UAW’s new era begins with officers’ swearing in

Ed Garsten

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 10:11 a.m.

First he removed his jacket, then his tie. By the time new United Auto Workers union president Ron Gettelfinger was finished delivering his rousing 25-minute inaugural speech in Las Vegas Thursday, he was ready for a fight against anyone standing in the way of organized labor.

"Let me set the record straight for those who oppose us at every turn: We are the UAW, and we are organized. We will not sit quietly by and have you spend millions of dollars to take away our collective voice," Gettelfinger told cheering delegates at the union's constitutional convention.

"Make no mistake about our efforts to support those who support us. This union has not in the past, nor will it in the future back down from politicians whose goal it is to destroy us or the industrial base in this country," Gettelfinger said.

The 57-year old native of Frenchtown, Ind., had just been sworn in and accepted the gavel from outgoing president Stephen Yokich.

Yokich, 66, retired after two terms as UAW president. A union custom discourages running for another term after reaching age 65.

"The last seven years have been the most satisfying years and the hardest years I've had in my whole career," Yokich said in a brief farewell address that elicited a standing ovation. "I can't find the words to tell you how grateful I am to you and all the members of the UAW for giving me this opportunity to serve this union."

Gettelfinger is as media-shy as his predecessor and is known for being as pugnacious a bargainer as Yokich.

"I don't think the industry is going to get a break from Gettelfinger," said Mike Whitty, a labor professor at the University of Detroit-Mercy. "He is thorough and battle-tested."

Also sworn in during the union's constitutional convention were newly elected secretary-treasurer Elizabeth Bunn and vice presidents Gerald Bantom, Nate Gooden, Bob King, Cal Rapson and Dick Shoemaker.

All the new officers were elected Wednesday by acclamation.

The slate of officers was chosen last November by the union's administrative caucus, and the elections were a foregone conclusion. Every presidential candidate nominated by the caucus since 1946 has been elected.

Gettelfinger takes over the UAW at a time when the union is looking to bolster its membership, which has dwindled to about 700,000 from 1.5 million 30 years ago.

The union has been stymied in its attempts to organize workers at U.S. plants operated by foreign automakers and is actively seeking non-automotive industries to bring into its fold.

It also has what seems to experts to be bruising contract talks ahead of it with the U.S. automakers. The four-year pact expires in September 2003.

The automakers want to cut costs in part by reducing production capacity and personnel. The union wants to hang on to every job it can.

While talks won't begin in earnest until next year, the union will begin to formulate a general strategy during its three-day bargaining convention, which begins here Saturday.

The changing of the guard was delayed several hours while the union tackled a controversy surrounding Wednesday's re-election of Warren Davis as Region 2 director.

Davis, who is running for Congress in Ohio, had said he was not going to run for re-election but then decided at the last minute to do so. The erstwhile front runner withdrew and tossed his support to Davis.

In reaction, delegates to the convention voted to accept a constitutional change that dissolved Region 2 and folded it into 3 other regions, making Davis's election moot.

Davis said Thursday he might appeal that decision through the union's internal system.