Article submitted by Andy Frye
On May 30, 2014, the United Steelworkers (USW) Texarkana Women of Steel (WOS) were presented with the Whitey Sneed/Bob Spinks Education & Humanitarian Volunteer Award. The award recognizes union activists who display their passion for educating the public about organized labor and/or volunteering to assist fellow union members and our community in times of need.
Following the devastating tornadoes on May 19 and 30, 2013, the Women of Steel in Texarkana, TX., contacted the Central Oklahoma Labor Federation to find out how they could help. On May 31, seven Texarkana WOS members drove to Oklahoma City where they were greeted by more tornadoes. Undaunted, they were at the property of a Union brother on Saturday and Sunday, working alongside the United Way Union Disaster Relief Team and other volunteers, moving massive amounts of storm debris to the street for pickup.
On June 17 and 18, the Texarkana WOS returned to Oklahoma City in another show of solidarity! Several boxes of purses were shipped to the Central Oklahoma Labor Federation from the Women of Steel in Pittsburgh, PA. The Texarkana WOS delivered the purses filled with toiletry items to Union sisters, Union halls across the metro area, and at the Multi-Agency Resource Center in Moore, OK where there were women needing assistance.
District 13 Director Ruben Garza congratulates the USW Texarkana WOS volunteers and applauds the work they do.
- Jackie Boyce - Local 1148, International Paper
- Rephonnie Roberts - Local 1148, International Paper
- Marcia Ware - Local 1329, Domtar Paper
- Pam Muldrew - Local 1329, Domtar Paper
- Velma Perkins - Local 1329, Domtar Paper
- Jarita Sobak - Local 752L, Cooper Tire
- Stephanie Hutchinson - Local 752L, Cooper Tire
