Karen Silkwood's Legacy Influences Atomic Industry Today
When Karen Silkwood died at the side of a lonely Oklahoma highway in 1974, the federal and private sector nuclear establishments were revered as protectors of our nation's security and producers of electric power "too cheap to meter."
Silkwood's own allegations of falsified quality control data and significant safety abuses at the Kerr-McGee
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plutonium rod manufacturing facility in Crescent, Okla., where she worked were denied by the company and not taken seriously by large segments of public opinion.
But her union, the Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers Intl. Union (OCAW)-now PACE-investigated. In the early 1980s, after Silkwood's family won a $10.5 million lawsuit against Kerr-McGee for negligence connected with plutonium poisoning she had suffered prior to her death, the company settled out of court. Since then, the efforts of the union and other concerned citizens have led to documented evidence that many of the kinds of abuses Silkwood was attempting to report when she died did in fact occur.
Most recently, in mid-1999, a lawsuit filed by the union resulted in the discovery of documents proving workers at the Paducah, Ky., uranium enrichment facility had been exposed to plutonium without their knowledge. The documents show both the government and the private contractors in charge of the facility knew about the plutonium and did not share the information with the workers.
Today, because of the problems, the nuclear industry is viewed with deep skepticism by many. The federal Dept. of Energy (DOE) has in the past 12 months, under the leadership of Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, taken a new approach, in contrast with the obsessive secrecy that prevailed during the Cold War years.
"We will do everything we can to encourage the new policy at DOE, and particularly the agency's new openness to compensating our
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members and all nuclear workers for their on-the-job injuries and illnesses," said PACE Vice President James K. Phillips, who chairs the union's Atomic Energy Workers Council.
Silkwood's role as a pioneer in exposing the abuses in the nuclear industry was highlighted at a memorial celebration held in New York on December 17 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of her death. The sold-out event featured an appearance by Meryl Streep, who portrayed Karen Silkwood in the 1983 movie, "Silkwood."
"I'm not sure she saw herself as a hero," said Streep. "I think the best way to honor her is to support the people who are fighting now to do what is right. We need more people like Karen Silkwood."
Silkwood's son, Michael Meadows, gave a moving presentation that had many audience members in tears. PACE Region Seven Vice President Lloyd Walters talked with Meadows after the program ended, and expressed PACE's appreciation for his mother's accomplishments and the contributions she made to the labor movement. "This was a good opportunity to visit with people who understand labor and the labor movement in the public and private sector," Walters said of the event. "Tony Mazzocchi and the organizers of the program did a good job."
Also featured were the film's director, Mike Nichols, and co-star, Ron Silver; and several of the real-life players in the Silkwood story. "Karen Silkwood is the personification of thousands of people who work every day in difficult jobs, trying to improve conditions for their fellow workers," said Tony Mazzocchi, PACE presidential assistant, who, as legislative director of the OCAW, encouraged Silkwood to investigate violations at the Kerr-McGee facility.
Former union official Steve Wodka, who also worked with Silkwood, described conditions in the Kerr-McGee plant at the time. "Karen Silkwood did not act alone," he said. "There was widespread support among her co-workers for what she was doing. Kerr-McGee was trying to bust all its unions." Silkwood had been a leader in the effort to rebuild her local union after an unsuccessful 1973 strike.
Also recognized was Jim Key, the health & safety coordinator of PACE Local 5-550 that represents the workers at the Paducah plant. The event was presented by the New York chapter of the Labor Party, and was co-sponsored by PACE and, among others, the United Mine Workers, the Service Employees Intl. Union and the United Electrical Workers.
The PACEsetter, vol.2 no.1, February 2000
Stardate 10.06.2000
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A Valentine for Everyday and Just for You: Foreverlove, Forevermore xoxoxo Forever Yours, M.
In Memory of Chet Atkins: 1924-2001 'Chester Burton Atkins' died after beating cancer for decades, Saturday, 30 June, 2001. Services will be held in Nashville, Tennessee, Tuesday, 03 July, 2001 at Ryman Auditorium. Godspeed to a great artist who will continue to contribute his guitar art and innovations throughout time. 
Angelenos and others fondly remember,and celebrate the life of actor and Los Angeles resident, Jack Lemmon who also died this past week. Jack Lemmon was a great pianist and performer who will laughingly be remembered by many as the bass slapping/cross-dressing jazz musician on the lam from gangsters after having witnessed the Saint Valentines' Day Massacre in the classic movie, SOME LIKE it HOT. I will always love and happily remember him in that performance because when I was in elementary school in Riverside, California, my entire class, including my teacher, Ms. Vivian Pace, was taken to a birthday party showing of this movie and a great time was had by all. It was a party I will never forget due to the personal connection that my mother worked with Marilyn Monroe and Bob Mitchum at Rheem Aircraft/Douglass Aircraft before serving active duty during WWII. I will always be grateful to Mr. Lemmon and Ms. Monroe for such a great time and such a great movie. It is one of my favorite movies, and I will continue to enjoy it at whim with my mind's eye for the rest of my life. Adios, Amigoes, Amigas...Yay! Rustic Lane Elementary School and Fox Theaters: Thanks again. P.S. I still love my 'blue teddy' more than words may ever express. xoxoxoxo...M.