Women Of Steel Forge Solidarity Link With Striking Mexican Mining Families

http://www.laborradio.org/node/13323

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on April 14, 2010 - 2:40pm
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By Doug Cunningham

The United Steel Workers union Women of Steel organization is reaching across the border in solidarity with Mexican miners struggling for safer mines. Women of Steel director Ann Flener says money is being raised to support striking miners and their families. The miners went on strike in Cananea Mexico for health and safety reasons after a mine explosion killed more than 60. A miner’s women’s committee formed to support the strike. Flener says the miners families and communities are being harassed and pressured by the mine owners and the government.

: “Their facing manipulation of their gas and electric, the children are treated wrong in school in an attempt for the government to try to force these miners back to work without having to repair the health and safety issues. And so it’s become a community and a national fight in Mexico.”

Flener says Women of Steel formed to train women union activists within the USW and has evolved to and activist arm of the union active in all steel worker districts. She says Women of Steel
Sent a delegation down to visit the Mexican workers and is committed to continuing to help them.

: “The workers are so strong, but they need so much. So we’re just trying to lend support to the families and help the to stand strong. Because their struggles are our struggles.”