Stephen P Yokich
1935-2002

Aug. 20, 1935: Born in Detroit to Julia and Steven A. Yokich, active UAW members in Locals 174 and 155, respectively.

Aug. 26, 1935: Founding UAW convention, Detroit.

1936: Julia brought young Steve to his first picket line.

1952-1956: Served in U.S. Air Force.

1956: Joined UAW Local 155 when he was hired as an apprentice tool and die maker at Heidrich Tool and Die Co. in Oak Park, Mich.

1969: Appointed to staff of UAW Region 1 by Walter Reuther, at the recommendation of then-Region 1 Director George Merrelli.

1977: Elected director of UAW Region 1.

1980: Elected vice president of UAW. Directed the union’s Agricultural Implement Department for the next three years. Became director of UAW Skilled Trades Department, a post he held until 1995.

1983: Reelected vice president and became director of UAW Ford Department, a post he held until 1989. Became director of the UAW National Organizing Department, a post he held until 1989.

1984: Negotiated breakthrough contract language at Ford, which ensured a role for union members in product quality issues.

1985: Led the successful drive that brought 22,000 Michigan state employees into the UAW.

1986: Reelected vice president. Won unprecedented job security and worker involvement provisions in 1987 contract talks with Ford.

1989: Reelected vice president and became director of UAW GM Department. Won significant new job and income security protections for GM during 1990 negotiations.

1992: Reelected vice president.

1993: Founded the Community Caring Program to provide scholarships for disadvantaged children. Five years later, added five additional scholarships in memory of the late Coleman A. Young, former Detroit mayor.

1995: Elected president of UAW by delegates at the 31st UAW Constitutional Convention in Anaheim, Calif. As an advocate for change in the AFL-CIO backed the “New Voice for American Workers” campaign of John Sweeney, Rich Trumka and Linda Chavez-Thompson.
Received the Arab American of the Year Award by the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn, Mich.

1996: Led auto talks, which brought enhanced job and income security protections, cost-of-living gains for retirees, health care improvements and tuition assistance for dependents of UAW members.

1998: Reelected to a four-year term as UAW president. Won delegate approval for creation of new vice presidency to focus specifically on organizing new members.
1999: Led auto talks, which resulted in four-year contracts with lifetime protections for workers at newly-formed Visteon and Delphi, improved COLA and pension formulas, new work and family programs and a paid Election Day holiday.

2002: Retired at UAW convention in Las Vegas. “When we retire,” he told delegates, “we expect you to do your share to make it an even greater union. Every generation has an obligation, and your obligation is to build a better union.”