by Randy Shannon

 

August 9, 2009

On a warm breezy August Sunday afternoon over seventy-five retired steelworkers and their families enjoyed their annual picnic in Hopewell Community Park near Aliquippa, PA. The menu included corn-on-the-cob, kielbasa and kraut, roasted chicken with potatoes, salad, desert, and beverages. The event was sponsored by the Aliquippa chapter of SOAR, the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees.

As the empty plates were cleaned away and the buzz died down, Marion Prasjner, Chapter 20-20 Chairman, welcomed the crowd and introduced the guests. Prasjner is also a leader of the PA 4^th CD Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America. He introduced Marie Malagreca, the first national chairperson of SOAR, Jean Friday National Board member of SOAR, and Mickey Bolt PA coordinator for AAM.

Jim Centner, the National SOAR director reminded people to sign up for the bus to the upcoming Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh. Denise Edwards a SOAR board member thanked the members for the enthusiastic turnout.

Tony Rainaldi, an Aliquippa Chapter SOAR member, and former District 20 Director of the USWA spoke to the gathering. In a strong 85 year old voice he lambasted the Beaver County Times for its recent attack on local union leaders. He excoriated the television media for lying about the Democratic Party, President Obama, and the fight for healthcare.

He shouted: “Don’t listen to this bullshit you hear about socialism on TV. Unionization, pension protection, healthcare – if that’s socialism then we need as much socialism as we can get. I’m a socialist. The day I graduated from high school my Dad handed me a union card to sign and took me down to the mill.” This statement drew long and loud applause.

He talked about his relatives in Italy who have national health insurance. They save money and send it to relatives in the USA who can’t afford healthcare. Tony reminded the retirees that President Obama and the Democrats were trying to dig the country out of a hole despite opposition from the Republicans. He urged the members to “get some pepper” and get fired up to start speaking out against the right wing attacks on Obama.

The last speaker was Randy Shannon, treasurer of the local Progressive Democrats. “When the people in this valley decided it was time to form a union, they could not be stopped by beatings, shootings, or evictions, because the time had come to form the union. When African-Americans in the South decided that they were going to get the right to vote, they could not be stopped by beatings, jailing, and shootings because the time had come. When students decided that the Vietnam War must end, they could not be stopped by the shooting at Kent State or the beatings and jailing in Chicago because the time had come.

“Now when all over the world, except for us, people have national health insurance, Americans have decided its time to reform our healthcare system. Thugs, goons, and rioters will not stop us. The time has come to reform healthcare. But work remains. Please call our Blue Dog Democrat Congressman Jason Altmire and ask him to vote for healthcare reform in September.”

After the speeches, there was a line for seconds and folks packed away some take-home plates. The 50/50 raffle ticket was pulled. And Mr. Prasjner circulated a sign-up sheet for the bus trip to Pittsburgh to participate in the Labor Day parade.