Steelworkers’ efforts helped secure victories in three special elections to fill a trio of seats in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives. These seats were left vacant after two lawmakers departed the chamber for higher office, and another passed away mere weeks before voters headed to the polls in Nov. 2022.
These victories helped flip the balance of power in the closely-contested chamber, cementing the first worker-friendly majority in the Pennsylvania House in more than a decade.
Determined to have labor-friendly allies setting the agenda in Harrisburg, working hand in hand the newly-elected, USW-backed governor, Josh Shapiro, Steelworkers braved the cold throughout January to ensure a strong turnout of union voters on Election Day.
Canvassing neighborhoods to talk with union voters at their door during the winter can be grueling work. That is exactly why USW District 10 Director, Bernie Hall recruited a team of USW members to help with the canvassing effort, which included JoJo Burgess (USW Local 1557), Denise Edwards (Retired, USW Local 1219), JoAnn Loncar (Retired, USW Local 512T), and Brad Schneider (USW Local 1557).
“This being my first election campaign, I was really impressed by the amount of support we received from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council,” said Schneider, an 18-year Steelworker member at the Clairton Coke Works.
“The fact that our work helped secure a union-friendly majority in the Pennsylvania House is huge,” said Schneider.
“The lawmakers we were out there knocking doors for definitely took note, and they assured us they’d have our back the next time we are on strike or in a tough negotiation with a company.”