By Dave Dahl

DECATUR – With the Workers’ Rights Amendment on next week’s ballot – promising to strengthen the power of union labor – Democrats turned out Tuesday for a pre-election rally at the IBEW hall in Decatur.

Two lawmakers told family stories of how unions carried them.

“It’s hard to say this without crying,” said State Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) about her grandfather, “but what he did — I wouldn’t be here. None of my fmaily would be here, because Gramps had the courage to stand up” — risking his and his loved ones’ lives — “and say, I know how important it is to unionize.”

State Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) said her father had only one job after moving from Texas to Springfield in the 1940’s – at Allis-Chalmers.

“That union job – him being a member of the United Auto Workers – provided a very good middle-class life for me and my sisters and brothers, and continued to do so after my father died, because my mother got his pension and insurance.”

Scherer added a story about a friend who suggested to her unions have played out. The friend is married to an Archer Daniels Midland executive.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]