Submitted by arlenegloria on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 18:38

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Note: Please also read Donna Smith story directly below--ED

SK Hand Tool locations:locations:

                Chicago: 3535 W. 47th St.
                McCook: 9500 W. 55th St.

Dear Brothers and Sisters ,
 
The first indication that the Teamster organized workers at S. K. Hand Tools had of their loss of health coverage was when they received paychecks with no deduction for insurance.  With no warning the management at S.K. unilaterally decided to end this essential coverage for 77 employees and their families. In this season of bogus arguments against universal coverage these men and women are living proof of just how vulnerable Americans are to the whims of their employers.   Ironically, one of the owners of S.K. Hand Tools is a French citizen who flies back to France for his guaranteed health care.
 
Yesterday the two of us and Bill Bianchi were able to deliver food to the picketers provided by a friendly downtown Palestinian restaurant.  We made deliveries to the 47th Street and McCook locations and were able talk to many of the striking workers.  They all told of the hardships that having no insurance meant in their lives.  Most of them have between 10 and 30 years working for S.K. Hand Tools. 
 
As in all strikes, building solidarity is essential for the workers at S.K. Hand Tool. The number of passing trucks with horns blaring in support of the strike was inspirational,  Supporters are encouraged to come to both locations. *  There will be a contingent of the strikers at the Labor Day Immigration march beginning at Union Square this coming Monday.

For more information, please visit the Teamsters Local 743 website for updates on developments and support work:  www.743teamsters.org
Directions to the Chicago strikers are fairly direct: they are just east of Archer on 47 St, accessible from the Kedzie Ave exit of the Stevenson and driving South to 47 St, and then going a few blocks west. 
* Directions to McCook are a little more complicated:  Go south on the Stevenson Expressway.  Exit at  1^st Ave. north and exit right away at Joliet Rd.  At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left onto Joliet Rd and stay on Joliet Rd and follow it around the bend where it becomes 55^th St.  Go to the 2^nd or 3^rd street and take a right (around 9500 west) and go 1 block north to the service road.  All of the buildings there look alike and most aren’t marked – just keep driving to the service road.  You’ll either be right on the corner with the strikers or you might be a block east, in which case take a right. You can’t miss them – they’re in two tents and have lots of signs.  Here’s the google map link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=41.793557,-87.854215&sll=41.790764,-87.854221&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=41.793488,-87.854855&spn=0.018845,0.045447&z=15
 
In solidarity,
Linda Loew and Guy Miller