EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference staff at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — Union and M.E. International management representatives met Wednesday and today, defining the rights of 50 employees who will be out of a job by the end of May. “We’ve been trying to communicate what will be happening so that everybody knows what the next step is going to be as we wrap up operations here,” said John Haas, manager of the Ishpeming foundry, which will close around May 28. Don Mattson, a staff representative for United Steelworkers of America District 33, said the USW’s chief concern is that the employees are vested in the company. “We want to know what their pensions are worth,” he said. “We want a final account of what they have coming, such as vacation rights and health insurance.” M.E. International, a Minneapolis-based company, announced two weeks ago that the foundry would close. Lance Gauthier, a utility man in the shipping and receiving department, wasn’t surprised. “It’s always a shock to lose your job, but we knew this might be coming,” said Gauthier, grievance chairman for USW Local 4950. “We are meeting with the governor’s office, trying to take a look at local avenues for training and relocation for workers-to see how we can find another job for them,” he said. On Tuesday, union and management met with the Michigan Department of Labor, the Six County Consortium, and the Michigan Employment Security Commission to learn about the options open to displaced workers. Gauthier said the efforts will help terminated employees adjust to unemployment and find new jobs.

90 years ago

MARQUETTE — It was regarded as probable yesterday that work relief operations on Marquette County highways would be resumed shortly. K.I. Sawyer, county road superintendent, made the following statement: “I am very hopeful that the situation which brought about suspension of work will be clarified in a few days.” About 1,900 Marquette County men were employed on a part-time basis on highway improvement projects financed by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation through the state highway department. Michigan’s April allotment of RFC funds was held up in Washington pending passage of legislation in Lansing to meet RFC demands, RFC officials contending that Michigan had not gone far enough on its own account to relieve unemployment and provide emergency relief. Because of this ultimatum, highway relief work in this county had to be discontinued when the March allotment of funds was exhausted.