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Ken Lortz elected new director of UAW Region 2B
BEGAN HIS UNION ACTIVISM AT UAW LOCAL 336
Ken Lortz, left, is the new director of UAW Region 2B, succeeding Lloyd Mahaffey. Lortz was elected April 30 by delegates to a special convention. Photo:JOAN SILVI
Delegates to a special convention held April 30 unanimously elected Ken Lortz director of UAW Region 2B.
Lortz had served as assistant director of the region, which covers the state of Ohio, since 2002 when he was appointed to the position by UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.
“I can’t think of anyone better to replace me,” said outgoing Region 2B Director Lloyd Mahaffey. “I’ve known Ken for at least 20 years, and the thing that has always impressed me most is his commitment to the cause of working people. I admire him as a human being as well as a UAW leader.”
Following a successful organizing drive at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo in 2000, Lortz was assigned as the lead negotiator for the three newly organized bargaining units in UAW Local 12 that includes nurses, technical and service employees. He helped win significantly improved pension, wage and health benefits for nearly 2,800 new UAW members in their first contract.
Lortz carried out servicing responsibilities in northwest Ohio as a member of the Region 2B staff from 1993 until 2002. His assignments included Independents, Parts and Suppliers; Technical, Office and Professional contracts, and national Chrysler facilities.
Lortz has been a UAW member since 1970 when he joined Local 336 at Atlas Crankshaft in Fostoria, Ohio. He served the local in a variety of positions from 1974 to 1993, including as president and bargaining committee chair.
Active in his community, Lortz is a member of the board of directors for Wake Up Youth, an advocacy group for at-risk girls in Toledo, and Camp Courageous, which provides camping experiences and respite weekends for people with developmental disabilities.
Lortz was born Oct. 2, 1952, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1973 and have a son, two daughters and two grandsons. They live in Carey, Ohio, and are members of Our Lady of Consolation Parish and Basilica.
UAW trailblazer Lloyd Mahaffey retires
On May 1 – and for the first time in nearly 50 years – Lloyd Mahaffey awakened as a UAW retiree. The Region 2B director retired April 30.
Born in Marion, Ohio, he dedicated his life to working families and minorities. Mahaffey makes no apologies about fighting for economic justice for workers.
“The whole foundation of this country is the American Dream. I just can't find it in my heart to apologize for some poor guy making $30 an hour, because they’re able to buy the products they produce,” Mahaffey recently told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mahaffey, 65, leaves a UAW legacy reaching back 47 years, and has seen the union through some of its most difficult times.
In 1962 he joined UAW Local 750 when he was hired at the Marion Division of Tecumseh Products. He served his local in various positions, including president and chair of its bargaining committee. In 1973 he was appointed to the UAW International staff, assigned to the union’s Technical, Office and Professional Department.
He later worked in the Independents, Parts and Suppliers Department.
In 1986 he was appointed assistant director of Region 2B. He was elected regional director in 1998 and re-elected to his third term in 2006.
“We’ll miss Lloyd. He’s by far one of labor’s top leaders,” said UAW President Ron Gettel-
finger. “He’s well-respected and charismatic, qualities we were grateful to have on our side of the bargaining table.”
Mahaffey plans to spend time with his wife, children and grandchildren. And you can be sure he will remain a strong advocate for working people.
