In mid-May, Tammie Botelho, a retiree from Bic Corporation and proud member of Local 134L in Milford, Conn., joined dozens of SOAR members and hundreds of rank-and-file Steelworkers for the USW's annual Rapid Response conference in Washington, D.C.
This three-day conference included plenary sessions, workshops, and opportunities to build solidarity with USW local unions and SOAR chapters. On the final day, conferencegoers met face-to-face with federal lawmakers and their staff to discuss various issues, including health care, union rights, workplace issues, retirement security, and more.
In meetings with two members of Congress and one senator, Tammie expressed her concerns about a controversial proposal to fast-track cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
"Our lawmakers need to hear from folks like me who have worked for decades and paid into programs like Social Security and Medicare, so we could someday retire with the dignity we deserve," said Botelho.
"But it's not just retirees' issues that concern me. We need to fight against all efforts to undercut the protections Steelworkers are fighting for on the job, and Rapid Response offers all of us an opportunity to do exactly that."
However, like so many SOAR members, Tammie's activism extends beyond attending the annual Rapid Response Conference.
As a new SOAR chapter president, Tammie leads by example in her community.
"I wanted to start a SOAR chapter to stay involved in our union's work and help younger members and fellow retirees understand that what happens in Washington matters," she said.
During one of the conference's plenary sessions, Cheryl Omlor, a former healthcare worker who now works as an administrative assistant in the USW's SOAR office, participated in a panel discussion about unsafe staffing ratios in nursing homes.
During the panel discussion, Omlor reflected upon her time as an evening receptionist and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at a senior living and supportive care community.
"Understaffing impacts the quality of care patients receive, as well as the mental and physical well-being of those working in the industry," Omlor explained to Steelworkers attending the panel discussion.
"One time, I found a resident on the floor who needed immediate help from a qualified nurse. However, with only one nurse working in the entire facility at the time of the emergency, they ended up passing away before they could get the appropriate care," she said.
The resident's family eventually sued the facility, and an investigation revealed a number of other families with similar stories of their loved ones not receiving assistance when their call bells were pressed.
Omlor testified in a hearing that their death resulted from understaffing and not an accidental fall like management alleged.
After the hearing concluded, the family did receive some monetary compensation. However, the family of the resident who passed away did express to Omlor that it was her testimony and the subsequent termination of the facility director that made them believe justice had been served.
Unfortunately, the issues of understaffing persisted even after a new director was appointed, forcing Omlor to decide a month later that it was time for her to move on.
"The pandemic revealed to many of us the overwhelming struggles health care workers and those who work in nursing homes face each and every day," Omlor said recently. "That's why the voices of USW members are so important in the fight to address issues like staffing ratios, time off, health care, and so much more."
"It was such an honor to represent SOAR at the USW's 2024 Rapid Response Conference and to see firsthand the impact USW members and retirees can have when we work together,” said Omlor.
-Julie Stein
USW SOAR Director