On Transitions

2-27-2026

On November 16, 1972 the son of a Steelworker put on steel-toed boots, a yellow hard hat, inserted ear plugs, pulled on leather work gloves and began lifting 7”X14” railroad tie plates from a massive shearing machine into a three-sided steel receiving container. On that day, in Bethlehem Steel’s, Steelton Pennsylvania Mill, I became a member of one of the greatest forces for people in our nation, the United Steelworkers.

On February 28, 2026, some fifty-three years later, I will retire from my job as a union representative. I am just as proud of being a Steelworker today, as I was that cold November day so many years ago, when I stood on that dirt floor, that others had stood on since just after the Civil War. It’s been one hell of a ride!

Along the way, my Union provided for my family, pushed me to grow and saw to it that I developed the skills needed to work with and represent my sisters and brothers in the labor movement. The Union taught me a great deal about myself and others, met some of the bravest, smartest, most powerful and strongest people in this nation, forged worthy friendships and gave me life experiences that I wouldn’t trade for all the gold in the world.

At 71 years old, its time to sit back and cheer, as all the younger activists, that now fill my union, shape the future. I expect I’ll keep my hand in some labor movement work. I owe that to a labor movement that has given me so much. I realize what the union has given me was earned by hard work, sacrifice and struggle. That in mind, I’ll be around to help where I can.

So, from myself and Ann (who has traveled a very similar path in life as I have), thank you. I love this Union deeply, I love our country. I have abiding faith that the labor movement in this nation will be an instrumental force in sustaining and enhancing the lives of those who do the work and make the wheels go round. It has been and will continue to be a beacon of principled fairness and human decency.

If there is one overall lesson I’ve learned from the union movement that applies to every human effort, it is: that to move forward, solidarity isn’t a goal, it’s a necessity,

Ik

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