UAW Locals Volunteer Labor to Build Several Vehicles for FDNY

Story by Mike Rosenbaum

When Local 598’s Mark Hawkins saw images of New York’s ground zero on Sept. 11, he knew from previous experience that the city’s fire department would desperately need some new trucks. And he knew how to help.

About six years ago Hawkins--the shop committee chairman at GM’s Flint, Mich., assembly plant--helped Flint fire department officials obtain a new pickup truck by getting GM management to donate the parts and his fellow workers to donate their labor.

Now, knowing that New York City’s fire department (FDNY) would need pickup trucks, Hawkins wanted his plant to donate one to them.

So Hawkins phoned GM Vice President Guy Briggs, who approved Hawkins’ request, which was later increased to two trucks.

“This was an idea the membership immediately bought into with great enthusiasm,” said UAW Region 1C Director Cal Rapson.

“There wasn’t a single person who didn’t want to do it,” said Flint assembly plant worker Angie Gonzalez. “Everyone thought it was a great idea.”

Indeed, when Hawkins proposed his idea at a membership meeting, “the motion was passed unanimously,” said Local 598 President Doug Bellamy. “It got a standing ovation,” added member Russ McLean.

Workers at the plant reacted the same way the following day. Hawkins posted fliers asking them to stay at the end of their shifts to donate their labor to the project. Every member remained to help.

Meanwhile, the FDNY was so desperate for a vehicle that they suggested a dealer swap—a GM dealer in New Jersey had a pickup the department could have immediately. The Flint workers’ vehicle would then go to the dealership. Hawkins agreed to the swap.

Later that day, at the end of each shift, the line continued for one extra job length. That little extra effort from each member resulted in a pair of 3/4-ton, four-door pickup trucks being built for the FDNY.

One truck was shipped to the New Jersey dealer. Hawkins, together with the plant’s personnel director, Matt Boyle, drove the other pickup to New York and delivered it personally.

The pickups were “the exact trucks they needed,” Hawkins says. “They needed something small enough to get in tight spots, but with power.”

In late October, Hawkins discussed the donations at a UAW-GM sub-council meeting. The council voted unanimously to ask the FDNY if it needed additional vehicles. The department responded with a list of 60 cars and trucks. Workers at 17 plants agreed to donate their labor, and GM again agreed to donate the vehicles’ parts.

The success of the project led to an emotional UAW/GM commercial that aired in November and December. Local 598 members were shown giving their truck a flag-waving sendoff.

Although Hawkins spearheaded the program, he says the success was a team effort. “In life you do a lot of things individually. But when you can do things that inspire others, it’s a great feeling. It’s like the strength of the union is our solidarity, our numbers. It’s not what one person can do, it’s what we can accomplish collectively.”