Daily Kos: To: Unions From: Netroots Re: Thank you for Pittsburgh

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/8/15/767309/-To:UnionsFrom:NetrootsRe:Thank-you-for-Pittsburgh

by Mike Stark
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Sat Aug 15, 2009 at 10:37:48 AM PDT

This convention has been incredible. Thursday I toured a steel plant and saw molten iron throwing sparks as it was being poured from container to container. I talked with some steelworkers, wore their boots and safety gear and learned how one of America's most advanced steel plants operates. Yesterday, (Friday) I went over to PNC Park – the Pirates home stadium. I took batting practice, hit and shagged some fly balls and had a great dinner. Today I just finished enjoying a box lunch while sitting with Digby and listening to Kevin Drum and Dean Baker talk economics.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much has been given. How much I’ve enjoyed...

And who has provided so much: the unions.

And then I took the last mental step and realized that, ultimately, it was the union members who gave us so much here... the steelworkers I met... the folks that make our cars... other hard-working, salt-of-the-earth union members who give up a portion of each paycheck to union dues.

Those folks gave, I enjoyed.

And for that, I want to say thank you. Sincerely, thank you. (more)

* Mike Stark's diary :: ::
*

More than that, I want you folks to know that I appreciate you for more than making it possible for me to take batting practice at PNC Park.

I appreciate you for sounding the alarm about an economy that doesn’t produce anything anymore. I appreciate you for demonstrating so conclusively how organized labor brings stability to communities. I appreciate you for holding so many of the same values dear that I do... things like decent wages, safe work spaces, a clean environment, and basic human rights like health care for everyone.

FULL story at link.

[aquart]

1. We still have steel mills?