Jeff Hooker

Where do you work and what do you do?

I work in Warsaw, Indiana, as a polisher. We make artificial implants and limbs.

What roles do you serve in your local union?

I’ve been local president since 1997, when we were part of a different union.

Why are unions important?

Folks who are depending on their 401k are in real trouble right now. I’m very fortunate that I have a pension and healthcare waiting for me when I retire.

What makes you proud to be USW?

I’ve been through several mergers with multiple unions. I’ve worked on organizing campaigns that have allowed me to help people. I hate to see things get bad, but sometimes it takes something like this for organizing to take off. They’re really going to see the value of a union.

What does “All In” mean to you?

Indiana became a right-to-work state in 2012, and a group of us Steelworkers were all in fighting it. It’s had a real impact. We went all in, and we’ve made sure we’ve remained at 100 percent membership despite it.