Tonya Clark works at aluminum manufacturer Arconic in Northern Iowa and is a proud member of Local 105. She serves in a multitude of positions, including steward, trustee, recording secretary for Women of Steel, Civil and Human Rights Chair, and delegate.
For Clark, helping others comes naturally. Prior to getting hired at Arconic, she worked in home healthcare where she served some of the most vulnerable community members. Now, she is grateful to lend a hand via her union that feels like home.
“I love being a part of a union,” said Clark. “It’s like being in a family, and you’re fighting for what is right.”
Clark said that there are plenty of members who don’t understand what it means to be in a union. She believes it requires looking at the bigger picture.
“It’s not just about wages,” Clark said. “You meet wonderful people, you learn different things. It’s so much more.”
Clark uses her privilege in the union to give back to the surrounding community. Before coming to Arconic roughly ten years ago, she would donate clothing and serve food at a local homeless shelter. Now, she’s honored that her Local 105 siblings participate with her in this and other projects.
“A lot of these people have mental issues, or they’re lost because they have no family left, or they’ve been assaulted and don’t know how to find themselves again,” Clark said.
This empathy is what has always guided her, because she knows what it means to struggle.
“I didn’t always have a lot of money when my kids were younger. I would stand in the Toys for Tots line, even when it was cold and my toes were freezing,” she said. “Now, it’s my turn to help, and I do it happily.”
Clark is someone who has, literally, given someone the clothing off her back. During a dinner at the shelter, a young girl mentioned that she didn’t own a jacket. Clark removed her coat and gave it to the girl, no questions asked.
“I just like to see a smile on people’s faces,” Clark said.