Alice Peurala: Fighter for labor's rank and file

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Socialist Action is proud to salute the memory of Alice Peurala, the first woman president of a United Steelworkers of America basic steel union local in the United States. Disagreements with some of Alice's political views never diminished the great esteem and respect we had for her.

In one of the last interviews granted by Alice, which appeared in the May 1986 issue of Socialist Action, she summa -rized her view of the problems faced by workers today.

"We need to take a stand," she said, "that workers won't take any cuts in the benefits they've struggled 50 years to win. Now, the union's stand is to compromise. It's been proven this won't save jobs and prevent shutdowns. We need to turn this around."

The following is a contribution from one of our readers who was a close personal friend and co-worker of Alice's.—The Editors Alice Peurala, an unrelenting union fighter for the working class died of cancer, in her home, on June 19, 1986. She was 58 years old.

Alice made union history when elected president of United Steelworkers of America, Local 65, in 1979. She was the only woman president of a basic steel production and maintenance local union in the international.

After her victory, in answer to an interviewer's question asking if being a woman helped her campaign, she remarked, "No, I don't think it had much to do with it. There are 7000 men in the plant (U.S. Steel Corp., South Works) and 500 women. I won because people know I'm a fighter."

At that time Local 65 was part of the 130,000-member District 31 covering Chicago/Gary. It represented the largest concentration of steelworkers in the United States and Canada.

In the 1970s, steel mills in this area were swept in a wave of reform led by Ed Sadlowski (also a past president of Local 65). This resulted in an unsuccessful 1977 challenge for U.S.W.A. International President. Sadlowski's Fight Back slate campaigned for membership control of all union affairs. This way members could combat the union leadership's collaboration with the bosses.

Alice was hired in the mill in 1953. She was always active in union politics, supporting I.B. Abel against the "tuxedo unionism" of David McDonald in 1965.

While she was working in the metallurgical department as an observer, U.S. Steel denied Alice a promotion which would have enabled her to work a steady day shift with weekends off. As a single mother of a daughter, Alice needed a day shift. Instead, U.S. Steel promoted the men Alice had trained. Alice, without union support, filed a sex-discrimination suit in Federal Court under the Civil Rights Act 111/ against U.S. Steel. She out-of court settlement in 1969.

In her new position as products tester, Alice had to cover the entire 15-city block mill. Her plant-wide activity for militant unionism developed into a caucus, "Steelworkers for Change." She ran for recording secretary in 1970 and griever in 1973. She was elected a division griever in 1976 and was repeatedly elected delegate to the union's International convention.

Alice was an outstanding fighter, defending what she believed in with a driving dynamism unequaled by most humans. An example of her determination to confront U.S. Steel was when she had to oppose two other candidates for the 1979 presidency. Or of them was John Chico, the incumber who was endorsed by Sadlowski.

Her upset victory in that election, however, was not shared by her running mates on the Steelworkers for Change ticket. Once elected, Alice withstood unrelenting pressures from her opponents on the executive board to discredit her.

During the Iranian revolt against the Shah of Iran and U.S. interterence in Iranian politics, opposition members falsely circulated a mill rumor claiming Alice had authorized $10,000 from the union treasury to be given to the Khomeini regime. They called a special membership meeting to denounce Alice when she was out of town. A lynch-mob atmosphere permeated the union hall. The membership rescinded a previously endorsed civil liberties resolution defending Iranian nationals in this country.

Alice was an inspiration to women in the mills. This was evident by a standing ovation and chants of "Alice, Alice" in tribute to her at a U.S.W.A. Chicago/Gary Women's Conference. Women were so proud of her.

Alice established union committees that were open to all, promoting union democracy at all levels in the union.

Alice courageously spoke and organized for many social and political causes in contrast to the craven conduct of union officers who subordinate their careers to AFL-CIO treachery.

During Peurala's re-election bid, massive layoffs started hitting the steel mills, throwing thousands out of work. Plant closings became a common occurrence.

In this election, her opponent blasted Alice in a leaflet saying, "We've done all the marching that we're going to do for you Alice. We intend to spend 100 percent of our time in the office right here at South Works representing local 65."

Further, her opposition accused her of "being concerned only with herself getting her photograph in the newspapers and her image on TV. In short, she's nothing but a media junkie!" Alice, running on a Fight Back slate to combat contract concessions, narrowly lost the election.

In 1985 Alice was vindicated by the steelworkers in her mill. While recu -perating from a mastectomy, she campaigned again to be Local 65 president and was resoundingly elected to that position.

With unbelievable personal fortitude, Alice ran for Chicago/Gary District Director in October 1985. Predictably, she lost that race since it was common knowledge she was undergoing chemo -therapy for a recurrence of cancer.

Alice described herself as politically "independent." She endorsed many liberal Democratic Party candidates but, remarkably, maintained her staunch support for the needs of working women and men. Alice was one of the few union leaders who dared to criticize Chicago's Mayor Jane Byrne for betraying her campaign promise of a contract for Chicago firefighters, forcing them to strike.

Mayor Harold Washington attended her wake. The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, and New York Times, as well as local radio news stations, acknowledged Alice's death. A memorial meeting is scheduled for July 27 at Local 65's hall.

Alice's epitaph reads: "Do not go gentle into that good night, rage, rage against the dying of the light." —Dylan Thomas