Lasting Solidarity
UAW retirees entitled to privileges of membership
Welcome to the first serving of our new section focusing on UAW retirees. Keep an eye out here for features on what retirees are doing, issues that impact your life, events for you to get involved in, and some fun things.
The UAW has the largest, most progressive program for retired members in American labor. Our Retired Workers program dates back to the 1951 UAW convention. Walter Reuther, his staff and the convention delegates were the pioneers responsible for putting in place the building blocks for our retiree structure.
There are Local Union Retired Workers Chapters, Area Retired Workers Councils and Regional Retired Workers Councils. But most significant are provisions for retiree representation on Local Union Executive Boards, retiree consultation with the International Executive Board through the Retired Workers Advisory Council who would, among other things, serve as automatic delegates with voice and vote at UAW Constitutional Conventions.
Retired UAW members have been entitled to all the privileges of membership except in-plant representation and the right to vote on strikes or contract ratifications. Retirees can vote for local union officers (except stewards or committee people) and can vote for delegates to the UAW Constitutional Convention. They are also entitled to continue to receive Solidarity magazine.
Retiree chapters are the heart and soul of the UAW retiree program. Today, we have more than 700 retired workers chapters where retirees maintain their friendships and help in building a stronger union. Every local with 25 retirees should set up a retired workers chapter. Retirees run their own programs, elect officers, select a retiree to sit on the local union executive board, and elect delegates to the regional retired workers councils.
In coming issues of Solidarity, we’ll have more on how the UAW Retired Workers programs work and how you can get involved. In the meantime, if you have something for this section, feel free to send it in.
