UAW explores options for Black Lake property

In 1967 the UAW purchased approximately 750 acres of vacant land in northern Michigan. Walter Reuther’s vision was to create a world-class educational facility for the use of UAW members.

Over the years the union purchased additional nearby land and constructed the Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center.

The center has provided a unique educational experience for many thousands of UAW members over the years.

Open for 10 months each year, the center hosts meetings and conferences for thousands of UAW members, including education programs for union activists, regional summer schools, and meetings on health and safety, civil and human rights, political action and other subjects.

In addition, in 2000 the UAW added a public golf course, the Black Lake Golf Club, to the facilities.

With the recession and the contraction of employment in the auto industry and related manufacturing industries, the UAW has been exploring options to reduce costs in all aspects of operations. As part of this review, for the past several years the UAW has been exploring a possible sale of the union’s golf course and other components of the education center in Onaway, Mich.

In order to move this process forward on a broader basis, the UAW has now retained a national real estate firm, CB Richard Ellis, to explore the real estate market for properties such as Black Lake and investigate possible opportunities.

Over the next several months, this firm will be conducting a national search for prospective buyers, and the UAW will continue to evaluate the opportunities as they are developed.

“The Black Lake facility has a unique and legendary role in the history of the UAW and the entire labor movement,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. “We regret that current financial conditions require us to explore the possible sale of the property. “At the same time, members of our International Executive Board recognize that the assets of the UAW belongs to the entire membership of our union and that, as good stewards, the UAW must always make sure that it is using those resources wisely and cost-effectively.”

“Educating our membership will always be a core activity for our union,” said Gettelfinger. “Our responsibility now is to plan for the future, so we can bring our members together in the most cost-effective way possible.”