Region 1C Director Duane Zuckschwerdt
Your region has such a rich history, going back to the sit-down strike. How does that legacy affect you 70 years later?
There are a lot of parallels between then and now. Many people don’t realize that strike was about employment security and respect. You were an at-will employee then and immediately discharged if they thought you were involved in organized labor or you even spoke about it. Today it’s the same thing. That’s what brought on the campaign to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
There is such an emphasis on activism in Region 1C.
Through our regional retiree chapters we have established rapid response groups. When an issue comes up that affects working families, we immediately get letter-writing and phone campaigns going. If there’s a theme running through this region, it’s political activism. I tell our members, I have a title and when I contact politicians, they know it’s part of my job. But when they get phone calls or letters from a member, those are votes so they listen.
How are your Delphi workers dealing with uncertainties?
We’re very proud of our Delphi workers. We represent two plants in our region, and have established union awareness sessions through our local union leadership to keep the members informed. In both locations we have temporaries who became permanent workers in their first year. A lot of them didn’t understand union and now they’re 100 percent behind our efforts.
What are other issues in your region?
We’ve dealt with bankruptcy issues the last four years. My belief goes back to what Walter Reuther said about the bread box and ballot box. Trade laws are affecting our membership dramatically, as are health issues in IPS and TOP. The right to organize has been eroded over the years. If we aren’t politically active, and don’t change national policy, we’re going to continue to see the middle class erode.
What is the most fun thing about your job?
Talking to students. We’ve started several programs over the years, but in the last year have put a lot of effort into LEAP – Labor Education Awareness Program, currently in 20 schools in Genesee County. We have an opportunity to talk to a lot of them, from middle school to seniors. If we educate folks about labor and economics and issues we are facing today, it will pave the way for a better future for the middle class of America. Also, we established in this region a few years ago the Modern Labor Concepts program, a two-year course for all UAW members in Michigan, in conjunction with the Michigan State Labor and Industrial Relations Department. Our region is pretty much a GM region so members are using their tuition assistance.
