Not afraid to be different
“I have often said that Steve Yokich is the UAW’s first hippie president.
“I first remembered seeing Steve when I was the director of UAW Region 1A on the west side of Detroit. Steve came out of Region 1 on the east side. We had a really tough strike going on in Region 1A and called for support from the other regions.
“Steve showed up one day with a bunch of his Local 155 buddies that he rounded up. He was wearing long hair, a beard and blue jeans. He wasn’t afraid to be different and wasn’t afraid to be an activist. He was aggressive on picket lines, and he enjoyed swimming against the tide inside the union.
“I think Steve’s greatest contribution to this union was his collective-bargaining achievements in winning the highest level yet of job and economic security for workers. That was something all of us UAW presidents had been working on since 1955.
“The auto industry was known for its ups and downs, its peaks and valleys. Autoworkers constantly lived under the threat of job and economic insecurity. Layoffs and rumors of layoffs were part of their lives.
“Even with U.S. corporations steadily losing market share, Steve managed to win contractual gains that brought a great deal of peace of mind to today’s autoworkers.”
Douglas Fraser was UAW president from 1977 to 1983.
Knack for knowing what’s important
Dick Shoemaker and Steve Yokich go way back. They both came on the UAW International staff in 1969.
“Steve started in October, and I started in August,” said UAW Vice President Richard Shoemaker.
The two became friends; however, since they worked in different sectors of the union, their paths didn’t cross much professionally for several years. That changed in 1980 when Yokich became vice president and directed the Agricultural Implement Department. Most ag imp plants were in Region 4 where Shoemaker was assistant director.
From 1980 to 1983, Yokich headed complex negotiations with such recession-stricken companies as Harvester, Deere, Mack Trucks and Caterpillar. Despite the unfavorable economic climate, he secured agreements that preserved hard-won UAW benefits.
“Steve had an uncanny knack for knowing what was going to be important to and for our membership,” Shoemaker said. “His perception in that sense was excellent, and he was always very open with the bargaining committees. They trusted him immensely.”
In 1982 Shoemaker returned to Detroit as Yokich’s top administrative assistant in Ag Imp. And in 1983, when Steve became vice president of the union’s Ford Department, Shoemaker went with him.
“His biggest bargaining achievements included the focus he was able to bring to quality products and its importance to our membership, and the improvements he achieved in job security, income security, the Election Day holiday and family programs,” Shoemaker said.
Richard Shoemaker is a UAW vice president.
