Unions collecting for holiday gift cards for laid-off Amsted Rail employees

By CARL GREEN
Illinois Correspondent

Granite City, IL – Labor supporters have a chance this month to help some hard-working union members and their families from Amsted Rail, a Granite City plant that closed indefinitely on Nov. 23 due to problems stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The shut-down affected more than 400 members of Steelworkers Local 1063, Machinist locals 660, 688 and 313, plus Electrical Workers Local 309.

Now the unions are raising money to help the members during the holiday season.

“We are asking for monetary donations that will be used to purchase Schnucks gift cards for the members to purchase a nice Christmas dinner for their families this holiday season,” Local 1063 President Antonio Wellmaker said.

“Many of our members have been out of work for months due to lack of orders,” Wellmaker said. “Our plan is to have the gift cards purchased and begin distributing them out to the members the week of Dec. 21.”

Donors will be recognized at the union hall. Make out checks to United Steelworkers Local 1063 and send them to the union at P.O. Box 1472, Granite City, IL 62040. Write “Christmas gift card” on the memo line