Performers Pass Hat For Kaiser Workers

Dave Wellington brought his guitar, his singing voice and his empathy to a concert benefiting striking Kaiser Steelworkers on Tuesday night.

“We know what these people are going through,” said his wife, Phyllis Wellington.

Two decades ago, the Liberty Lake couple and their children spent 1 years living in a 20-foot trailer. Dave had leukemia and couldn’t work. Phyllis’ wages barely covered the bills.

Their own hard times gives them an affinity for the 2,100 Kaiser workers in the Spokane area entering their 12th week without a paycheck, the Wellingtons said.

“It’s time to give back,” Phyllis said.

Dave joined country-western singers and cowboy poets donating their time to put on the benefit concert at the Coeur d’Alene Greyhound Park.

The audience of about 70, who paid $5 each to attend, fell short of organizers’ expectations.

But “there’s a good feeling here, isn’t there?” said Karen Boshear, co-chairwoman of the event.

The lighthearted, toe-tapping concert brought together Kaiser workers and others to raise money for families in greatest need.

“We’re hearing a lot of sad stories,” said Boshear, who has both a husband and a son on strike. “This is a feel-good thing, and we need it.”

And “everybody knows someone who works for Kaiser,” Brown added.

Kelvin and Lisa Stehlou came with their 4-year-old, even though the Spokane family is watching their money carefully these days. Kelvin is a welder at the Trentwood plant, and Lisa stays home with their daughter.

The Stehlous started saving a year ago, when rumors of a strike first surfaced.

They feel lucky that they had money in the bank to fall back on. Others aren’t so fortunate, she said.

“This time of year is hard. Kids don’t understand why there’s not many presents under the tree, she said. “We’re trying to stay strong as much as we can, and see this thing through.”

Wilbur Oleson, a retired inspector at Kaiser’s Trentwood plant, attended with his wife, Evelyn.

Oleson said he sympathizes with the strikers and their families, particularly with the holidays approaching.

There aren’t other good-paying jobs available to help strikers tide themselves over, he said.

“What jobs there are are minimum wage. There’s no way a man can make it,” Oleson said.