First Published: The Call, Vol. 3, No. 3, December 1974.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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Overcoming a vicious red-baiting campaign and illegal election practices by the I.W. Abel machine in the United Steel Workers union, Ed Sadlowski won a landslide election as head of USWA District 31.
Sadlowski defeated Abel flunkey Sam Evett in this, the largest district of the USWA, by a two-to-one margin. Nearly 300 federal agents had to supervise the election, since last time the vote was taken, Evett came out winner. The election was overturned by a federal judge because of fraud.
The turnout of District 31 members was 30% higher this time, as Sadlowski captured all six subdistricts, and every large local, reflecting the massive anti-Abel sentiment among the rank-and-file.
Evett used red-baiting tactics in a vain attempt to scare off the rank and file. At a gathering of Republic Steel workers (Local 1033) an Evett backer stood up and said, “In 1948, the communists marched into Poland, and today, Sadlowski is running with the communists.” But the workers weren’t won by Evett’s tactics.
Sadlowski’s election objectively represents a defeat for the anti-strike policies of the present international USWA leadership, as well as their racist treatment of minority union members.