Forged in Fire: The Story of the United Steelworkers Union

This history starts in pre-union times of the steel industry -- the late 1800s. It follows the struggles of those working in the steel industry to organize a union.  In the beginning there was violence as steel companies fought attempts to unionize.  It reached its height in 1937 with 10 dead at the Memorial Day Massacre in Chicago.  Later the union had to fend off attacks from the government to restrict union activity.  

The union also had its internal disputes.  Rank and file members had to fight for union democracy against entrenched union leaders.  One of the hardest fights was when Ed Sadlowski from Chicago ran for International President in 1977.  Through it all the Steelworkers Union raised the standard of living of millions.  

Doug Nelson worked at Chicago's Republic Steel plant, one of the largest steel mills in Illinois, and was elected by the members to be USW Local 1033's Chairman of the Grievance Committee for nine years. While active in the Steelworkers Union Nelson participated in Ed Sadlowski's campaigns for District Director and International President. Nelson was also active in Jack Parton's campaign for District Director and Lynn Williams's campaign for International President. When the Republic mill shut down Nelson became the Chicago area manager for the Illinois Department of Labor's OSHA Division which was responsible for workplace safety inspections and accident investigations. Later Nelson received his law degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ and practiced criminal law. Nelson now works with the Calumet Area Industrial Commission on federal workforce grants. Doug Nelson's previous books are Workplace 2000: Participation, Self-Management and Work Force Productivity (with Peter O'Day); Labor Battleground: The Streets of Chicago; The Soul of Terror: The Worldwide Conflict between Islamic Terrorism and the Modern World (with Dimitry Kapustyan) and Radicals in the Rose City: Portland's Revolutionaries 1960-1975 (with Bill Nygren).