No Veteran Left Behind

Bill to Aid Former Service Members Named for Late President Conway

Veterans of Steel from across the country stood with USW leaders and U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio this winter in Washington, D.C., as the former Steelworkers organizer introduced a bill that would help veterans gain access to the benefits they earned through their service

“Anyone who ever served, you wrote this country a blank check,” said Deluzio, himself a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Iraq War. “In return, our government makes a sacred promise that you will have the care and the benefits that you earned and that you need.”

Making sure veterans can gain access to those necessary benefits is the goal behind the Thomas M. Conway Veterans Access to Resources in the Workplace Act, sponsored by Rep. Deluzio, along with Rep. Nick LaLota of New York. Sens. Angus King of Maine and Jim Banks of Indiana are co-sponsoring the bill in the U.S. Senate.

The legislation – named in honor of the USW international president and Air Force veteran who died in September 2023 – would require employers to post notices in plants, offices, and other workplaces outlining the numerous benefits and services available to veterans.

The bill mirrors workplace poster laws that USW members already helped to enact for veterans in 15 states in recent years.

Saving Lives

USW activist Marcelo Assis, who served for four years as a U.S. Army medic before becoming president of Local 12000 at Southern Connecticut Gas, sees the nationwide measure as a potential lifeline to veterans who are struggling after they return home.

“One life being saved is priceless,” Assis said.

While the difficulties veterans face can be numerous and diverse, Assis said, the nation must do a better job of reaching out to those who served and providing them with the assistance they need.

Some veterans may simply be unaware of the benefits and services available to them, Assis said, noting the government doesn’t always do a good job of preparing service members for life after discharge.

Others may not want to discuss mental health challenges or other needs with family, friends or co-workers, he said, and they may not want to ask someone where to seek help or know where to look for it.

Promises Kept

That’s where the legislation – and the workplace posters it requires – can make a crucial difference.

“If you see something on a poster, you view it as information you found, and you take care of it yourself,” Assis said, stressing that it makes no sense for veterans to walk away from benefits the government owes them in exchange for their service.

“This is part of the promise back to us,” he said. “This is something every soldier, sailor, Marine and airman signed up for and should take part in.”

Specifically, the bill would:

–   Require the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs to create printable notices containing state and federal veterans’ resources for employers to post in workplaces. The notices will include information on the Veterans Crisis Line, information on how to apply for VA benefits, and state benefits available to veterans.

–   Require both government and non-government employers with more than 50 employees to post this information prominently in each workplace.

‘Vital Work’

International President David McCall, a close friend of Conway’s for decades, joined USW members in Washington in January for Deluzio’s unveiling of the bill, along with International President-Elect Roxanne Brown and members of the Conway family.

McCall said his longtime colleague and friend would be proud to be associated with the effort to help those who served.

“Providing veterans with better access to the support they need will undoubtedly save lives,” McCall said. “I know Tom would be honored to continue to be a part of this vital work.”

Vets of Steel

Conway, a USW activist for 45 years, was instrumental in establishing the Veterans of Steel program in 2019 and enshrining it in the USW constitution at the union’s 2022 convention.

“Tom Conway never forgot where he came from,” McCall said. “He understood the unique challenges facing working-class veterans and created the USW’s Veterans of Steel program in response to the growing crisis of veteran suicide. His vision continues to inspire us today.”

The USW’s Veterans of Steel program aims to build solidarity and provide support for current and former military service members and their families. Through Vets of Steel, the USW offers educational resources for veterans and their families and advocates for veterans at the federal, state and local levels.

While the Conway bill is a crucial step forward in bridging gaps for those returning from military service, there is still more work to be done even after the bill passes, Deluzio said. Increased funding and staffing of the Department of Veterans Affairs also are crucial steps toward providing the services veterans need.

“We still have work to do there,” Deluzio said. “But we’re all in for that too.”