Director Gerald Kariem

Gerald Kariem was elected director of UAW Region 1D by delegates to the UAW’s 35th Constitutional Convention on June 16, 2010, in Detroit.

Kariem was appointed as assistant director by then-Regional Director Don Oetman on June 30, 2008. He started his union/work career in 1976 at 20 years old when he began working at Saginaw Steering Gear, represented by UAW Local 699.  He is currently a member of UAW Local 362.

Kariem's initial involvement with the union began in the early 1980s when he became a member of the education committee. His fire for the union movement and the UAW started when he got involved in the Community Action Program.  He ran for district committeeperson in 1992, and won, served a full term and won the next by acclamation. After that term, he was elected to the shop committee, representing nearly 1,500 members.

Kariem was selected in 1998 to participate in the distinguished UAW Fellowship Program.

Kariem was appointed to the International staff as a servicing representative in 2001 by then-Regional Director George Andros.

Kariem has also participated for several years at the University of Michigan's Labor Studies Institute, serving as a facilitator, instructor, and conference coordinator.

Brother Kariem has a long history of being involved in his family, church and community activities. He served on the Saginaw County NAACP Executive Board and the Saginaw County Substance Abuse Advisory Board.

Kariem has been married to his wife, Pat, for 33 years, and they have a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.

Kariem's favorite quote is:

“The more you give the more you receive: Material, Physical and Spiritual, Without Reservation, Without Limitations.”