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Vice-President Shane Fox staffed a booth at the Seniors Holiday Extravaganza on December 19 in Tyler. They had a series of exhibits spotlighting issues unique to senior citizens at the Harvey Convention Center. Local businesses and organizations that provide services to maturing adults took part.
Tyler was named the first certified retirement city in Texas by the East Texas
Council of Government. CNN Money listed the city as one of the best places to
retire in Texas. Fox told reporters, "It (the event) will give older Texans
an opportunity to see all the various things available to them."
Shane Fox has made sure that TARA is widely known among seniors in the Tyler
area. He worked with Meals on Wheels to help sign up new voters, he participated
with the striking Steelworkers at the Goodyear plant, and he has signed up a
number of new members for ARA and groups for TARA.
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The two-month nationwide strike at Goodyear Tire and Rubber was basically a fight for retiree benefits. Like many companies these days, Goodyear wanted to slice away the dreams of their retired employees. Fifteen Steelworkers' locals, including the old Kelly Springfield plant in Tyler, fought off the company's cutback plans and announced success at the end of December.
Another goal of the strike was to keep the Tyler plant open, but they obtained only a partial victory. The company agreed to keep the plant open for at least one year, but guaranteed nothing beyond that.
TARA President Vic Pauly told Texas retiree activists about some of the solidarity
work that he and other members were involved in. All over Texas, we worked on
soliciting contributions, leafleting, and walking picket. President Pauly wrote,
"I urge all TARA officers and members to do whatever they can to assist
our Brothers and Sisters in this effort. Contribute your time, effort and money
to help the Steelworkers overcome the injustice of this action by Goodyear."