Don’t forget Deere

I was very disappointed to see no mention of John Deere workers at UAW Local 838 in the 70th anniversary issue of Solidarity (July-August 2005).

Our strike took on a ruthless company with tactics never before tried. It lasted five months, from October 1984 to February 1985.

I rarely see agricultural implement articles in Solidarity, and I can’t remember the last time I saw something on Deere or Local 838.

Mike Murphy
UAW Local 838 retiree
Waterloo, Iowa

Editor’s note: We apologize for not including the Deere strike in our 70th anniversary issue. And we’ll strive for more ag-imp coverage in the future.

International solidarity

We are really thankful for the Solidarity magazine that was devoted to 70 years of solidarity. I and my colleagues read it with big attention.

Unfortunately, due to financial problems, our trade union does not produce any magazines or newspapers. But the knowledge about your fight for workers’ rights is very useful for us during the period of time when capitalism replaced socialism.

Thanks for the magazine again.

Grigoriy Olkhovets
Radio and Electronics & Machinery Workers Trade Union of Ukraine
Kiev, Ukraine

The July-August issue of Solidarity was very good. My father was a Dodge Main sit-down striker and chief steward for many years at UAW Local 3. I was almost 5 years old when the sit-down strike took place, and I retired as plant chairman for Local 771 in 1996.

Kenneth J. Witmer
UAW Local 771 retiree
Shelby Township, Mich.

I just wanted to thank those who worked on the UAW 70th anniversary issue. As a young UAW member, it really meant a lot to me, and I learned a lot, too.

Kenny Sigurani
UAW Local 1112
Lordstown, Ohio

UAW 101 gets an A+

As a fairly new UAW member, I was very pleased to see the UAW 101 article, “How amalgamated locals work,” in Solidarity (May-June 2005).

When my workplace became unionized, I began my union education on a trial-and-error basis. Lots of questions, research and guidance from my local servicing representative led me to various classes and conferences that assisted me in learning about the UAW.

It is refreshing to see the UAW spreading education to its members through this new column.

Knowledge is power. I hope to see more articles empowering the brothers and sisters of the UAW.

Brenda L. Baldwin
UAW Local 400
Clinton Township, Mich.

I have been a UAW member for 30 years and have heard over the years that our local was “amalgamated.” I hate to admit it, but I did not truly understood what that meant until I read the UAW 101 article. Now I understand why members on the local’s Executive Board would not necessarily be on the bargaining committee for my plant.

I look forward to this column so I can learn more about my union.

Pam Robinson
UAW Local 1588
Richwood, Ohio

I found your “How amalgamated locals work” article very informative and educational. I’ve been a UAW member since 1976. My local union is not an amalgamated local, but I’ve heard about them and have had many questions.

Please continue to educate me and our membership about unions. The more we know, the better decisions we can make and, ultimately, the stronger we will be.

Doug Coltrane
UAW Local 1895
Tulsa, Okla.

Reforming health care

I agree the only solution to our health care crisis lies in achieving single-payer universal health care. But I don’t agree it can’t be won, at least in part, at the bargaining table. Big Three CEOs agree this change in our health care system makes good business sense, and yet we don’t hold their feet to the fire at the table to demand they support us more vocally in lobbying lawmakers for the changes we all need.

Why don’t we let them know that a lot of the cooperation they depend on from us to improve quality and productivity needs to be reciprocated by cooperation in getting this health care burden off our backs?

The way things are going right now, we are only supporting their moves to shift more of the burden to us by approving increased co-pays and removing doctors from approved plans.

Robert Glassman
UAW Local 869
Warren, Mich.

Editor’s note: The UAW leadership shares your concern. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger has addressed the issue often. For more on this subject, see our story "Health Care Reform needs a Shot in the Arm".

For the record

In Solidarity’s 70th anniversary issue (July-August 2005):

• We reported the seven-year Kohler strike, which began in 1954 in Sheboygan, Wis., was the longest in UAW history. We were wrong.

In fact, the longest UAW strike was nine years. It began July 11, 1983, at the Ohio Crankshaft Division of Park-Ohio Industries Inc. in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio.

Confronted by scabs, arrests and firings, UAW Local 91 workers stood strong on the picket line. In 1992 their solidarity led to a fair contract with pension credits, fully paid health insurance and wage increases.

Solidarity regrets the error and offers special thanks to UAW Local 91 President Edward Andexler and retiree John Tokarczyk for bringing it to our attention.
And we’d like to acknowledge all members of Local 91 who were part of this struggle in our union’s history.

• Our timeline said the UAW was the first major union to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment in 1964. It should have said 1970.

• We said Pete Seeger wrote the “UAW-CIO” song, which was used to boost morale during World War II. He didn’t. Baldwin Hawes wrote it with help from his wife, Bess, and Charles Palachek. Thanks to Joe Glazer of Chevy Chase, Md., (and to Seeger) for setting us straight.