Words of Wisdom: Lessons from 2,100 Feet Underground

More than 2,000 feet beneath the surface in southeastern New Mexico is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP — a facility designed to safely dispose of certain radioactive waste deep underground. For two USW members, it's been home for decades. Dora Ledbetter has worked at WIPP since 2008, while Dora Lopez has been there since 1998. Together, they've spent nearly three decades at the site, learning the job, looking out for their coworkers, and building a life in a workplace where safety is an entire culture. Today, we're talking about what it's really like to work 2,150 feet underground, what nearly three decades at WIPP can teach you about safety and solidarity, and why these two Steelworkers are still looking toward the future.