Category Archives: Women of Steel
Just Harvest Tribute to Jane Becker
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USW International Vice President Fred Redmond and George and Jane Becker Memorial award recipient Sister Simone Campbell.
Members of 3657’s Women of Steel attended Just Harvest’s Annual Harvest Celebration Dinner in honor of the late Jane Becker, a Lifetime United Steelworkers (USW) activist, on Tuesday, October 22 in Pittsburgh, PA.
At Tuesday’s event, the keynote speaker award was renamed the George and Jane Becker Memorial Award for the Becker’s service to Just Harvest over the last 25 years. The recipient of this year’s award was Sister Simone Campbell, a religious leader who has dedicated her life to social justice and helping those in need.
Jane Becker served on Just Harvest’s board of directors in the early 1990s and was on the planning committee for the Harvest Celebration Dinner in the first few years of the event. In 2006, she was honored, along with her husband, the late USW International President George Becker, with Just Harvest’s Seeds of Justice award – an award presented to individuals or organizations that make an extraordinary contribution in advancing Just Harvest’s mission to eliminate hunger and poverty.
In addition to her work with Just Harvest, Jane Becker was a founding member of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR) with a strong commitment to mentoring the Next Generation of labor activists.
“She was a leader in her own right, a great activist for working and retired men and women who was always willing to volunteer and always willing to advance the cause of workers,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
Jane Becker passed away in July and is survived by three sons, George F. III, Gregory and Matthew William; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
WOS Purse Drive Update
Here is a picture of some of the purses which were so graciously donated to the WOS Local 3657 Purse Drive. As you can see the response was overwhelming.
Since there are an overabundance of purses and personal hygiene items we will be able to “spread the wealth” as they say to a number of different organizations. Paulette Battisti has made contact with a young woman from New York City, who works directly with the hurricane victims in several area shelters. The purses will be drop shipped to a central location and hopefully the WOS will be making a road trip to visit the facilities.
Also, purses are being sent out to (2) local women’s shelters and a facility called the Center For Hope, who will give the purses out to the women who are signed up for their food pantry.
WOS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE REPORT
From Sue Romano–Local 3657 Delegate to the 2013 Women of Steel Conference and Former President of USW Local 3657.
Thank you to the Executive Board and Membership of Local 3657 for allowing me to represent our local at the 2013 WOS Conference; it is always an honor and a privilege.
The success of our Stuffed Purse collection drive was incredible, delegates turned out with hundreds of purses being donated for women who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy and other tragedies. It was an awesome experience to be a member of our local that inspired so many to participate in this hugely successful drive.
This was an amazing conference with over 800 registered delegates and guests from the countries of Nigeria, the UK, Mexico and others. The Conference was exciting from the beginning when the national anthems of both the United States & Canada were played, to the end when delegates joined together in singing Solidarity Forever.
Lend A Hand for the Women of Steel Conference
The Women of Steel Conference is fast approaching and we are asking all our WOS from Local 3657 to lend a hand!
Ann Flener and Emily Jefferson are asking for our help putting together the welcome packets that will be distributed at registration to our sisters from across the world.
Join us on the 9th floor conference room on Friday, March 1 and, if needed, Monday, March 4, 2013. Stop by anytime (make sure to clear this with your department head if you are coming any other time but your lunch hour).
Stuffed Purse Collection
Our Women of Steel committee will be collecting gently used purses stuffed with toiletry items to benefit sisters impacted by Hurricane Sandy and other tragedies. Contributions will be accepted at the USW International Women’s Conference registration on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 2-6 p.m. and Sunday, March 10, 2013 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The purses should be stuffed with items like shampoo, lotion, makeup, feminine products, toothpaste, or other basic hygiene products.
For more information, or to suggest a sister, family, or Local Union to benefit from the collection, please contact Julie Stein or Teresa Brown.
Go Red for Women on February 14th
On Thursday, February 14, 2013, we would like our WOS and all local 3657 staff to wear red and black to bring awareness to two causes, Go Red for Women (red), which creates an awareness around heart disease in women, and One Billion Rising (red and black), a global movement that raises awareness and combats violence against women.
United Steelworkers Local 3657 