Portage council pledges to continue union support

PORTAGE | There are three things that equalize people in this nation — our form of government, "Sam Colt's pistol" and labor unions, Councilman Ted Uzelac said.

Uzelac, a Republican, and Portage's other six City Council members unanimously approved a resolution this week affirming their continued support for labor unions and collective bargaining. The resolution is a response to the General Assembly's passage last week of right-to-work legislation.

Before voting, each council member told their personal story of how unions positively affected their lives.

For Councilwoman Liz Modesto, a Democrat, the union helped protect her job when she was the first woman to work in her division at an area steel mill.

Councilman John Cannon, a Republican, recalled when his father went on strike in 1959 with other steelworkers and joked that the benefits they earned gave him the "smile" he has today.

Others talked of family members being union members and how the unions benefited the region and their families.

"This is a travesty to middle class and working class people," Councilman Mark Oprisko, a Democrat, said about the new law.

In addition to their pledge of support to unions and collective bargaining, several council members also reminded audience members to remember the issue come the November elections.