Over 760 workers at the Honeywell oil filter plant in Greenville, Ohio, chose the UAW over an independent union by a 297-289 vote April 5. The plant is a former AlliedSignal facility renamed Honeywell after the two companies merged last year. Workers had been represented by the independent union for 42 years.

"I just felt the company was getting too big for a small independent union," explained organizing committee member Mick Sowry. "We didn’t have enough bargaining power and needed to change things to stay on top."

Sowry, who’s worked 19 years at the plant, was impressed with UAW resource staff from the Health and Safety, Legal, Social Security and other departments who made presentations to Honeywell employees during the campaign. Mike Collingsworth, chair of the UAW Chaplaincy Committee, and Tom Ladd, UAW Chaplaincy Dept. coordinator, also addressed a worker rally four days before the vote.

Honeywell workers turned to the UAW to get more clout on health and safety problems and grievances and to increase internal union democracy.

"We want equal representation for all employees," said Jan Barnes, a laid-off worker who made dozens of phone calls to workers during the drive.

Volunteer and temporary organizers out of UAW plants played a valuable role in winning the campaign. Region 2B members included Lola Torres, Local 2351; Becky Collene, Local 2021; B.J. Dunlap, Local 969; and George Solander, Local 493. Local 862 members Vera Newton and Melissa Bradley represented Region 3, and Local 900 member Chris Auten came from Region 1A.

In Michigan, 253 workers at a Tower stamping plant in Clinton Township (UAW Reg. 1) also won UAW representation. Fifty-seven percent of the workers voted UAW. Other Region 1 victories include 17 employees at 2001 Technologies in Centerline, Mich., and five workers at DMR Advertising in West Bloomfield.

In Lansing, Mich. (Reg. 1C) employees at Auto Body Credit Union voted 24-10 to join the UAW. The credit union serves UAW-GM members and others.

Bus maintenance workers at Laidlaw Transit in Dorchester, Maine (Reg. 9A) voted 28-2 for the UAW. There are 34 workers in the bargaining unit.

The UAW also won card-check victories at three auto parts suppliers to represent 127 workers at Lear Corp. in Wentzville, Mo. (Reg. 5); 115 employees at Johnson Controls in Shreveport, La. (Reg. 5); and 52 workers at Toledo Molding and Die in Bowling Green, Ohio (Reg. 2B).