Retirees: Send your stories to iamuaw.org
Editor’s note: The UAW launched a new interactive Web site, iamtheuaw.org, in December. It was accompanied by a television and radio advertising campaign in selected major media markets. The goal was to get UAW members and retirees to tell their stories about our union and how we contribute to the communities in which we live.
Go to iamtheuaw.org to read the stories or submit your own, be it text, photos or video. The following is just a sample of what our members are sharing with the public:
In 1993 I retired from Flint, B.O.C. General Motors and about 9,500 workers were there at the time. I was there this last summer and there were about 1,300 working.
We cannot keep giving all of our jobs to Third World countries without becoming a Third World country ourselves. This country was built with organized labor. It gives a quality of life for you and your family, equal pay, job seniority, and job protection.
I have seen two people working on the same motor line. One was on one side of the line and the other was across from him doing the same job. One had four years of college and the other with an 8th-grade education. If you can do the job and have the seniority you can have the job. That's what unions will do for you.
When I retired I moved to Western Kentucky. I am now 1st-Vice Chairman of our Western Kentucky Retired Workers Council.
We have been very active in politics. I have a John Deere "M" tractor. We get all of our union members, colored flags and political signs on our float and participate in the parades. They are all Democrats; we know what they have done to support our local unions over the years: the child labor law; health and disability compensation; Social Security; the 40-hour work week; overtime pay for all hours over 40; the right to collective bargaining; unemployment compensation; minimum wage law; paid vacations; pension plans; cost of living; life and health insurance and the list goes on and on. All of this was put in under a Democratic administration.
I am 77 years old and I think my age group has seen the best years this country will ever have to offer. I would like to see our grandchildren have the same opportunity in life as we have had, but I can't see that happening unless this younger generation wakes up to see where this country is headed. We are old but we are not out. We can't kick too high but we can make lots of noise, and show our anger for what is happening to our great country that we call our Home Land, The United States of America.
In Solidarity,
C. Jay Latham
Flint, Mich.
UAW Local 599
Posted on Jan. 18, 2008
