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Leonard Woodcock remembered Story by Sam Stark
Speaking at a March memorial tribute for the UAW’s fifth president who passed away Jan. 16 at 89, Yokich said, “I was fairly new on the staff, but I noticed that on Leonard’s first day he went to a General Motors’ board meeting in the morning to speak on a proposal to form a committee on corporate responsibility. “That night, he flew to Atlanta to march with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference against racial oppression. By these two actions, he sent a clear signal that Leonard Woodcock of the UAW would continue to be on the front lines fighting for social and economic justice for all workers,” Yokich recollected.
Taking office after Walter Reuther died in a plane crash in May 1970, Woodcock quickly established himself in the Reuther tradition of social unionism. He led a 67-day strike against General Motors that restored cost-of-living protection and created jobs for younger workers by establishing early retirement with the 30-and-out benefit. On the political front, Woodcock advocated civil rights, full employment, and national health care for every American. “Leonard Woodcock was a social unionist. He believed that as an institution the UAW had to be a social movement in this country for all working people, not just for UAW members,” Yokich said. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney shared the image he had of Woodcock having his sleeves rolled up. Sweeney urged the memorial audience at Wayne State University’s Community Arts Auditorium to carry on Woodcock’s legacy.
“Roll up your sleeves. Take a risk for what’s right. Go out and organize. Make sure every worker has a union and a voice,” Sweeney said. Sharon Woodcock remembered her husband of 23 years as a man who “created ripples and waves for positive change.” Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale recalled what a correct decision it was for President Jimmy Carter to have named Woodcock as the first U.S. ambassador to the People’s Republic of China. Other speakers at the memorial included Monsignor George Higgins, retired chair of the UAW’s Public Review Board, Chinese minister Liu Xiao Ming, and former UAW presidents Doug Fraser and Owen Bieber.
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UAW
President Stephen P. Yokich remembered Leonard Woodcock’s first day
on the job as international union president in 1970.
