Convention News - Monday
Trumka: "Stand with us"
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, left, with UAW President Ron Gettelfinger looking on, says every generation must continue the fight for worker justice.
Text of AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka's speech to the 35th UAW Constitutional Convention
Thank you. And thank you all for the honor of being with the UAW on your 75th anniversary -- here where it all started, in America’s Motor City.
Granholm: ‘We must level the playing field up’
Michigan. Gov. Jennifer Granholm addresses the delegates. Photo by Rebecca Cook. Michigan Gov.
Rep. Sutton vows to continue fight against unfair trade
A staunch advocate of the “cash for clunkers” legislation, Rep. Betty Sutton of Ohio spoke to delegates to the UAW’s 35th Constitutional Convention on Monday. Sutton, a Democrat who represents the 13th Congressional District, said the program saved or created 60,000 U.S. jobs. More than 7,000 vehicles were sold through the act, officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System, in just 30 days. Sutton warned that our work as a union and nation is not done, despite the modest turnaround in the economy.
Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights pioneer, receives UAW Social Justice Award
In the 1960s Congressman John Lewis of Georgia endured more than 40 arrests, physical attacks and serious injuries as he rose to become a national leader in the fight against the injustice of Jim Crow laws in the South. On Monday delegates to the UAW’s 35th Constitutional Convention presented him with the UAW Social Justice Award.
5 resolutions approved
Delegates approved proposed resolutions calling for: Health care reform – Delegates approved a measure acknowledging the disparities in health care coverage in the United States, supporting the recently passed national health care reform legislation and vowing to continue efforts toward adoption of a single-payer health care system. “God bless the UAW for negotiating collectively for health care reform,” said UAW Local 602 President Brian Fredline.
Congressman John Dingell receives UAW's Social Justice Award
As Michigan Congressman John Dingell received the UAW’s Social Justice Award on the first day of the union’s 35th Constitutional Convention in Detroit, he had an unusual farewell for outgoing UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. The legendary Democratic representative protested the retirements of the two-term UAW president and the union’s legislative director, Alan Reuther.
Text of Rep. John Dingell's speech to 35th UAW Constitutional Convention
Thank you Rory for that kind and generous introduction. You have been a dear friend to me and Deborah and I appreciate your kindness. I want to take a brief moment, however, to issue a protest. I protest the retirement of two great Americans from this union – your President Ron Gettlefinger and your Legislative Director Alan Reuther. These two men are giants in labor and have served the UAW and this nation admirably. They will be sorely missed.
Gettelfinger: Face the future in solidarity
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 35th 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.
Text of UAW President Ron Gettelfinger's 35th Constitutional Convention speech
Thank you very much Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn for the gracious introduction and thank all of you for the respect that you show for the office that I have been privileged to hold on your behalf for the past eight years.
