Volume 56, No.
10
New agreement
ratified 1,320-280
Pact rolls-in COLA, increases wages
last three years of agreement
By Chris Tunney
Associate Editor
Ratified and Satisfied
On a windy fall day, 1,600 of
our 2,200 plus membership
trekked out to the McKinley Room
at the Canton Civic Center, Sun-
day, November 1, 2009 to exercise
their right to vote on the newly
proposed 2009 Basic Labor
Agreement.
Nearly 400 members in the McKinley Room at the Canton Civic Center November 1 hear from the Golden Lodge Negotiating Committee
and ask questions about the tentative four-year agreement.
Opening up the process at 7:30
a.m, our negotiating team, union
leadership, and dedicated volun-
teers, began their long day’s work.
Two informational meetings were
held at 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., to
explain the provisions and address
any questions or concerns that in-
terested brothers and sisters would
have.
Closing the doors promptly at
6:30 p.m., ended the voting, and
November 2009
began the counting. Final results,
with approximately 73% of eligi-
ble members voting, had the pro-
posed agreement passing over-
whelmingly.
The tally showed that 1,320
voted to accept the new agree-
ment, with 280 rejecting. That rep-
resented 83% to accept.
Marty Kirsch, HSP Controller,
felt that “for the economic times,
this was a great contract.” He then
added that many people in our
community are receiving cuts.
HSP Machinist, Dan Kieffer,
simply said, “”It’s better than
what I expected.”
HSP Processor, Ron Benamati
told the committee, “The new pro-
posal had some very good points.
(Continued on Page 2)
....ratification
(Continued from Page 1)
The negotiating team worked very
hard, however, the new hire lan-
guage would affect us down the
road.”
RPP Maintainer Frank Cirone,
thought it was an “okay” agree-
ment, and that “we can’t please ev-
eryone.”
Calvin Davis, from FSP, also
said it was a good deal. “I agree
with the negotiators,” he said
Congratulations to President
Joe Hoagland, Vice President Paul
Muller, Staff Representative Joe
Holcomb, District 1 Director
Dave McCall and Sub District Di-
rector Dennis Brommer, and espe-
cially to our dedicated Negotiat-
ing Committee, who tirelessly la-
bored on our behalf to reach this
successful agreement in these
troubled times.
The division negotiators in-
cluded: Mike Poole; Gamb Steel,
Bill Webler; Harrison Steel, Ron
Roberts; Faircrest Steel, Bill
Crawford; Gamb Bearing/RPP,
and Bob Seward; Canton Bearing.
We can now all relax, and
move forward to reap the benefits
of our new contract. We can, and
should, hold our heads high, as all
of our Union Brothers and Sisters,
working together, stronger, smart-
er, and safely move towards the
goal of a better tomorrow for ev-
eryone. This is a very proud mo-
ment in our local’s history.
“Good actions give strength to
ourselves and inspire good actions
in others.”
Plato must have been a Steel-
worker too.
2 November 2009
Retirees lump sum payment
will come from pension fund
No Social Security, Medicare
or city taxes will be deducted
Joe Hoagland
President
We have an agreement on a
new contract. The new Basic La-
bor Agreement took effect No-
vember 1 and will expire at 12:01
a.m., September 30, 2013. The
new S.U.B., 401(k), Insurance and
Pension agreements start January
1, 2010 and expire on December
31, 2013.
Two exceptions to the above
are retiree healthcare and the
$5,000 lump sum payment. The
changes in retiree healthcare will
start January 1, 2011 and only
those members who retire on or af-
ter January 1, 2011 will be affect-
ed.
The $5,000 lump sum payment
became effective November 1,
and will be available to any mem-
ber who retires before January 1,
2014.
Lump sum payment
comes from pension fund
Regarding the $5,000 pay-
ment, I was asked a question at the
afternoon ratification meeting as
to whether this money came from
the pension fund. I answered that I
felt (and the rest of the Bargaining
Committee agreed), it was a pay-
ment from some other source.
We all felt that since the Com-
pany was adamant about not in-
creasing pension funding costs,
that it would not be coming from
the pension fund. So much for as-
sumptions.
The $5,000 lump sum payment
for retirees will come from the
pension fund. This means there
will be no deductions for Social
Security or Medicare tax or for
City taxes (if you reside within the
city limits). If you are under age 55
when you retire, there will be a
10% federal income tax penalty
since this is a lump sum distribu-
tion from the pension fund.
Healthcare benefits
extended three months
Another area I want to explain
is the extended healthcare benefits
(three months) for anyone on lay-
off who has, or will, exhaust their
Company-paid healthcare.
If your benefits are about to
run out, the additional three
months will tag right on to the end
automatically. If your Company-
paid benefits have expired and you
elected to continue benefits with
the Company at your own expense
(COBRA), you will be converted
back to Company-paid benefits ef-
fective December 1, 2009.
For those whose benefits have
expired and did not elect to con-
tinue Company health benefits at
their own expense, the Company
will contact you by the end of No-
vember and offer the opportunity
to re-enroll in Timken benefits for
an additional three months. You
will be asked to make that decision
by no later than December 31,
2009, with the Company-paid ex-
tension becoming effective Febru-
ary 1, 2010.
Many “thanks” to the mem-
bers who volunteered to count
votes and work the check-in tables
at the Civic Center. For many of
you, it was a very long day.
Also, I would be remiss if I did
not thank all members for your
continued patience and support
during the negotiating process.
So, from the entire Bargaining
Committee, “we thank you.”
We arbitrated the case con-
cerning supervision and salary do-
ing our work on October 28. The
Company maintained their stance
that no saleable product was pro-
duced and that they were operating
their equipment.
We held fast to our position
that the work is ours to perform
and the equipment, as defined in
our job descriptions, should be op-
Surviving Spouse Lump Sum Payments
It was agreed during negotiations for the 2009 labor agreements to continue the special annual lump sum
payments to surviving spouses. The payments will be made in September, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 to sur-
viving spouses of employees who retired prior to January 1, 1994.
November 2009
erated by bargaining unit employ-
ees.
It was a proud, and to me, his-
toric day as four past presidents of
Golden Lodge testified in the pro-
ceedings.
“Thank you” to Joe Kostic,
Art Maurer, Stan Jasionowski and
Randy Feemster. A decision on
the case should arrive around mid-
January.
We also had an arbitration
concerning the 500 hour security
payment at Harrison Steel. The
facts of the case went undisputed
by either party.
The sole issue is what makes
up a month when the language
calls for a 13-week quarter and the
quarter starts approximately one
week into the month. This arbitra-
tor’s decision is expected some-
time in January, also.
If you are working voluntary
overtime and there are members
laid off in your occupation or de-
partment, consider how you would
feel if the roles were reversed.
I know as Americans, we have
been taught to better ourselves and
GOLDEN LODGE NEWS
GOLDEN LODGE NEWS STAFF
Tom Sponhour, Editor
Joe Hoagland, Managing Editor
Ron Roberts, Associate Editor
Chris Tunney, Associate Editor
LOCAL 1123 OFFICERS
Joe Hoagland, President
Paul Muller, Vice President
Pat Eslich, Recording Secretary
Greg Cushman, Financial Secretary
Kathy Boyd, Treasurer
James Schweitzer, Trustee
Susie Camper, Trustee
Keith Strobelt, Trustee
Paul McKenzie, Guide
Bill Webler, Outside Guard
Bob Seward, Inside Guard
Published monthly, except July, by
the United Steelworkers, Golden Lodge
Local 1123, AFL-CIO, in the interest of
its members and to further the aims and
programs of the Union.
USW Local 1123 represents bar-
gaining unit workers at the Canton, Gam-
brinus, and Faircrest plants of The
Timken Company.
USW Golden Lodge Local 1123
1234 Harrison Ave. S.W.
Canton, OH 44706
(330) 454-6137
Fax (330) 454-3461
Email - golden@neo.rr.com
our station in life through hard
work. How about if we make this a
better America by caring about our
brothers and sisters?
3
 Don’t wait too long to
ask for financial advice
Call 211 to get recommendations
Paul Muller
Vice President
As much as we wish the econo-
my were fixed, I am sure we are all
very aware that it will be a long
haul back. At some point, I honest-
ly believe we will return to pros-
perous times. I am happy that we
were able to negotiate extended
S.U.B benefits and an extension to
the health insurance for those who
are near or have run out of health
insurance.
I do not intend to do a run-
down of the contract here, but
rather talk a little about some of
the things that should be done
while waiting to get called back.
One of the hardest things to do
is admit to someone when we start
Volunteer tellers count the ballots after the Information & Ratification meetings November 1 at the Canton Civic
Center. The tentative agreement was ratified by a count of 1,320 - 280.
4 November 2009
running into financial difficulties
due to unemployment. Often
times we wait until we are buried
to seek out help.
For those with mortgages, car
payments, and credit card debit,
we need to call and make terms
BEFORE the phone starts ringing,
or the mailings start coming, or the
threats start piling up.
I realize not all institutions are
easy to deal with, but in these un-
usual times, they would much
rather deal, than have someone
bailout on a mortgage or loan. So
the quicker we react in being up
front, or trying to make livable
terms with a lender, the better the
chance of survival through this.
Do it early enough and you may
find a lender willing to deal with
your honesty.
We have had a few people call
to say they are running out of un-
employment. Be sure to check into
any extensions.
If somehow you unfortunately
got into overwhelming debt,
check into some of the Credit
Counseling offered in the commu-
nity. It is a way to help protect your
credit rating, while taking care of
getting back on track.
The Untied Way 211 number
operators can help you with your
needs by recommending agencies
that may be of help to you in diffi-
cult times.
There are churches that offer
food sales and at reduced prices
that can save you money on your
food needs. Doing something as
quickly as you can may save you
huge amounts of grief in the long
run.
Union Plus offers a “Save My
Home Hotline, that offers free
counseling to union members
worried about their homes. That
number is 866-490-5361, or on the
Web at Union Plus.org/SaveMy
Home, they also offer a series of
credit counseling services. The
number for that is 877-833-1745
or by visiting: UnionPlus.org/
CreditCouseling.
Remember
you can check
your credit report
once annually for
free at: annual
creditreport.com.
Hopefully,
things will turn
around soon and
we can all get
back to earning
the living we
want for our fam-
ilies.
 Injuries don’t stop member A vision of inspiration, Rick
attended the informational meet-
from voting on new contract ing, clearly interested in what is
happening for our membership.
The highlight of the busy after- Connie beamed,” He is my
noon of the ratification meeting hero, for being able to survive
was the addition of a very strong something like that.”
and dedicated individual, who
made the strenuous effort to exer- She added that Rick just wants
cise his right to vote. to be independent. We can all fol-
low his progress on their website,
Rick Riffle, who was severely which is: www.caringbridge.org/
injured on the job last January, ac- visit/rickriffle
companied with his loving wife, Rick Riffle casts his vote on the tentative
agreement at the Canton Civic Center.
Connie, having just returned from Rick was severely injured on the job in
arm surgery Wednesday, drove to January at the Gamb Steel Plant.
the meeting to attend the afternoon
employed by Timken for 15
session.
months when his accident hap- October 7 Meeting
Having lost his job at the pened. What was his opinion of Greg Clayton
Hoover Company after over 28 the proposed agreement? “Pretty Shawn Lindner
years of service, he had only been good, considering this economy.” Mike Andreotti
*Rob McCabe
*Fran Eversole
Time to sign-up or re-sign October 21 Meeting
for Shift Preference *David Huberty
*Chris Saling
Under provisions of the new 2009 Basic Labor Agreement, Tom Croston
everyone must sign-up again if they wish to remain on the shift Tony Wojtasek
preference list. **Penny Shearer
The dates to sign-up or re-sign for the new shift preference lists is *Donated to Rick Riffle
November 16-30, 2009. You may file a written application for **Donated to the USO
assignment to a shift or shifts that is different from what you are now
working. This application will remain in effect as long as you
remain on your current occupation. (But no longer than the 2009 Questions?
Basic Labor Agreement.)
Comments?
After the first sign up period, shift preference will remain the same
as before. For the fifteen day periods after May 15 and November 15, Suggestions?
you are able to apply for assignment to a different shift on the (Address changes, too)
occupation that you are working. Your name is removed if you leave
the occupation. If you transfer into another occupation, you will be
placed at the bottom of the shift preference list for six months. After
six months, your name will be arranged on the list on the basis of
continuous service. You may at any time request that your name be
removed from the list.
Contact Golden Lodge
When a new shift is created, the vacancies will be filled by
by email at:
canvassing, on the basis of continuous service, in the occupation for
which the new shift is being created. golden@neo.rr.com

November 2009 5
 Former Golden
Lodge Presidents
testify at grievance
arbitration hearing
Four former Golden Lodge
presidents re-united to bolster the
Union’s argument at a grievance
arbitration hearing October 28,
2009.
The grievance concerned
Timken salaried personnel operat-
ing equipment while our members
were on lay off. All of the individ-
ual grievances from all the plants
filed in this matter were rolled into Golden Lodge presidents, going back to 1997, at the arbitration hearing held in Canton on
one grievance. the issue of Timken salaried personnel doing bargaining unit work. Pictured left to right:
Art Maurer (2000-2003), Joe Kostic (1997-2000), current President Joe Hoagland, Stan
The outcome of the arbitration Jasionowski (2003-2006), and Randy Feemster (2006-2009).
will be binding for all. These
former presidents joined with our Recent Retirees Ronald E. May
current administration to drive George H. Oliver, Jr.
Golden Lodge congratulates
home the point that salary has nev- David A. Poling
the following members who have
er operated our equipment to make
recently retired and will now enjoy Dana E. Powers
product.
their union-negotiated retiree pen- David B. Reed
The combined experience of sion and healthcare benefits. Ronald D. Ritter
these gentlemen, past and present,
Richard H. Barkan Harry E. Sell
was coupled with research into ne-
gotiation transcripts, previous David L. Carlson Kenneth R. Smith
grievances and other arbitration Ronald W. Carpenter Michael L. Solomon
rulings to define the Union’s posi- Richard G. Caughey, Jr. Joseph A. VanFossen
tion. Victor H. Clark, Jr. Arthur Y. Williams, Jr.
Ronald L. Coleman Charles P. Winemiller
The union is now waiting for
Daniel C. Cordes William G. Withers, III
the arbitrator to hand down his de-
James J. Couto
cision. Dennis C. Wuske
Joseph S. DiGiacomo
Stephen F. Zaleski
Roy G. Dowdell
Daniel L. Everetts
Thomas D. Falls
Frank A. Garcia
Ronald C. Geiselman
Raymond A. Hall
Jimmie Hibbitts
Ronald L. Hurner
Carey R. Linerode
Daniel Mariol
Thomas L. Martin

6 November 2009

SOAR NOTES
Healthcare is theme of
SOAR District Conference
By Jim Reed
SOAR members from around
the state recently met in Columbus
for the 14th Annual SOAR Con-
ference. Sub-District Director
Dave Caldwell welcomed the del-
egates. He outlined some of the is-
sues that face us and what needs to
be done.
“We must make political lead-
ers do what they promised when
they were elected,” he stated. “If
not, then they should be voted out
of office, and elect the right peo-
ple.”
Caldwell told the audience
that we must pass progressive leg-
islation.
It was nice to see Bill Burga
again, the retired president of the
Ohio AFL-CIO, address the con-
ference. He spoke about health
care and money.
“The CEO’s of large corpora-
tions in the 1970s made about 35
times that of workers’ pay. Now,
they make about 400 times the
workers’ pay.
The average wage today is
about $50,000. The wealth in this
DECEMBER LUNCHEON
Pork Chops
AuGratin Potatoes
Succotash
Tossed salad
Pie
November 2009
I.W. Abel
Chapter
1/27
country needs to be redistributed,”
he said. “We also must have fair
trade. A tariff must be placed on
tires coming from China,” Burga
stated.
Also addressing the confer-
ence, was Norm Wernet, Field Di-
rector for the Alliance for Retired
Americans. He told the audience
that health care is bankrupting an
average of 750,000 people a year!
Prescription drugs are up 30 to
50%. People 55 to 64 years old,
and too young for Medicare, who
have lost their jobs and insurance
are suffering.
He spoke of a couple who are
in such a situation, who had to buy
insurance. With their situation,
they must pay $48,000 per year for
coverage.
The U.S. is ranked 37th in the
world of socialized countries in
health care. Just one a head of
Cuba.
Our country has a hodge-
podge of systems competing
against each other, while it’s citi-
zens suffer. Reform is needed
NOW, not later!
We have to STOP watching
the Fox News Network, and the
Rush Limbaughs. They profess
news that is fair and balanced,
while in reality, what they put out,
is just the opposite and keeps the
country in a state of unrest!
SOAR membership declining
The membership of SOAR is
about 70,000. It is slowly declin-
ing, as older retirees pass on.
Younger retirees do not choose to
become active. They either get an-
other job, or play with their com-
puter and iPod.
Many have never been on a
strike or know what it is.
Society has changed, and it has
not been necessarily for the best.
They do not seem to remember
who fought to give them what
they have today.
SOAR hopes that there are
those who do remember, will join,
and help us to carry on the fight for
the retirees who gave their best for
us!
If you were a member of
SOAR at one time, and dropped
out, think about coming back!
You can only sit around the
house for so long. If you were nev-
er a member, think about joining!
SOAR member celebrating
birthdays: James Trawick, Ruth
Slay, and Stan Thomas.
Just a Thought
Even doctors make mis-
takes - mine asked me to take
my clothes off!
OTIS L. WATKINS, 88, Dept. 82, 8450 Cleve-
land Ave., Magnolia, passed away October 16,
2009. Brother Watkins joined the Union in
1944 and retired in 1982.
7
 Children’s

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

NON-PROFIT ORG.

PERMIT NO. 973

CANTON, OH
Christmas Party
Saturday,
December 5, 2009
12:00 noon

_________________________________
Steelworkers Local 1123, Golden Lodge

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Doors open 11:00 a.m.
Kilgen Organ music begins at 11:30
Palace Theatre

1234 Harrison Ave. SW

Canton, OH 44706
6th & Market Ave. N., Canton

Kids of all ages will enjoy the popular movie

Doogal, an animated children’s
adventure film (rated G.) with popcorn, soft
drinks, a bag of candy and a visit from
ole' Santa Claus himself!
December 2
Regular Union Meeting
7:30 p.m.
December 5
Children’s Christmas Party
Palace Theatre
12:00 Noon
December 9
Stewards Classes
9: 00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
December 16
Regular Union Meeting
9: 00 a.m.

8 November 2009