Candidates take stage at union solidarity rally

Candidates take stage at union solidarity rally
By HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star

A slough of political candidates encouraged Goodyear union workers striking since Oct. 5 to continue their efforts and attempted to garner support for their own campaigns at a rally held Sunday to show support for the workers.

The local Goodyear workers have been striking since the company and union negotiators for 16 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plants in 10 states and Canada failed to agree on a new labor contract.

On Sunday, a couple hundred people showed up at the United Steelworkers Local 286 to show the workers they are not alone in their fight.

Nebraska AFL-CIO President Kenny Mass said the workers are merely numbers as far as the company is concerned.

“The bottom line is greed,” he said. “G-r-e-e-d.”

State Sen. Chris Beutler asked the strikers to draw strength from their history and the history of unionists.

“Take courage in those who came before you, and keep up the good fight,” said Beutler, who is running for Lincoln mayor next year.

Gubernatorial candidate David Hahn, who has been endorsed by the United Steelworkers Local 286, said he “got in this race, particularly because of what is happening today.”

“(Working) folks have been the soul of the state. They have built the state.”

City Councilman Dan Marvin said he found hope last week in a Wall Street Journal article that reported 1 percent of Americans are earning 16 percent of all wages made.

“I’m here to tell you one thing: When 99 percent of the people are in the same boat and the guy driving the boat is so out of touch with all the passengers on the boat, you will see change,” Marvin said.

Others who spoke at the rally included Lincoln Mayor Coleen Seng, city councilwomen Patte Newman and Annette McRoy, and state legislative candidates Danielle Nantkes, Amanda McGill and Carol Brown.

The strikers also were represented at the rally by plenty of active and retired Goodyear workers.

Phil Yoakum, who has worked for Goodyear for 22 years, said his biggest concern is job protection.

“I’d like to go back to work someday,” said Yoakum, who has been doing odd jobs since the strike started to bring in money for his family.

“We don’t want to strike,” Yoakum said. “They’ve forced us to do what we’ve done.”

The strike affects not only Goodyear workers but the community as a whole, Yoakum said.

“I never go anywhere and spend my money I’ve earned at Goodyear without seeing other people from Goodyear spending the same money,” he said.

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.