The St. Louis Rail Labor Coalition is composed of working railroad people like yourself, including retired members and others affiliated with rail unions.

We formed our organization because we needed a forum to communicate on issues of common interest and there is a strong need for unity when facing issues generated by our rapidly changing industry. We recall that we and our predecessors worked hard to obtain our union contracts. Our struggle is not over.

We are under a constant barrage of anti-union, anti-rail labor legislation. We must support or oppose local, state and national issues in the most effective way possible; which means we must work together. Our united efforts will insure rail labor's survival and the survival of the rail industry.

A sample of what we've been doing in 1997:

January - Raised $3,000 plus to aid striking Machinists' at McDonnell Douglas; elected officers, including President David Cassidy (BMWE), Vice President Charles Bolam (UTU), Recording Secretary David Garris (TCU Carmen), and Treasurer Bob Raglund (TCU Clerks).

March - Seminar by Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on how its services interact with unions; approved design of iron-on patches created to stimulate conversation and increase participation in the organization.

May - Informational picketing on May 1 Solidarity Day regarding PRODS. (See photos under May.)

June - Hosted speaker Lisa Serrano of the AFL-CIO St. Louis Strawberry Workers Campaign who spoke about the brutal treatment of strawberry workers by local law enforcement officers using "turn of the century tactics developed by farm managers"; set-up informational booths at several area railroad employee picnics; made presentations at NARVRE meeting.

August - Attended the 11^th Ward meeting and met with newly elected Mayor Clarence Harmon who is from a railroad family (his father retired from the WABASH). We met with several labor friendly politicians, including Congressman Richard Gephardt's staff assistant who remembered most of us by our first names from previous meetings.

September - Participated in St. Louis Labor Day Parade in conjunction with TCU Lodges 512 and 554; focusing on involving children and families in the labor movement. (See photos under September.)

November - Hosted speaker Mark Waldemer, an attorney and a passionate, unflinchingly radical former union officer for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers who "the feds and an angry industry are going after ... all the live-long day." (The Riverfront Times, St. Louis, May 1994.)

December - We will give our annual donation to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.

We invite you and all rail union members to bring us your thoughts, ideas and concerns. Remember the "U" is what makes UNION strong!

David Cassidy

2815 Elk Peak Ct.

Oakville, MO 63129