Proud, resolute Steelworkers are my extended family

Your Turn: Their long struggle welded union members' solidarity.

John F. Goodman - Special to The Spokesman-Review

Spokane _ I have reflected many times in the last two years about why I and many others fought so hard and poured our hearts and souls into the long battle over the strike and lockout at Kaiser-Maxxam.

I can't speak for the others, but as for me there were many reasons. At first, there was the motivation of the 23 years I had invested in a job. And there was the pride of not wanting to lose what we had worked so long for.

Many times while out on the road doing union work, I wanted to quit. But each time I returned to Spokane and saw the dedication and suffering of my brothers, sisters and their families, it inspired me and I knew I had to go on. When I saw the faces of the families going to the food bank and was told of the hardship that this greed-driven corporation had inflicted, I knew I had to go on.

When I was on the road, sometimes at night I would read books on union history. After reading about the sacrifices made by the brave brothers and sisters who came before us, even to the point of giving their lives, I knew I had to go on.

When I looked into the eyes of my sons and granddaughters, and thought of what the future may hold for them if we were not successful in this battle for human rights and dignity, I knew I had to go on.

Jodi Viabrock, a sister Steelworker once said with conviction, "These are our jobs and we deserve them." She was so right. We are the ones, the workers, who have invested generations of sweat, toil, sacrifices and blood into these plants, and we weren't going to allow some corporate raider in Houston to take from our families and communities a livelihood we had invested so much in.

I am very proud of our union. Without their support this battle and victory would never have been possible. They gave far more than we could pay back in a lifetime.

Twenty-seven years ago I chose the beautiful Northwest as my home, the place where I would raise three wonderful sons. Because of my union brothers' and sisters' determination to fight for these jobs I won't have to look somewhere else for work. These are our jobs.

I am proud to say that I have an extended family now, the United Steelworkers of America, and I love and thank all of them for the sacrifices they have made.