Your Voice: A proud heritage scrapped
August 29, 2001
Jeffrey Engel
I was laid off at the end of May from my job as a steelworker at Kaiser Aluminum here in Tacoma.
First, I'd like to thank all the people, organizations and the community for their support during our past labor dispute with the company. Secondly, I'd like to thank the members of the salary force at the Tacoma plant who recognized the skill and dedication of us steelworkers, specifically superintendent John Hansen, and also those who realized that as a team we could surmount most any challenge that was placed in the way of our plant being successful.
The one obstacle that we could not surmount was an indifferent and callous corporate management.
Today our plant lies as a dark and quiet relic of the industries that have made America proud, productive and self-sufficient. As with the steel industry, aluminum plants and other "dirty" industries and jobs have become exportable. Our country's self-sufficiency is being traded for marginal profits, and our industrial work force is being expected to adapt to service and technology fields.
While this may be fine for those new to the labor force, it comes with great effort and often undesirable consequences to those of us who are older and based in the backbone industries of this proud nation. While we always have options, none can replace the security and pride that most of us lived with while we held our old jobs.
Today I look for work; a 46-year-old white male with limited transferable skills. I'd like a job that can give me a comparable sense of pride, security and lifestyle.
My fellow displaced workers and I will survive the challenges that our layoff forces upon us, as we did during our two-year struggle for a fair contract. But it's sad for us, as well as our country, to see the historic perspective of what makes this country great discarded for the chance of corporate profits and political power.
My so-called tax rebate will go to pay the basic bills that our modern economy seems unable to control. And someday I hope to feel whole again, even if I never feel as secure or proud as I once did.
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Jeffrey Engel lives in Tacoma.