As right-wing, anti-union lawmakers and pundits ratcheted up their smear attacks on the UAW in the dark days of late 2007 and 2008, two things were clear, President Ron Gettelfinger said on the opening day of the 35^th UAW Constitutional Convention.

 

They wanted to destroy the UAW, even if it meant dragging the entire domestic auto industry down and losing hundreds of thousands of decent-paying jobs. It was also clear that UAW active and retired members would never let that happen.

 

“They did not realize the strong resolve of the women and men of the UAW and that through our solidarity, we had the energy, capacity and the vision to see things through,” he told a packed Cobo Hall in a farewell speech often interrupted by raucous applause and cheers.

 

“Most of these conservatives chose to represent the overseas, foreign nameplate operations and turned their backs on America’s domestic auto industry and her workers.”

 

UAW active and retired members from all corners of our union did what they always do when faced with a seemingly insurmountable challenge: They stepped up. 

 

 “You rallied, sent e-mails to Congress, wrote letters to the editors, made phone calls, attended teach-ins, and you took the battle for Main Street into our communities,” Gettelfinger said in his last major speech as president of the union. “Because of your strength, your commitment, your willingness to stand up and your solidarity, we faced these challenges and chartered a course that led our union down a path to survival. Leaner? Yes. But stronger, wiser, and more determined as well.”

 

Gettelfinger said it is important to remember that our union was born in hard times 75 years ago when 200 auto and auto parts workers from seven states met at the Fort Shelby Hotel in Detroit. Those workers – and millions of women and men who followed them – sacrificed to build and grow our union.

 

“Their steadfast resolve not only made it possible for future generations to fare better than their own, but essentially created the middle class in America,” he said. “Our membership and leadership face the future together in solidarity because of those who built our union and those who followed and built upon that foundation.”

 

That our members and non-members still face hard times is disappointing. But the foundation that is in place has also allowed the UAW to win huge victories for workers at Freightliner, American Axle, NTN Bower and many other workplaces. We’ve organizied 2,500 workers and won a landmark contract with Foxwoods casino in Connecticut, the first-ever union contract bargained collectively under tribal law. We’ve successfully defended retiree health care with lawsuits at ArvinMentor, Bosch, CNH/JI Case, Detroit Diesel, Volvo, Delphi, Dana and other companies. And the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) structure has allowed Chrysler and GM retirees to retain health care with most of the benefits intact, Gettelfinger said.

 

“The point is your union, our union, the UAW is completely engaged in representing our active and retired members,” he said. “We have stayed true to our core values.”

 

One of our core values is being active in politics. President Obama inherited eight years of failed policies that drove our nation into red ink and our economy off a cliff, Gettelfinger said. But Obama, as a candidate, told a Labor Day crowd in Detroit that, “I don’t choke on the word ‘union.’” He was willing to work with the UAW and the domestic automakers to take the necessary action to keep the industry from collapsing.

 

“Just over a year later the domestic auto industry is profitable and is making in-roads in market share. Chrysler is expanding production, has hired workers for the first time in 10 years and is investing in the United States. General Motors is coming on strong, adding shifts, recalling workers, and GM will be the first auto company in the world to assemble a B-car platform in the United States,” Gettelfinger said. “Ford continues to hit on all cylinders, and they are setting the standard for the industry. We are witnessing the supply base starting to share in the turnaround. There is strong evidence the worst is behind us and the industry is clearly rebounding.”

 

So much that a recent poll shows Americans prefer domestics 38 percent to 33 percent over foreign brands, he added.

 

Gettlefinger’s leadership in the auto crisis and elsewhere was reminiscent of another great UAW leader, said Rose Van Schoick, financial secretary of Local 4911, which represents workers at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich.

 

“He would make Walter Reuther proud and has shown great leadership during the past eight years,” Schoick said. “I’ve been proud to serve in my capacity under his guidance, and I hope there’s room for him on the retiree committees.

 

“I think he was unprecedented in the challenges he faced, especially with the economic concessions GM faced with bankruptcy and restructuring,” she said. “I don’t think without his guidance GM would have come out from bankruptcy as they did, and I am astounded that a year later they are doing so well.”

 

President Gettelfinger also used the opportunity to thank our brothers and sisters in the labor movement who supported us strongly during the crisis, as well as the current leadership team, particularly Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, whom he said was steady in her resolve to be a good steward over the union’s finances. He also recognized retired President Owen Bieber, whom he called “a true statesman.”

 

He thanked local leadership for being in the trenches and retirees for their hard work in elections, organizing and other efforts.

 

“May God bless our retirees. The sacrifice that retirees have made gives us the courage, the will and the determination to continue to face the struggles of our day,” he said. “You are engaged, in gear and always ready to go.”

 

President Gettelfinger credited the UAW staff and clerical workers whom he said did exceptional work for the membership during a difficult time in the union’s history, particularly his personal assistant Patty Brady. 

“We have worked together for 12 years, and she is without question the best assistant that anyone could hope to have.”

 

He also recognized his family and thanked them for the sacrifices they have made during his career as a UAW leader, including his wife, Judy.

 

“Her love and support helped me more than she will ever know,” he said.

 

The president also spoke about the Michigan Labor Legacy Project in Hart Plaza, just a short walk from where he was speaking. A sculpture, “Transcending,” was donated to Detroit by organized labor. The monument is intentionally not complete at the top, demonstrating that the work of organized labor is never done, he said, adding that it’s appropriate as the torch of leadership is passed. The new team will not face challenges alone, he added.

 

“We know this, brothers and sisters, because we learned it in our home locals where our deep and abiding passion for the UAW is nurtured and grows,” Gettelfinger said. “As an assembler and then chassis-line repairman, I have never forgotten the privilege of belonging to the UAW.
 

“It was you who made it possible for me to represent you publicly, at the bargaining table, and at the local, national and international level. Regardless of the setting, when the power of the UAW opened a door I was privileged to walk through it on your behalf. This was always a humbling experience and a great honor.”