Raftopoulos calls out incumbent Elik’s silence on U.S. Steel idling last blast furnace at Granite City steelworks

By ELIZABETH DONALD
Illinois Correspondent

Granite City, IL – A Democrat challenging state Representative Amy Elik (R-Alton) called out her stance on unions while praising union efforts to save Granite City Steel Works.

Nick Raftopoulos, a member of AFSCME Local 799, has already spoken out against U.S. Steel’s plan to idle the last operating blast furnace at the Granite City plant, which will lay off hundreds of workers. He joined state representatives Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) and Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) in supporting the steelworkers and the local officials fighting to save jobs. But he criticized opponent Elik’s stance.

“It is truly a shame that our incumbent representative in the 111th has been silent on economic issues like these, as her inaction has done nothing but hurt working-class families,” Raftopoulos said.

VOTED AGAINST WORKERS’ RIGHTS LEGISLATION
Elik’s website and social media have not posted any responses to U.S. Steel’s announcement, which drew vehement condemnations from many other elected officials. Last year, when U.S. Steel announced downsizing operations, she called the decision “devastating” and said the state could not afford to lose manufacturing jobs.

But Raftopoulos argued that Elik had voted against workers’ rights legislation such as bills that would allow pre-judgement interest on wrongful death cases and prohibit housing discrimination based on one’s source of income.

“My opponent has not shown the same level of support for unions and Labor rights, and her positions go against the working class and working class families,” Raftopoulos said. “She is undermining the progress made in improving workers’ conditions and the fight for economic justice.”

INTENDED TO DIVIDE UNIONS
U.S. Steel placed the blame for idling the furnace on anticipated drops in orders due to the UAW strike actions, which many Labor leaders said was a move intended to divide the unions against each other. The UAW strike has spurred a strong response, including President Biden’s trip to Michigan last week to greet strikers on the picket line. Biden told them that record profits at the Big Three automakers should also mean record pay contracts for the striking workers.

Raftopoulos said he intends to support fair wages, safe workplaces and good healthcare benefits, while fighting against unfair labor practices.

“I look forward to working tirelessly for the residents of the 111^th so that everyone has a voice and no one has to feel like their representative is staying silent when their voice is most needed,” Raftopoulos said.