Alice Peurala speaks: 'Concessions don't stop plant closings'

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6 SOCIALIST ACTION MAY 1986 The following is an interview with Alice Peurala, president of USWA Local 65, which represents workers at US Steel South Works. She also ran for district director of District 31 (Chicago-Gary) last fall, losing to incumbent Jack Parton, a strong supporter of the USWA International leadership. The interview was conducted by Shirley Pasholk.

Socialist Action: Why did you decide to run for district director?

Alice Peurala: I thought there was a need for an issue-oriented campaign. With the basic steel negotiations coming up, I felt it was important to address the question of concessions. We need a strong leadership that will take a strong stand.

I also pointed to the need for stronger contracting-out language in the basic steel contract. Over the last few years, we've seen more and more steelworker jobs lost to outside contractors. This is a union-busting tactic by corporations who bring in non-union workers to do our work for less wages.

S.A.: What do you think campaign accomplished?

Peurala: I think it stimulated some thinking in the district. The 5000 votes I received are very significant. It shows that many steelworkers feel they need a strong union leadership who will fight to protect their interests. They feel the union needs to speak for steelworkers rather than seek ways of accommodating the companies. They're searching for protection they don't feel they have with the current leadership.

S.A.: Lynn Williams and his slate were elected unanimously last fall and very few district director races were really contested. Dave Patterson lost his bid for re-election in District 6. What do you think this says for the possibilities of building opposition to the "official family" at this time?

Peurala: I think there's a lot of discontent, but it's not organized. It's out there. We just have to keep plugging away. I think there is a segment of the union which wants to go in another direction. This sentiment is frequently expressed by the secondary union leadership. All is S.A.: Most steelworkers viewed the Wheeling-Pittsburgh settlement as a forerunner for this year's basic steel negotiations. Now a concessionary agreement has been approved at LTV. What do you foresee for the remainder of this year's basic steel negotiations?

Peurala: I don't think LTV set any patterns. We'll have to see how it goes with US Steel, Bethlehem, and Inland. We'll see how much fight there is against concessions.

S.A.: What possibilities do you see for reversing the concession bargaining trend?

Peurala: I went to a couple of basic steel conferences [periodic meetings of the presidents of basic steel locals] and ran into a lot of people opposed to concessions. We'll have to wait and see how this opposition takes shape.

The companies are using the same old arguments to sell concessions. They make workers feel their job is at stake and it's better to have some job than no job at all. However, it's been proven time and time again that concessions don't save jobs or stop plant closings.

The labor movement will have to decide in what direction it's going. Do we call the shots or do we continue to let the companies call them?

S.A.: How do you view the state of the industry and the union?

Peurala: The industry is having some

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base in Haiti. That, plus the desire to achieve economic