Record #: R2018-898   
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Intro date: 7/25/2018 Current Controlling Legislative Body:
Final action: 7/25/2018
Title: Tribute to late Edward Eugene Sadlowski
Sponsors: Emanuel, Rahm, Valencia, Anna M., Moreno, Proco Joe, Hopkins, Brian , Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Hairston, Leslie A., Sawyer, Roderick T., Mitchell, Gregory I., Harris, Michelle A., Beale, Anthony, Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Thompson, Patrick D., Cardenas, George A., Quinn, Marty, Burke, Edward M., Lopez, Raymond A., Foulkes, Toni, Moore, David H., Curtis, Derrick G., O'Shea, Matthew J., Willie B. Cochran, Brookins, Jr., Howard, Munoz, Ricardo, Tabares, Silvana, Scott, Jr. Michael, Solis, Daniel, Maldonado, Roberto, Burnett, Jr., Walter, Ervin, Jason C., Taliaferro, Chris, Reboyras, Ariel, Santiago, Milagros, Waguespack, Scott, Mell, Deborah, Austin, Carrie M., Ramirez-Rosa, Carlos, Villegas, Gilbert, Mitts, Emma, Sposato, Nicholas, Laurino, Margaret, O'Connor, Patrick, Napolitano, Anthony V., Reilly, Brendan, Smith, Michele, Tunney, Thomas, Arena, John, Cappleman, James, Pawar, Ameya, Osterman, Harry, Moore, Joseph, Silverstein, Debra L.
Attachments: 1. R2018-898.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Type: Title:

Committee(s) Assignment:

 

Napolitano (41) Reilly (42) Smith (43) Tunney (44) Arena (45) Cappleman (46) Pawar (47) Osterman (48) Moore (49) Silverstein (50) Resolution

Tribute to late Edward "Ed" Eugene Sadlowski

 

 

OFFICE  OF THE MAYOR

CITY OF CHICAGO

RAHM EMANUEL MAYOR

July 25,2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I transmit herewith, together with the members of the City Council, a resolution honoring the life and memory of Ed Sadlowski.

Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
                      Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

Mayor

 

 

adopted by                     Qify QoUVlcil

<>f the Qity of Gkicago, Illinois

 

July 27 9018

^J^Jresented by

Oil

All Members of the City Council and
Mayor Rahm Emanuel                     

 

■'338

Whereas , The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of. the death on June 10, 2018, at age 79, of Edward "Ed" Eugene Sadlowski, a Chicago labor icon who fought valiantly for the rights of thousands of workers; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski was born on September 10, 1938 in the South Chicago neighborhood. He married his high school sweetheart, Marlene, in 1959, despite the two growing up on different sides of the tracks. The happy couple was married for nearly 60 years, until Ed's passing; and

 

WHEREAS, A third-generation steelworker, Ed grew up witnessing his father, Edward Sr., work for Inland Steel and become a founding member of a steelworkers. union local; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski left school in 11 th grade, worked as an apprentice machinist, and .bravely served in the U.S. Army. He returned to South Chicago and began a job as an oiler in the machine shop of United States Steel South Works-. His habit of walking around the plant, oil can in hand, talking with rank-and-file members, marked the initial steps of his illustrious career fighting on behalf of steelworkers and earned him the nickname, "Oil Can Eddie"; and

 

WHEREAS, He rose quickly as an organizing force for the United Steelworkers union and at age 26 upset a favored incumbent to become the youngest president of the United Steel Workers' Local 65, overseeing 23,000 workers. A decade later, he ran to became president of United Steelworkers' largest region, District 31, representing 128,000 workers in Chicago and Gary, Indiana, and after challenging the initial election results and succeeding in court, he won the re-held election nearly two to one; and

 

WHEREAS, In 1977, running as an insurgent candidate for United Steelworkers' international presidency, Ed Sadlowski rose to national acclaim and nearly unseated the chosen candidate with his "Steelworkers Fight Back," campaign, advocating for the ability of local union leaders to ratify contracts, the importance of the right to strike as a bargaining tool, and criticizing the rank-and-file union leaders as out of touch; and

 

 

WHEREAS, His "Steelworkers Fight Back" campaign captivated the nation, with legendary Chicago author Studs Terkel remarking that it was more important than that year's presidential election between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski remained a leader in the labor community, serving on the local panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board for nearly 20 years, and was inducted into the Illinois Labor History Society Union Hall of Honor in 2012; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed ardently championed the rights of union members to have a voice over their own contracts, their right to strike, and their dues, shaping the culture of the labor movement and of the United Steelworkers; and

 

WHEREAS, A driven man, who fought fiercely for and empowered Chicago workers, Ed Sadlowski will always be remembered as a legendary labor leader, a mentor and friend to many, and a distinguished son of Chicago; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski is survived by his beloved wife, Marlene; his four children, Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza, Patricia Hoyt, Edward Sadlowski, Jr., '.and Diane Agelson; 1 I.grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; and countless friends in the labor movement; now,.therefore

 

;      BEITRESOV/ECK That:we, the Mayor and Members of the City-•CQunc;il:-of^the-C#>
6f Chicago, qss4mbj'ed_this'1wenty-$fth day of July, 20-18, do hereby honor thejjfe;;and
.memory of Edward Eugene Sadlowski; and                     *                     . :

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Edward Eugene. Sadlowski as a token of our sympathy and esteem. ,

 

 

RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on June 10, 2018, at age 79, of Edward "Ed" Eugene Sadlowski, a Chicago labor icon who fought valiantly for the rights of thousands of workers; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski was born on September 10, 1938 in the South Chicago neighborhood. He married his high school sweetheart, Marlene, in 1959, despite the two growing up on different sides of the tracks. The happy couple was married for nearly 60 years, until Ed's passing; and

 

WHEREAS, A third-generation steelworker, Ed grew up witnessing his father, Edward Sr., work for Inland Steel and become a founding member of a steelworkers union local; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski left school in 11th grade, worked as an apprentice machinist, and bravely served in the U.S. Army. He returned to South Chicago and began a job as an oiler in the machine shop of United States Steel South Works. His habit of walking around the plant, oil can in hand, talking with rank-and-file members, marked the initial steps of his illustrious career fighting on behalf of steelworkers and earned him the nickname, "Oil Can Eddie"; and

 

WHEREAS, He rose quickly as an organizing force for the United Steelworkers union and at age 26 upset a favored incumbent to become.the youngest president of the United Steel Workers' Local 65, overseeing 23,000 workers. A decade later, he ran to became president of United Steelworkers' largest region, District 31, representing 128,000 workers in Chicago and Gary, Indiana, and after challenging the initial election results and succeeding in court, he won the re-held election nearly two to one; and (

 

WHEREAS, In 1977, running as an insurgent candidate for United Steelworkers' international presidency, Ed Sadlowski rose to national acclaim and nearly unseated the chosen candidate with his "Steelworkers Fight Back," campaign, advocating for the ability of local union leaders to ratify contracts, the importance of the right to strike as a bargaining tool, and criticizing the rank-and-file union leaders as out of touch; and

 

WHEREAS, His "Steelworkers Fight Back" campaign captivated the nation, with legendary Chicago author Studs Terkel remarking that it was more important than that year's presidential election between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter; and

 

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski remained a leader in the labor community, serving on the local panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board for nearly 20 years, and was inducted into the Illinois Labor History Society Union Hall of Honor in 2012; and

WHEREAS, Ed ardently championed the rights of union members to have a voice over their own contracts, their right to strike, and their dues, shaping the culture of the labor movement and of the United Steelworkers; and

WHEREAS, A driven man, who fought fiercely for and empowered Chicago workers, Ed Sadlowski will always be remembered as a legendary labor leader, a mentor and friend to many, and a distinguished son of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Ed Sadlowski is survived by his beloved wife, Marlene; his four children, Alderman Susan Sadlowski Garza, Patricia Hoyt, Edward Sadlowski, Jr., and Diane Agelson; 11

 

 

grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; and countless friends in the labor movement; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fifth day of July, 2018, do hereby honor the life and memory of Edward Eugene Sadlowski; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Edward Eugene Sadlowski as a token of our sympathy and esteem.