An amazing journey
“On Wednesday, Aug. 14, I arrived home late. Steve had left a message on my answering machine. The gist of it was that he missed me, and he hoped I was doing well. He said my new boss, Gary Jones, told him how happy he was with my work, and Steve said he could certainly understand why. His message ended with, ‘And give me a call soon, Julie.’
“Steve and I had spoken nearly every day for the first several weeks after we returned from the UAW convention. In the last few weeks, that had slowed to about twice a week. I had not yet spoken with him that final week, and the message he left was very heartwarming.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t call him back Thursday.
“On Friday morning, Gary told me about Steve when I walked in the door. I’m still shocked and filled with disbelief. I told several people at the memorial how I was feeling, that I was still waiting for Steve to call me, to find out why the memorial wasn’t in his pocket calendar, where was it, what time should he be there.
“Steve, the road was a bit bumpy at times, but the journey was amazing.”
Julie Rand was Steve’s secretary from 1997 until he retired in June.
The working family’s hero
“Stephen P. Yokich was my good friend and mentor for more than 42 years. It’s hard to believe he’s gone.
“Although we went to the same high school in the early 1950s, it wasn’t until the early 1960s when I joined the UAW that our friendship grew. As rank-and-file members of UAW Local 155, we both completed our tool-and-die apprenticeships upon returning from active duty in the Air Force.
“In 1967 Steve was elected business agent at Local 155, and I was elected plant bargaining chair. He was assigned to service my plant. As Steve ascended through the ranks, he encouraged me to seek higher office, which I did, and what a ride it’s been.
“Working with Steve has been a privilege and personal pleasure.
“His dynamic leadership resulted in many astonishing accomplishments. He truly was the working family’s hero. His entire adult life was dedicated to improving the wages, benefits, working conditions and the lives of our UAW members and their families.
“Steve always reminded us that we weren’t just a bargaining agent, but a social movement, and his success in leading our movement benefited not only UAW members and their families but the general citizenry as well.
“Our lives were enriched by a man who maintained this philosophy since the beginning: ‘We are family in the UAW, and nobody should ever forget it.’
Rick Karas is retired director of the UAW Skilled Trades and Veterans Affairs departments.
Justice for all working people
“The impact of the passing of Brother Yokich will take years to be fully realized by working people. His continued activism and involvement would have been a great asset to this International Union and all efforts in the areas of social justice.
“Yokich’s priorities were easily identified if you looked at the results of negotiations that occurred during his years of leadership. Families were always in the forefront of his efforts. He also strove to engage our members in the political process and did so by negotiating Election Day off for the Big Three.
“There are many other examples, too many to list. But if one reflects on the life and accomplishments of Steve Yokich, it is easy to be inspired and energized about doing the work that lies before us — and that is to achieve justice for all working people, just as he worked so hard to do.”
Gary Casteel is director of UAW Region 8.
He went out of his way
“I met Steve in 1973 when I was put on the TOP staff, and he was still a servicing rep in Region 1. We developed an immediate friendship that continued ever since. We both believed in the same things and on what unions should be all about.
“Last year, Region 2B invited Steve to be the grand marshal of our Toledo Labor Day parade since it was going to be his last year as UAW president. Steve said he had a commitment to the Detroit parade, but told me he would see what he could do.
“We decided to move our starting time up to 9 a.m. from 10 a.m., and he arranged for a helicopter. He flew in and led our parade, and as soon as he was done he got back into the helicopter and flew back up to Detroit, keeping his commitment to both groups. That was just the kind of guy he was. He would go out of his way to help you.
“Steve never forgot about working people. He never forgot about our members on the shop floor or in the offices. And he never stopped caring for them and the problems they faced. He will always be one of my favorite union leaders.”
Lloyd Mahaffey is director of UAW Region 2B.
