I am the U in UAW because I know it takes many to make a difference and that the UAW believes in Solidarity and Strength. My Grandfather worked at the AC Sparkplug in Flint Michigan and became heavily active in the UAW and later went on to become an International Rep. for Region 1-C. He worked there until he had to retire but never really left he always kept a contract with him. My mother and her siblings also worked at AC.

One day when I was little, I remember asking my Grandfather if he was upset that my mother never ran for office positions in the union. He said no she goes to her union meetings and has always attended any thing I need her to and votes and supports the UAW. He went on to say that, I did the hard work for my children so that they would not have to. Now I work at the UAW- GM Child Development Center. When I first started working there in 1994 they were forming a Union with MEA. We later switched to the UAW and at that time I ran for office and joined many committees like my grandfather I knew I needed to do this to protect the future of our UAW for my children and the children that I took care of every day at work. Because without unions, we will have nothing.

I will be forever grateful to the UAW as it has truly saved my life. My blood pressure was high and my doctor recommended that I get a total tune up. I worked for GM for 32 years prior to my plant closing and I retired. Because I had insurance I was able to receive the tests that were needed and found out that I had colon cancer on 3/14/08. I was scheduled to see a surgeon on 3/21/08 and on 3/24/08 the Dr. removed part of my colon and some lymph nodes and I am proud to say that I now am a cancer survivor as he is confident that all was removed and I am cancer free. Without the UAW won benefits I don't know what I would have done. God bless the UAW and continue to stand up for the rights of the working people.

Vernon Slaven
Muncie, IN

I joined the UAW Staff in 1964. I was the research director of the International Affairs Department and worked first in Detroit in the President's office and later in Washington. My boss was Victor Reuther. The UAW had allocated some of the interest earned on the strike fund for work overseas, assisting unions in developing countries in building strong unions and in facing the challenges of the multinational corporations.

This wasn't political work and had nothing to do with governments. We taught collective bargaining; we ran courses on how to use a stopwatch to time a job when the company sent in time and motion men; we taught grievance handling and dispute resolution; we built a worldwide network of GM, Ford, Chrysler workers across the globe. They taught us, too, about their successes and negotiating tactics.

Most importantly the UAW was the key national organization active in promoting the liberation struggles in Africa. When these new leaders visited the US the UAW made their appointments for them on the Hill; they gave them a forum to promote their cause. The UAW donated tons of medicines to groups in Africa; it ran the first blue-collar Peace Corps program in Guinea; it donated printing presses and Varitype machines; and it encouraged the development of a strong labor movement as a pivotal point in national democracy.

Many in the UAW are unaware of the powerful role played by their union in building free and democratic unions across the globe. I was proud to play a small part in this. Wherever I go in Africa today I am reminded of the UAW's role. The leadership there still remembers the support of the UAW. I still carry my International Representative card (signed by Walter and Emil) and occasionally show it as proof that I am on "the right side".

The members of the union should be very proud of the legacy of the union in standing up for freedom, democracy and respect for the rights of workers all over the globe.

I am the Chairperson of the Women's Committee of Local 869. Our Women's Committee members raised 1,000 dollars for Breast Cancer Awareness. We also created a board with the donors name so that they could honor a loved one or someone that they knew that had Breast Cancer. We also put the Breast Cancer Awareness information in our weekly Communicator paper.

Received this email, thought maybe a lot of union people would appreciate it.
-Richard Martin

“Most of the time, this column takes on a light-hearted attitude. Today, it's a heavy-hearted one. It's heavy-hearted because I'm both disappointed and worried about the way that so many car buyers are ignoring the products of America 's automobile manufacturers. Yes, I know all the arguments pro and con. The reasoning for buying from foreign manufacturers abound in letters to the editors and columns by auto writers in our newspapers and magazines. »the rest of the story»

I would like to start out by saying thank you for all of the support that we at local 235 are receiving from all of our UAW families from all across the nation, be it donations or just words of support. »the rest of the story»