memorial Day, which is officially observed every April 28.
The rally will begin at Wesley Bolin Plaza, across the street from
the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Guest speakers will include USWA
International Vice President Leon Lynch and USWA District 12 Director
Terry L. Bonds. Bonds is the elected leader of the Steelworkers for
the Southwest and Western United States where ASARCO - owned by the
Mexican-based mining multinational Grupo Mexico, S.A. - has most of
its copper mining and processing facilities. Lynch is USWA
International Vice President for Human Affairs.
"We have come here today not just to honor the fallen and the
injured and those made sick by their jobs at ASARCO," said Lynch, "but
we have come to honor those killed, injured and made sick in every
workplace in the United States."
"We come to echo the pledge made by the great labor organizer Mary
Harris "Mother" Jones so many years ago: 'Yes, we will honor and mourn
for our dead, but remember this - we fight like hell for the living.'"
"ASARCO - and their parents at Grupo - remind me of the robber
barons that I thought we got rid of a long time ago," Lynch said.
"They try to steal health insurance from their retirees."
"They tear up and poison our communities and then try to walk --
no, make that run away from their responsibilities to those
communities and the loyal workers who live in them."
"This kind of corporate arrogance and outlaw attitude have no
place in this nation - or anywhere else for that matter," added Bonds,
"and we intend to hold them to their responsibilities and to the law."
The USWA is 1.2 million working and retired men and women
throughout the United States and Canada, united in the struggle to
improve our workplaces; to build a better future for our families; and
to promote fairness, justice and equality - both on the job and in our
communities.