About the Author

Len Shindel is a retired steelworker who worked at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point, Md. Plant for 30 years. He was an active member and an elected representative of the United Steelworkers of America Locals 2609.

In 2004, after Bethlehem’s bankruptcy, Shindel went to work for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as a communications specialist in the union’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, winning many awards for his writing.

After retiring in 2015, he and his wife, Maxine moved to Garrett County. Interested in labor history, in 2019, Len began to interview participants and other residents on both sides of the Garrett Roads Department Strike of 1970. Len encouraged local residents and supporters outside of Garrett County to propose the State of Maryland’s Historical Trust erect a historic road marker commemorating the strike. The effort was successful. Len is grateful for all of the residents who told their stories about the strike and life in Garrett County.

Len is currently writing a book about the strike. He encourages folks to share more stories on this site, and to set up discussions in homes, schools, places of worship or other community venues to weigh the lessons of the longest public worker strike in U.S. history.