union security agreements, page 25 july - august 2017 · · 2017-07-28union security agreements,...

July - August 2017Union Security Agreements, Page 25

The magazine for UAW members and their families

SOLIDARITY July - August 20172

In 1979, Ronald Reagan announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination and in his speech he called for a “North American accord” which he said will produce “a North American continent in which the goods and people of the three countries will cross boundaries more freely.” It would take more than a decade for Reagan’s idea to come to fruition, but after Congress passed the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 giving the president “fast-track” authority to negotiate free trade, Reagan could pursue his vision. Reagan passed the baton to President George H.W. Bush who continued negotiations with Mexico and Canada for a trade deal. That trade agreement that we know as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was agreed to by President Bush in 1992 and passed by Congress in 1993. UAW and many labor unions fought against the passage of NAFTA and pushed for better labor standards to be included in the trade deal. In both the House and the Senate, more Democrats voted against NAFTA than for it and despite vocal opposition from many Democratic members of Congress NAFTA was passed by the majority of Republicans and a handful of Democrats. It was unfortunately signed into law without enforceable labor protections by President Bill Clinton in 1993.The supporters’ story back then was

that NAFTA promoted trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico and living standards in all three countries would rise. But this isn’t what NAFTA was about and it’s not what happened. The U.S., Mexico and Canada had trade relationships with each other long before NAFTA. What NAFTA did was let U.S. corporations evade American laws that protected workers and the environment. According to the Economic Policy

NAFTA Must Work for WorkersA New Trade Deal Needs a New Focus

Institute, NAFTA resulted in the loss of approximately 700,000 jobs in the U.S. and wages and benefits have fallen behind worker productivity in all three countries ever since. The UAW strongly supports

renegotiating NAFTA because workers and domestic manufacturing have been hurt by the trade agreement. Over the last 20 years, corporations have taken the low-road approach to increasing profits by moving production to Mexico where workers are paid low wages and environmental protections are

poorly enforced. This has led to a steady disinvestment in America’s workers, manufacturing capacity, and innovation. For NAFTA to be a good deal for working people it needs to create jobs in the United States and reverse our outrageous trade deficit. Because of this disinvestment, any effort to renegotiate NAFTA needs to be accompanied by a strong industrial policy focused on reinvestment, workforce development, support for advanced manufacturing and technologies, building a 21st century infrastructure, and creating penalties for companies that turn their backs on American workers.

Companies routinely used (and still use) the threat of moving to Mexico at the bargaining table to undercut labor unions’ collective bargaining power all the while Mexican workers make 30 percent of what American workers do. That’s wrong for all North American workers and we have to address workers’ rights when it comes to renegotiating NAFTA. For a new NAFTA to be a good trade agreement Mexico must, at a minimum, require independent and democratic unions, require workers to vote on contracts and union leadership, and require unions to represent its members. Furthermore, to help grow the Mexican middle class after decades of depressed wages, a new NAFTA should require Mexico to establish a Mexican manufacturing minimum wage. Not only do we believe that a good

trade agreement must include real labor and environmental standards, we believe real world proof of upgraded labor and environmental protections and enforcement must be in place before a renegotiated NAFTA could take effect. Alternatively, tariffs should be placed on non-complying countries until compliance can be proven. A new NAFTA must include punitive

duties for labor violations. We can’t allow labor violations to be settled using a weak dispute settlement system that fails to hold violators accountable. Taking into account the decades long suppression of labor rights in Mexico, labor violations should be subject to punitive duties, such as tariffs. Labor unions in all three countries should have standing to bring charges of labor abuses — regardless of whether the union represents the workers. We support increased Rule of

Origin requirements and eliminating loopholes in the existing standard. Countries that are not signatory to NAFTA are indirect beneficiaries to

The U.S., Mexico and Canada had trade relationships with

each other long before NAFTA. What NAFTA did was let U.S. corporations

evade American laws that protected workers and the environment.

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4 PRO-Member Build it Here

6 Committee Spotlight Community Service Shows Our Values

8 UAW Chaplains Solidarity and Harmony in Action

13 Buy a Paver Leave Your Mark on Black Lake

14 COVER STORY Rewriting NAFTA: Renegotiate Trade Deal to Help All Americans

PLUS19 Legislative Update20 Retiree Dues Cards23 Union Sportsmen26 Black Lake Golf27 Regional News

UAW Bowling: Page 11

the agreement. It is important companies do not sidestep labor standards and environmental protections by producing their products in countries that do not meet these standards. We have to end

the exploitation of workers who are trying to provide for their families — food, shelter, clothing, education — should be attainable for workers. A new NAFTA should expand the anti-dumping provision to include wage and environmental standards. One country must not be able to export items whose costs are subsidized by workers or communities by paying wages that are not high enough to support a family and provide basic living needs. Any good trade agreement

will have health and safety regulations harmonized to the highest standard across all three countries. Workers should be competing on skills and efficiency instead of which company can cut the most corners. The procurement chapter of

NAFTA should be eliminated. The procurement chapter treats Mexican and Canadian bidders as if they were American. When taxpayer money is being spent, it should be used to create American jobs and stimulate the U.S. economy. The Investor-State Dispute

Settlement (ISDS) provisions in NAFTA must be eliminated. ISDS gives corporations and investors the right to sue governments that pass laws that affect

profits. An ISDS claim sidesteps the country’s legal system and allows an ISDS tribunal to decide the case based on the rules of NAFTA. This process lacks transparency and undermines

the whole idea of democracy because corporations are given special powers that put them in the driver’s seat above laws and regulations passed by our lawmakers. We have seen

the problems caused by NAFTA and must not repeat it. A truly good trade agreement should provide

the foundation for workers in all three countries to raise their living standards. NAFTA only provided the framework for companies to reap more profits at the expense of working people.

One country must not be able to export

items whose costs are subsidized by workers or

communities by paying wages that

are not high enough to support a family and provide basic

living needs.

COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW WILLIAMS


Build It Here So We Can Buy It Here

The rally call of “Buy American” isn’t new, but the proposition looks very different in 2017 than it did in the 1970s. Back then, there were almost 20 million workers in the U.S. making goods in factories across the country (today, it’s 12.3 million). These workers made clothes, baseballs, toys, blue jeans, electronics and a host of goods you could find in your neighborhood store. If you want some Brach’s candy in 2017, it will come from their factory in Mexico.That’s one way the conversation today is different.

Asking consumers to “Buy American” makes no sense unless there are things to buy. Instead, in 2017 we have to talk about building it here so we can buy it here.The last 30 years have taught us a few things about the

importance of a strong manufacturing base in the United States. Making products here — from consumer goods to heavy equipment — builds stronger communities through

jobs that multiply: Each new full-time job created in manufacturing leads to 3.4 full-time jobs in related non-manufacturing industries (Source: Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, September 2016). These factories also produce goods that are safer for our families and the workers who make the products. From lead in toys to sweatshop conditions, the real cost of purchasing cheap imported goods is often hidden.Bringing back manufacturing jobs won’t be easy, but

the steep price of not taking this on will be paid by generations to come. Much of our fight will rest on changing government policies — whether it’s product labeling, procurement of goods and services or trade agreements. Far too often, these laws and rules favor the interests of the few who profit over the benefits to the many. Why else would our trade negotiators resist

The collective bargaining rights that these UAW workers enjoy not only lifts

wages and benefits, but also helps provide better health and safety on the

job. Buying imported goods made by nonunion workers could mean continuing the exploitation that many of them face,

as well as health and safety standards that are weak compared to U.S. union

standards.

PHOTOS BY DENN PIETRO


stronger labor and environmental laws abroad? Our country’s agenda should be to lift everyone, not make it easier to race to the bottom.And as we demand that manufacturing jobs be created

here, we have to remain mindful that not all jobs are equal. Our goal should be well-paying and safe jobs that can sustain families. Anything else is just creating a new kind of casualty of trade agreements.In the meantime, we shop. In 2016, it’s estimated

Americans spent over $5 trillion on retail sales. That’s almost a quarter of all the sales in the world. Each purchase is a choice. We look at products for good value, but measuring that value is more than just looking at the sticker price. Consider these four categories:

• Imported, made by nonunion labor: This category represents the vast majority of consumer goods that are imported into the United States. They often have a cheap sales sticker, but these products come with a price. What were the safety standards that went into the raw materials in the product? Were the workers who made it exploited? And how did the shipment of the goods across oceans contribute to the carbon footprint of the product? What is the quality of the product?

• Imported, made by union labor: This is a small category and most consumers probably have no idea if an imported product was made by a worker with collective bargaining rights. Solidarity is global. In fact, the UAW vehicle guide includes cars made by our union brothers and sisters who are part of UNIFOR in Canada. But not all unions are free and independent. The global union label is meaningful only if those workers have true democratic unions.

• Made in America by nonunion labor: Kudos for building it here and creating jobs in our communities. But that shouldn’t give an employer a pass if they are not respecting worker and community rights. What is their workplace safety record? Do they respect organizing laws? Are the jobs they create real or mostly through temporary agencies? Are they a “good neighbor” in their community?

• Made in America by union labor: Though union density in the private sector is 6.4 percent, labor unions are among the most ardent advocates for keeping jobs in the U.S. Through collective bargaining, workers have a voice in their working conditions and are mindful of safety on the job. Collective bargaining lifts wages not only for the workers covered by the contract, but also those in the area and industry. Some of the most enduring and iconic manufacturers in this country are union and have been for decades: Louisville Slugger, Fiestaware, Jim Beam, Ghirardelli chocolates, Callaway golf balls, General Motors, Ford and FCA USA, to name a few. And union members are generous champions of the communities they live in, often involved or leading a host of service projects.

This conversation is an important one that we will be having this year in union halls and across the dinner table. Standing together, we can build an economy that lifts us all. We can reward good employers with our purchasing power while investing in a future for the next generation. Let’s have 2017 be the year that we get this right: Build it here, so we can buy it here!


SPOTLIGHT ON

Committees

As a UAW member, you know the union is only as strong as member involvement. Without it your local can’t be a strong voice for the membership. One way UAW members stay involved in their locals is through standing committees like Local 249’s Community Services Committee, a great example of fostering member solidarity while helping those in need in their local community. Most of Local 249’s members, 7,000 strong, work at Ford Motor Co.’s Kansas City Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Missouri. Local 249 President Jason Starr beams with pride when

he talks about the Community Services Committee. “The committee works tirelessly to put a face on our member’s values in the community,” said Starr. “The committee provides services for members in need and they reach out to the community to introduce ourselves and show them our UAW values are more than just a paycheck. It’s important as a local for our community to know who we are and what we’re about. Our mission is to uplift all families through the tools our great union gives us,” he said. For the past six years Local 249 member Kim Rowland

has been keeping the 17-member committee running smoothly as chair. She’s also a ramp coordinator with

Fostering SolidarityCommunity Service Committees Show UAW Values

UAW-Ford National Project Center’s wheelchair ramp construction program with Habitat for Humanity houses in the Kansas City area, one of seven UAW ramp crews in the Midwest. Her phone rings nonstop because the need for help in local neighborhoods never lets up. But that’s all good, says Rowland. After 25 years in the plant, she transitioned into full-time committee work, wheelchair ramp coordination and spreading the word that helping those in need is a core UAW value, a mission she’s enthusiastic about. “Our standing committees play a key role in making

sure their communities see UAW caring in action,” said UAW President Dennis Williams. “The UAW has always stood for service to those in need. Local 249’s Community Services Committee is walking the union talk and that’s how it should be done.”Rowland says they walk that talk in many ways. “We

help change people’s lives in different ways, like with a Christmas dinner or building a wheelchair ramp. My favorite part is when somebody calls and needs help, and I get to tell them, ‘Yeah, we can help you.’ But we can’t do it without the great Local 249 members, Region 5 and the International UAW behind us who always give when we ask,” she said.

Local 249 members participated in the Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City’s Women Build Day, which was held May 17. They understand that giving back to the community is a core UAW value.

SOLIDARITY July - August 2017 7PHOTOS: VINCE PISCOPO

The committee helped build 10 tiny homes for the Veterans Community Project’s Veterans Village with contributions from the UAW-Ford National Program Center, Region 5 and Local 249 members. DON LEHMAN/UAW LOCAL 249

Tom Macomber, left, and Matt Holsted install a net on a basketball goal at the Holt, Missouri, city park on Jan. 17. KIM ROWLAND/UAW LOCAL 249

“We do a coats-for-kids drive in October. This year will be our sixth year. The first four years we took 10 to 12 kids to J.C. Penney and bought warm winter clothes for them. Last year we went to a school with a high poverty rate and bought coats for 142 kids. It was my favorite day ever because we put the coats in bags according to size and then the kids came up and took the bags. They were so appreciative. I get choked up thinking about it because these were kids wearing thrift store clothes or hand-me downs. For me it was better than Christmas,” said Rowland. Right now, they’re working on partnering with a

summer camp for children with cancer and their siblings. Committee members will train to be camp buddies for a day for a child, spending the day to make sure the child has a good experience. They’ll be doing their popular Thanksgiving turkey collection again in November at the plant doors — they collected enough to buy 920 turkeys one year — and they’ll be doing many other fundraisers between now and then as they become aware of other needs in the Kansas City area between now and then. “The best part of being chair is I get to meet people

we serve and shake their hands and see the difference you make in their lives. There are families that participated in our first coats-for-kids program that I still stay in touch with,” said Rowland. That’s why she is proud to be chair of the committee and work with great volunteers. “I can’t imagine the UAW without this committee because they’re about what the UAW is about — helping people. I’m living proof of that. Before I hired in at Ford all I was a single parent working a full-time job and two part-time jobs to make ends meet. I’m thankful to have a job now where I can give back and we can show how caring and giving UAW members are.”

Joan Silvi


One VoiceUAW Chaplains Highlight 30th Anniversary with

Community Outreach that Makes a Difference

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PHOTOS: MICHAEL JOSEPH

It was clear that the 20 choir students awaiting their visitors to arrive at the front entrance of Inland Lakes High School in northern Michigan had no idea what to expect. It was the same for the six students from Detroit’s Martin Luther King Jr. High School who were arriving for a visit on June 6.However, in 10 minutes all the

uncertainty was transformed into genuine excitement about an opportunity to make new friendships that might last a lifetime.The teens said hello, told their

ages and practiced singing a few tunes in the school band room. Then they exchanged Snapchat information, laughed realizing they had some things in common. They giggled and before long they were all disappointed that the time for their first meeting just was not long enough.The students had been invited

to meet first and later eat dinner and perform during an evening program celebrating the 30th Annual International UAW Chaplaincy

Conference. This year’s theme: We’re Stronger Together, One Voice.“This is an extraordinary

experience to have both sets of students come together like this and to have it facilitated by these wonderful chaplains,” said Kaye Smith-Clay, King High community school coordinator.For UAW chaplains, the encounter

meant a vision set in place for the UAW Chaplaincy program had now come to fruition.“We have a long and beautiful

relationship with band and choir members at Inland Lakes, and this year, we wanted to do something different,” said Herb Taylor, chaplain committee chair and a member of UAW Local 31 in Kansas City, Kansas.“We wanted these students to have

a chance to meet other students from a different part of the state. It was a chance for them to be able to talk about the things they have in common and the things that are different, and maybe create some friendships along the way,” said Taylor.

The Chaplaincy program is nondenominational. Where some worksites have EAP (Employee Assistance Program) representatives, chaplains work in conjunction with them to assist members. From divorce to bankruptcy, depression to substance abuse, chaplains are a key part of helping our UAW family through hard times. The chaplains also help others in need and have faithfully reached out to the young people in the Inland Lakes music program.In 2011, the chaplains heard that

the young musicians needed band uniforms and raised $2,500 for the new outfits. Chaplains later raised about $1,500 for electronic equipment for the band room and later ordered 120 new T-shirts for the students after the youngsters saw them at the 2016 conference and said they liked them. When the

Students from northern Michigan and Detroit had the chance to talk, hang out and create some friendships at Black Lake.

Students performed for the UAW Chaplaincy Committee, which has supported Inland Lakes High School by raising funds for new uniforms and electronic equipment.


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UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who directs the union’s Chaplaincy Program, says our union has a key role to play in the communities in which we work and live.

students returned to school in September, those new T-shirts were waiting for them. This year, the chaplains are donating $5,000 to the school. “The relationships that have been

created between the chaplains and the students from Inland, and now from King High in Detroit, are a great example of why community outreach is so important to UAW members,” said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who directs the union’s chaplaincy program. “Our union is not solely about contracts and negotiations. It is also about communities in need and about reaching out to young people. What happens at Black Lake each year with the chaplains and the young people is a strong example of how UAW members make a difference.”At the end of the night, the students

joined to lead a standing-room-only crowd in the center’s auditorium in singing “Solidarity Forever.” The chaplains treated the students to ice cream. “That is a beautiful thing,” said Taylor.

“This makes it all worthwhile. Their faces and their smiles tell us all we need to know.”

Sandra Davis

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Many UAW members look to their local to stay informed about union issues. That means locals need the skills to share information members want about union issues, contracts, committees and elections, particularly as we head into a busy election year in 2018 with congressional control at stake. The best way to improve union website, social media, writing, photography and video skills, or learn those skills for the first time, is to attend the UAW-LUCA (Local Union Communication Association) Conference at Black Lake, Oct. 29 through Nov. 3. “We need to make sure every local has the tools

they need to share information,” said UAW President Dennis Williams. “Much is at stake with our locals from contract negotiations at local facilities to national elections in 2018. The LUCA conference is the place to learn the latest communication methods, from websites to video to Twitter and Facebook, and newsletter production like effective writing,” said Williams. John Davis of Region 8’s Local 2195 is the UAW-LUCA

Advisory Council Chair, veteran LUCA member and digital photography instructor. “There’s no substitute for learning in person with other members. Locals that haven’t been to LUCA in a while can pick up state-of-the-art communication skills and polish existing ones,” said Davis.

It’s also a great way for locals to start a website or social media page. If your local doesn’t have one, attending the conference is a great way to learn how.Local 276 Second Vice

President Tanya Love was a new local newsletter editor at last year’s conference, ready to edit a publication for 4,200 workers at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Arlington, Texas. She was amazed at how much the feature writing class improved her writing. “I took that information to my local and applied what

they taught me,” said Love. Her work is now published by Region 5 and her local.To register for the LUCA conference, go to

luca.uaw.org.

Local Union Communicators Keep Us InformedLUCA Conference Set for October

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LUCA members who attend the conference at Black Lake learn many skills that help them communicate their local’s messages to their members.

Tanya Love


Bowling is serious business for many UAW members. You could tell by the concentration, determination, frustration and exhilaration on the bowlers’ faces as they competed in the UAW International Bowling Tournament.The day-long event, held May 20

at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Michigan, pits the best bowlers in our union against each other to see who’s best, both individually and as a team.And while the men and women

bowling are exceptionally competitive, they also value the fellowship the tournament brings and the chance to knock down pins with their union brothers and sisters from all over Michigan and Ohio. There were 158 bowlers entered in the singles competition and 250 bowlers in the team competition all vying for the top spots. All bowlers qualified to be in the championship tournament by scoring well at their regional tournaments.“It’s just great to have all UAW

members get together and bowl. It’s great comradery,” said Steve Barry, a Local 2278 member who works at Ford Motor Co.’s Sterling Heights (Michigan) Axle plant.

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There’s More Than One Way to StrikeUAW Bowling Championships Feature Tough Competition, Family Fun

Steve Barry, with his daughter Amanda, rolled a perfect 300 game, the 30th perfect game for the Local 228 member.

William Howze, who works at Ford’s Michigan Assembly plant, took his children to the competition. There was plenty of fun for the kids while the parents competed.

Barry was one of two bowlers who rolled a perfect 300 game in the singles competition.“It’s my second 300 in this house, so I

kind of like it here,” Barry said.In fact, it was Barry’s 30th perfect

game.“You still get nervous,” he said.

“If you’re not nervous when you are shooting for 300, then you shouldn’t bowl.”It was also a lot of fun for the families

of the bowlers, as many brought theirs to the facility. Everyone enjoyed a lunch courtesy of the International and many children were in the arcade or on the bumper bowling lanes in an adjacent alley.“I had a turkey!” said Donovan Howze,

the son of Local 900 member William Howze, who works at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant. The “turkey” did not refer to youngster’s lunch. It is bowling-speak for three strikes in a row.The lunch featured a short address by

UAW President Dennis Williams, who congratulated bowlers on making it to the championship tournament and reminded them of the UAW’s history in bowling, including the effort it undertook under the direction of UAW President Walter Reuther in 1948 to desegregate bowling alleys.Reuther would not permit UAW-

related bowling events to be held in houses that practiced racial discrimination, part of a national campaign that eventually led bowling alley operators to abandon the practice.“That’s why this

tournament is so important to the UAW,” Williams said, adding that the commitment to social justice

reminds us of who we are as union members, especially today as racism appears more pronounced.“When you think about what is going

on today, don’t let people divert who we are as union members,” he said.Tournament organizers also held a

50/50 raffle that raised over $1,300 for Mission 1:17, which provides mentors and a place to live for foster children who age out of the foster care system and need assistance.

Vince Piscopo

TEAM DIVISION1st Place: Local 163 – Region 1A (Doug Ellison, Curtis Schroeder, Brian Heyza, Jeffrey Williams, Tim Detherage)

2nd Place: Local 228 – Region 1 (Steve Barry, Ralph Cisneros Jr., Gary Giardina, Michael Treece, Derek Thompson)

3rd Place: Local 685 – Region 2B (Edmond Lee Reeves, Joeseph Reeves, Robert Smith Jr., Donald Price, Mark Snodgrass)

SINGLES DIVISION1st Place: Brian Heyza – Local 163, Region 1A2nd Place: James Kiester – Local 723, Region 1A3rd Place: Tim Detherage – Local 163, Region 1A


Members in UAW Region 2B, which covers Ohio and Indiana, have a new director in Rich Rankin after he was unanimously elected at a special regional leadership meeting on June 15. Rankin, who was the region’s assistant director,

replaces Ken Lortz, who retired May 31. Director Rankin will lead the region until the next UAW Constitutional Convention in June 2018.“It’s an honor to represent our Indiana and Ohio

members and advocate for each of them at the bargaining table,” Director Rankin said. “I’d like to thank Ken Lortz for being a great friend and mentor and leaving the region in great shape, with a formidable regional team in place. We have a strong tradition of leadership, bargaining gains, and community service and together we can grow even stronger.”As a member of Region 2B staff, Rankin carried out

servicing responsibilities in Northeast Ohio from March 2010 until August 2014, when Lortz named him assistant director. His assignments included Independents, Parts, and Suppliers; Technical, Office and Professional contracts, and General Motors (GM).Rankin has been a UAW member since 1997 when he

joined Local 1112 at GM in Lordstown, Ohio. A year later, he hired into the Lear Seating plant in Lordstown, where he served Lear members of Local 1112 in a variety of positions from 2001 to 2010, including three terms as chairman of the bargaining committee.He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in

Organizational Management from Malone University in Canton, Ohio, and has a welding diploma from New Castle School of Trades. Rankin has also worked as a certified pipe welder prior to working at GM.Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Director Rankin

is a life member of the NAACP, and serves on the

Rich Rankin Elected as Director of Region 2B Following Retirement of Ken Lortz

governing board of Toledo Technology Academy, the board of LEAD Ohio, the Old News Boys Scholarship Committee, and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s re-election committee. He has also been active in youth sports, coaching youth baseball and football and served as president of both the Columbiana Little Clippers football organization and Columbiana Wrestling boosters.Rich and his wife, Heather, were married in 1995 and

have three sons. They relocated to the Toledo area in 2014.Lortz retired after a long career of service to UAW

members in the region. He had served as Region 2B director since April 2009 when he succeeded Lloyd Mahaffey. He was subsequently re-elected at UAW constitutional conventions in June 2010 and 2014.During his tenure, the UAW added Indiana to Region 2B

and went through expansive growth during the post-recession auto recovery. Lortz joined the UAW in 1970 when he began working at Atlas Crankshaft in Fostoria, Ohio, and became a member of Local 336.“It has been an honor to wake up every morning and

fight for the benefits, safety and wages of Region 2B members,” Lortz said. “Together with our regional staff our focus has been on improving the lives of our members and retirees and building strong communities in Indiana and Ohio.”Under his leadership, Region 2B has focused heavily on

servicing member needs and building communities. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished through

collective bargaining for our members and I’m equally proud of all the hours that Region 2B members have spent fighting for justice, raising funds for charities, building wheelchair ramps, volunteering to help the poor, the homeless and the less fortunate, and giving of themselves,” Lortz said.

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Rich Rankin and his family: Timothy, R.J., his wife, Heather, and Zach.

Rich Rankin addresses UAW Region 2B members with President Dennis Williams at his left and his family in the foreground.

PHOTOS: DENN PIETRO


Be a part of Black Lake’s UAW Memorial Walkway

The Walter and May Reuther UAW Family Education Center features a memorial area with an eternal flame and a granite and brass memorial to the Reuther Brothers.

The International Executive Board is again offering a way for you to be part of the Memorial Walkway that has been built and paved with bricks inscribed by UAW members, local unions, family members and friends.

If you would like to participate in the Memorial Walkway, please fill out and send the order form to:

UAW Memorial Walkway2000 Maxon Road Onaway, MI 49765

UAW MEMORIAL WALKWAY

BE A PART OF BLACK LAKE

Your name

Address City State Zip

Phone Email

INSCRIPTION

Each brick can have up to two lines and a maximum of 13 letters per line (including spaces). Please print clearly.

I acknowledge that this is the correct spelling.

SAMPLES:

In memory of In honor of John SmithJohn Smith John Smith UAW Local 1

$125 per brick ($75 per brick for UAW retired members) Checks should be made payable to: UBE, Inc. and mailed along with this form to the above address

Any questions should be directed to Jeanine Ruth, UAW Family Education Center (989) 733-6311


Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1992 predicted there would be a “giant sucking sound” of jobs leaving the United States if the then-proposed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was approved. Perot, of course, correctly saw the future.

That giant sucking sound was 851,700 U.S. jobs, particularly in manufacturing, draining mostly to Mexico, according to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Because of NAFTA, the U.S. lost 360,000 auto industry jobs, while Mexico gained 620,000 between 1999 and 2013, EPI says.But it wasn’t just the lost jobs that NAFTA

affected. The threat of moving to low-wage Mexico was enough to prevent workers in America from seeing real wage increases. Real wages for manufacturing workers fell by 4.4 percent from 2003 to 2013, according to a National Employment Law Project study issued in 2015. A job in manufacturing once was a ticket to the

Renegotiating NAFTALet’s Have a Trade Agreement that Benefits Working Families

middle class in this country. A job in a factory now means one often needs a second job just to make ends meet — forget about saving for retirement, sending your child to college or even a vacation.NAFTA has failed working Americans and their

families. It has failed the communities that rely on the taxes provided by manufacturing, particularly in the industrial Midwest. It has failed to lift Mexican workers out of poverty.A trade agreement that hurts average Americans

isn’t what NAFTA promised. Americans in the 2016 presidential election said they were tired of trade deals that only benefitted rich investors. Many voted for President Trump because he promised to kill NAFTA. Now President Trump says it will be renegotiated, but it is uncertain if what is accomplished will help working people.We hope he keeps his promise and renegotiates

NAFTA so the entire nation benefits. In the pages that follow, here are some ways NAFTA can be renegotiated to make it a fair deal for working Americans.


The U.S. trade deficit with Mexico in motor vehicles nearly doubled from $23.3 billion in 2010 to $46.2 billion in 2014, according to a 2016 study by the Center for Automotive Research. Simply put, the center of automobile vehicle and parts production has been moving south for quite some time thanks to NAFTA. NAFTA has led to great imbalances

in trade, especially in autos and auto parts. One way to bring trade back into balance is with quotas and tariffs. This would enable each country to manufacture goods but it would stop the flood of work that is currently flowing to Mexico in search of low wages and high profits. One way that NAFTA is unfair to

U.S. autoworkers is in its Rules of Origin (ROO) policy. Now,

manufacturers can produce duty-free auto parts if their content contains 62.5 percent domestic content from NAFTA countries. Those renegotiating NAFTA need to close loopholes to not only where all materials are assembled, but examine where they originally came from. Non-NAFTA countries such as China use Mexico as a back door to get their products into the U.S. without paying duties. The products are minimally changed in Mexico to avoid paying a duty. A stronger ROO that requires a greater percentage of domestically produced content in a renegotiated NAFTA could penalize companies that abuse the rules.A stronger ROO clause protects

workers in all three NAFTA nations from companies that would game the system.

Controls on Mexican Auto Parts NeededNAFTA Shouldn’t Put Our Auto Industry at a Disadvantage

Mexico Production Rapidly Increasing

Mexico: Labor Productivity & Median Real Hourly Compensation for Workers in Manufacturing (1994=100)

Source: Encuesta Industrial Mensual (CMAP). Banco de Información Económica (BIE), Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI)

Defying Logic: As There is Greater Demand for Autoworkers, Wages are Going Down

Labor Contracts in the Auto Industry

Defying logic, as there is greater demand for autoworkers, wages are going down

Source: Covarrubius, 2016

• BMW – 150,000 unit per year in 2019.• Mazda – 140,000 units in 2014. 230,000 by 2016.• Audi – 170,000 units in 2016• Renault-‐Nissan/Daimler JV – Infiniti and Mercedes-‐Benz. 300,000 units by 2021.• Honda – 200,000 units in 2014.• Hyundai-‐Kia – 300,000 units in 2016.

1,501,917

2,861,9693,457,067

752,552985,866

1,601,826

500,0001,000,0001,500,0002,000,0002,500,0003,000,0003,500,0004,000,000

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Production

Sales

Mexico Light Vehicle Production vs Sales, 2009-‐2016

Source: Encuesta Industrial Mensual (CMAP). Banco de Información Económica (BIE), Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Geografia (INEGI)

NAFTA has led to great imbalances in trade,

especially in autos and auto parts.


Among the many problems with NAFTA is something called the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions. ISDS gives corporations and investors the right to sue governments that adopt laws and regulations that they claim affect their ability to make profits. ISDS sidesteps our country’s legal system and allows an ISDS tribunal to decide the case based on the rules of NAFTA. Moreover, these trader tribunals lack the transparency that is necessary in a functioning democracy.For example, it would be possible for a Mexican or

Canadian corporation to sue a state or local government in the U.S. because the government entity implemented worker, consumer or environmental regulations designed to protect the public, but leads to the expected loss of future profits. In other words, if a company thinks it will make less money in the future, not lose money but just make less, the company can sue. Under NAFTA, a foreign manufacturer can bring a case before a NAFTA tribunal that challenges a local government’s Buy Local or Buy American ordinances or laws. That government body could potentially be on the hook for millions of lost profits to a foreign corporation.According to a March 28 letter from the

Acting U.S. Trade Representative to the House Ways and Means Committee, the Trump administration plans to “maintain and seek to improve procedures to resolve disputes between U.S. investors and the NAFTA countries through, among other things, mechanisms to deter the filing of and eliminate frivolous claims; procedures to ensure the efficient selection of arbitrators and the expeditious disposition of claims; and procedures to ensure transparency and public participation in dispute settlement proceedings.”At this point, it’s

not clear what specifically the administration will do to change ISDS,

NAFTA/Corporate Giveaways: Corporate Interests Placed Above Public GoodAbolish NAFTA’s Special Rights for Corporations

but clearly, foreign entities should not have greater rights than U.S. citizens, and those same entities should not be able to claim millions in damages from laws or regulations made by a democratically elected government body in this country. It’s time to end special rules for corporations and Wall St. and put workers in the driver’s seat.

ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW WILLIAMS


The United States and Canada have free and independent labor unions. While we know labor laws in this country are not strong enough, unions still have the power to represent workers effectively and change lives for the better.In Mexico, the government has a policy of supporting

corrupt, employer-dominated “protection unions,” sometimes also referred to as “yellow unions.” These are unions in name only as they merely exist to advance the cause of the employer. An estimated 90 percent of all union contracts in Mexico are protection contracts, according to the AFL-CIO report: “NAFTA at 20.” There is no democratic representation for workers, and most workers are usually completely unaware of the union’s existence. Contracts are negotiated in secret and there is no requirement that contract terms be disclosed to anyone.Furthermore, the labor boards that certify local

union elections are made up of officials from protection unions and companies. This makes getting recognition of an independent union extremely difficult. Mexico’s assembly factories, including where auto parts are manufactured for export, are notorious

NAFTA Was a Bad Deal for Mexico, TooHere’s Why We Should Care

for low wages, long working hours, hazardous conditions and sexual harassment, according to the AFL-CIO. The lack of bargaining power has real consequences

for Mexican and U.S. workers. Despite NAFTA’s promise to raise Mexican workers’ standard of living, there were over 20 million more Mexicans below the poverty line in 2014 than in 1994 when NAFTA took effect. Instead of raising the Mexican standard of living, NAFTA has forced many Mexicans to look north for work, which opened them up to exploitation by unscrupulous U.S. employers.Meanwhile, workers in the U.S. face the constant

threat of their work being moved to low-wage Mexico, and have seen their wages and benefits compromised.Any change to NAFTA must address the deficiencies

in enforcement of fundamental labor rights and enhance worker access to complaint mechanisms so that when employers violate their rights, they have a vehicle to have their complaints heard and acted on.


When NAFTA was first negotiated, labor and clean air and water standards were hastily slapped together as side agreements– unsuccessfully – to quiet labor unions and environmental groups. In the decades that have passed, they have made no real impact. How do U.S. workers compete with Mexican workers

who do not have a voice on the job, or whose employer does not have to follow even the most lax environmental or health and safety standards?NAFTA’s deficiencies in these areas were intentional;

it was not designed to ensure workers get a fair shake and work in a safe and healthy facility, or that the air we breathe and the water we drink are free of contaminants. The agreement was negotiated to only benefit corporate interests in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. And it has allowed employers in Mexico to dump their lower wage and environmental standards on the U.S. with goods produced at lower costs than if they were produced in the U.S. or Canada. This kind of “Social Dumping” must be stopped and must be addressed in NAFTA renegotiations.

Improve NAFTA’s Labor, Environmental StandardsEnforcement of Rules is Critical

Any new NAFTA must have enforceable international labor standards. Trade sanctions could be used to punish the countries that violate these standards in all three nations. Such provisions would help stop worker exploitation and environmental degradation, as well as stop the race to the bottom that NAFTA has created.However, to stop the race to the bottom, citizens,

environmental and labor groups need a seat at the table and should have an equal say in the renegotiation as investors and corporations have. NAFTA already has strong safeguards to protect investors. Why can’t the renegotiated agreement have safeguards to protect workers, the environment and the general public?President Trump called NAFTA the “worst deal in

history.” It’s time for the Trump Administration to take the bold steps that working families need to make this a good deal for them, too.Otherwise, a NAFTA renegotiation will again pay lip

service to labor, environmental, and human rights standards, standards that won’t be enforced.

NAFTA cannot be fixed with a few tweaks or lip service to workers or environmental standards. And it cannot be fixed by applying the insufficient labor and environmental chapters in the TPP. It must be completely renegotiated to take into account the lives of ordinary working people and the planet.A new agreement that works for all people in the

U.S., Mexico and Canada can be worked out. But it will take our elected representatives, including those who rightfully opposed the current NAFTA agreement, to honor their commitment to making NAFTA a better deal by strengthening worker and environmental protections; ensuring that our government and citizens are not at a disadvantage to investors when it comes to instituting

Conclusionlaws and regulations for the public good; making sure trade is indeed fair to all sides; allowing all workers the freedom to join an independent union if they choose to do so, and by guaranteeing that anything agreed to has the participation of the public and not only the corporate/investor community.The UAW has never been against free trade. We simply

demand that it be fair and balanced trade and to the benefit of everyone and not just a few influential interests.It’s time to get this deal right. Contact your

congressional representative and let them know that any new NAFTA has to benefit working Americans.


legislative update

In today’s hyper-partisan political environment and 24-hour news cycle, avoiding distraction and keeping track of the decisions our elected leaders make can be next to impossible. The actions of Congress and the president impact the safety of our work environments, our wages, affordability of our health care, access to job training, quality of our children’s education, and so much more. It is for these reasons that we must make sure our voices are heard by our leaders.This summer and fall, Congress will be moving forward

on a budget that reflects President Trump’s priorities. The budget sets limits on spending for many public programs and creates a pathway for Congress to make major changes in health care, taxes, Social Security, and safety net programs for the most vulnerable in society without needing any votes from Democrats in the House or Senate.As required by law, President

Trump began the budget process by releasing a plan that overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest Americans. For example, President Trump’s budget eliminates the Estate Tax, leaving a $174 billion hole in our budget. The Estate Tax was created by Republican President Teddy Roosevelt a century ago and currently only applies to couples who have over $11 million in assets. The proposed budget also provides big tax cuts for corporations and eliminates U.S. taxes on offshore corporate profits, making outsourcing jobs all the more enticing to global U.S. corporations. President Trump’s budget cuts are paid for by

drastically cutting programs that benefit working families and retirees. If enacted, his budget would make inequality worse and drag down our wages. The Republican-controlled Congress will likely move a budget that is very similar. We know from experience that House Speaker Paul Ryan wants to turn Medicare into a voucher program and radically cut programs that benefit the middle class. With President Trump in the White House, he will now have the opportunity to make his far right-wing ideas a reality. On the campaign stump, President Trump repeatedly

promised not to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. In the Republican primary, he often blasted his opponents for supporting cuts to these bedrock health care and social insurance programs. Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s budget slashes $1.5 trillion from Medicaid, $59 billion from

Many Programs Will Take a HitGOP Budget Cuts Only Benefit the Wealthy, Corporations

Medicare, and up to $64 billion from Social Security. President Trump’s budget also steals over $1.6

trillion from education, job training, worker safety, legal services, and other programs benefiting working families. The budget decimates the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by cutting $16 million in funding and positions, even though NLRB caseloads are projected to increase. At the same time, President Trump’s budget increases funding to the office that audits unions by $8 million. It undermines workers’ pension plans by imposing billions in premium hikes and discouraging the participation of additional employers. The budget

also cuts $67 million from programs that defend workers’ rights in other countries. In addition, President Trump has

proposed major cuts to worker safety and health, eliminating the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) worker safety and health training program, gutting job safety research, and wiping out investigations of chemical accidents. The budget slashes funding for the National Institute on Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the federal job safety research agency, by $135 million, a 40 percent cut in Fiscal Year 2018; closes the Chemical Safety Board; and cuts safety enforcement in the coal industry.

Right-wing interest groups have argued for decades that new tax policies will stimulate economic growth, but tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations have been shown to do very little to boost growth. Cuts of this level would also harm our economy by

killing jobs. Contrary to his intention of creating more good-paying U.S. jobs, President Trump’s budget would eliminate an estimated 177,000 jobs in 2018, 357,000 jobs in 2019, and 1.4 million jobs in 2020. UAW members have always been committed to social

and economic justice and we believe budgetary and tax policies should reflect that. That is why we support funding for basic human needs, public investments in education and infrastructure, strong enforcement of workplace protections, and programs that help strengthen the middle class and support good wages. Finally, we always look ahead to the future and advocate for policies that will ensure a prosperous and fair-minded country for future generations.

UAW Legislative Department

Contrary to his intention of creating

more good-paying U.S. jobs, President Trump’s budget would eliminate

an estimated 177,000 jobs in 2018, 357,000 jobs in 2019, and 1.4 million jobs in 2020.


June 2017

The 2016 elections are over; and, as you know, Mr. Trump and the Republicans now control the

U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Supreme Court, and the White House. As a group they have wasted little

time in trying to change health care, trade, immigration, and Social Security.

You, as UAW retirees, have fought long and hard for the benefits many working families currently

enjoy. But these items, along with many others, are under attack. The UAW continues to lobby

and fight, through the court system, to protect these issues along with collective bargaining rights,

rights to organize and the right to peacefully assemble so our voices can be heard.

We thank you for your show of solidarity and pride by participating in events such as Labor

Day parades, rallies, and picket lines. You amplify our voice through social media, writing our

legislators, phone banking, and distributing leaflets at community events. It’s important when you

communicate with active and retired members, and those in our communities, about buying Union

and American-made products, and about supporting the issues that impact all of us.

The UAW Retired Workers Department and its programs are funded by voluntary dues from UAW

retirees like you. The implementation of dues began at the 1966 Constitutional Convention where

retirees pledged that this program would be self-funded and that the UAW would not have to use

active member dues.

At that time, voluntary retiree dues were $1 per month. In 1986 retirees went to the Convention

and asked that the dues be increased to $2 to ensure the continuation and growth of retiree

programs. At the 36th Constitutional Convention, held in June 2014, retirees once again asked for

the voluntary dues to be increased to $3. For your convenience, enclosed is a checkoff card for

you to fill out, which will increase your contribution to $3 or more, per month. We’d like to thank

those that have already increased their dues.

The Retired Workers Department has many avenues for retirees to be involved with their Union

and community. To find out more about these opportunities, please visit www.UAW.org/retirees.

We encourage you to become more active in your union by attending retiree meetings, helping at

your Local Union, and volunteering in your community. We need you to spread the word about how

your membership in the UAW has positively impacted your life. Lastly, we need your help to get

out the vote in upcoming elections.

In solidarity,

Dennis Williams

A Letter to UAW Retirees From the President


RETIRED EMPLOYEE’S AUTHORIZATION FOR CHECK-OFF OF DUESTO: FORD, Trustee under the Ford-UAW Retirement Plan, and any Successor Trustee(s). Date________________________

I hereby assign to the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), from any monthly retirement benefi ts payable to me as a retired employee under the Retirement Plan established by agreement between Ford Motor Company and the International Union, UAW, the sum of $3.00 or more __________ as monthly membership dues in accordance with the Constitution of the International Union, UAW. I authorize and direct you to deduct such amount from said monthly retirement benefi t and to remit same to the Union at such times and in such manner as may be agreed upon between Ford Motor Company and the Union at any time while this authorization is in effect.This assignment, authorization and direction shall remain in full force and effect until written revocation is received by the Company, except that it shall be suspended and not in effect with respect to any monthly retirement benefi t payable at a time when there is not in effect (1) an agreement between the Company and the Union concerning the maintaining of the Plan which permits or provides for the deduction of Union dues from monthly retirement benefi ts payable to a retired employee and (2) an authorization by the Board of Administration to the Trustee to make such deductions.Contributions or gifts to the UAW are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income Tax purposes.

Name - Type of Print Name Local Union No. Region

Street

UAWFORD

Rev. 07/14 FORM RW 1388

City State Zip

Return to: UAW Retired Workers Dept. 8000 E. Jefferson - Detroit, MI 48214 Signature of Retired Employee here

Phone Email

Social Security No.

For Ford Retirees

RETIRED EMPLOYEE’S AUTHORIZATION FOR CHECK-OFF OF DUES

TO: CHRYSLER, Trustee under the Chrysler-UAW Retirement Plan, and any Successor Trustee(s). Date________________________

I hereby assign to the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), (hereinafter referred to as the “Union”) from any wages earned or to be earned by me as your employee or as a retired employee, including any pension payable to me, monthly dues in the amount of Three Dollars ($3.00) or more ____________. I authorize and direct that such amounts be deducted from my pension each month and be remitted to the Union at such times and in such manner as may be agreed upon between you and the Union while this authorization is in effect.This assignment, authorization and direction shall remain in full force and effect until written revocation is received by the Corporation and the Union or until the termination of the applicable collective bargaining agreement between the Corporation and Union that is in force at the time of delivery of this authorization and I agree and direct that this assignment, authorization and direction shall be automatically renewed for the period of each succeeding applicable collective agreement between the Corporation and the Union. This authorization is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 302(c) of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended.Contributions or gifts to the UAW are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income Tax purposes.

UAWCHRYSLERRev. 07/14

FORM RW 1387

Name - Type or Print Name

Street

City State Zip


Phone Email

Social Security No.

Local Union No. Region

For Chrysler Retirees

Retiree Dues Card Clip out the card that corresponds to your former workplace, fill it out, sign it and send to:

UAW Retired Workers Dept. 8000 E. Jefferson Ave. Detroit, MI 48214



TO: GM, Trustee under the GM-UAW Retirement Plan, and any Successor Trustee(s). Date of Signing__________________________

I hereby assign to the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), hereinafter referred to as “Union,” from any monthly pension beenfi ts payable to me as a retired employee under the General Motors Hourly-Rate Employees Pension Plan, the sum of $3.00 or more________as monthly membership dues in accordance with the Constitution of the International Union, UAW. I authorize and direct you to deduct such amount from said monthly pension benefi t and to remit same to the Union at such times and in such manner as may be agreed upon between General Motors Corporation, hereinafter referred to as “Corporation,” and the Union at any time while this authorization continues to be in effect and operative. This assignment, authorization and direction shall remain in full force and effect until revoked by my written notice given to the Corporation, except that during any period when there is not in effect a written collective bargaining agreement or supplement thereto between the Corporation and the Union which permits or provides for the deduction of Union dues from monthly pension benefi ts payable to a retired employee, such assignment, authorization and direction, if otherwise in effect, shall automatically be suspended for the duration of such period only. Contributions or gifts to the UAW are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income Tax purposes.

UAWGeneral Motors

Ret. GM Rev. 07/14

FORM RW1389

Name - Type or Print Name Local Union No. Region

Street

City State Zip


Phone Email

Social Security No.

For General Motors Retirees

I hereby assign to the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), from any monthly retirement benefi ts

payable to me as a retired employee under a Retirement Plan established by agreement between ___________________________________________________ and the International Union, UAW, the sum of $3.00 or more _______ as monthly membership dues. I authorize and direct that such amounts be deducted from my monthly retirement benefi ts, and be remitted to the Union at such times and in such manner as may be agreed upon by you and the Union while this authorization is in effect.This assignment, authorization and direction shall remain in full force and effect until written revocation is received by the Company and the Union. This authorization is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 302(c) of the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947, as amended.Contributions or gifts to the UAW are not deductible as charitable contributions for Federal Income Tax purposes.

Rev. 07/14FORM RW 1221


Name - Type or Print Name Local Union No. Region

Street

City State Zip


Phone Email

Social Security No.

For Other Retirees

Retiree Dues Card Clip out the card that corresponds to your former workplace, fill it out, sign it and send to:

UAW Retired Workers Dept. 8000 E. Jefferson Ave. Detroit, MI 48214


Name

Street

City

State/Province Zip/Postal

Union Local #

Phone#

Cell #

Email

Donation Level = $

Payment Check Money Order Credit Card

Name on Card

Credit Card #

CVV Code Expiration Date

Card Holder Signature

ORDER FORM

Mail completed form to:Union Sportsmen’s Alliance 2018 USA-UAW Calendar235 Noah Dr., Suite 200Franklin, TN 37064

$2,000 = 100 calendars, $1,000 = 50 calendars, $30 = 1 calendar

How It Works: Donate $2,000 to the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance by Oct. 1, 2017, and we’ll send you 100 calendars. Sell them for $30 each, and your Local can make its money back plus an extra $1,000. We’ll also send your Local a Remington 870 Express or Reming-ton 783 ri�e with a scope (Local's choice), which may be used to raise additional funds. Donate $1,000 by Oct. 1, and we’ll send 50 calendars and a Carhartt jacket.Contact Walt Ingram: 615-831-6751 or [email protected]

UAW


union front

The UAW Public Review Board (PRB) was established in 1957 as an additional way to safeguard members’ rights and act as a watchdog over the union’s moral and ethical practices. The board, which is funded by the UAW, acts independently on internal appeals and its decisions are final. The UAW is believed to be the only

U.S. union that allows an independent board such authority. As the final decision-maker on internal appeals, those who wish to bring a case before the PRB must first try to have their dispute resolved where it started; if the dispute is with a local, the member’s appeal starts there. If with an international representative, the member appeals to the International

Members’ Right to Appeal Protected by UAW Constitution

PRB a way for members to resolve disputesExecutive Board (IEB), which also hears appeals of unresolved local issues. In most cases, if the IEB denies

the appeal, the member may then request the PRB review the case. The PRB has internationally

recognized experts in a variety of fields such as labor-management relations and law and ethics. It meets in person on appeals and also via conference call on issues such as election results, the proper withdrawal of grievances, or any other action by union officials or representatives. Fifty-eight years after President

Walter Reuther’s vision for a more democratic union, the PRB still holds

true to the values of fairness and integrity, PRB Co-chair Janice R. Bellace told delegates at the 36th UAW Constitutional Convention. The board heard 64 appeals in the last four years, and in no instance has the union been found to have committed a serious ethical lapse, said Bellace, a professor of legal studies at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. The PRB’s website is

uawpublicreviewboard.com Single copies of the PRB’s annual

report are available upon request to UAW members at no charge from the UAW Purchasing Department at 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48214.

The UAW Constitution (Article 33) gives any UAW member the right to appeal on the whole range of issues and disputes which can arise in the life of our union. This includes grievances, election protests or “any action or inaction” by union officials or representatives.The appeal must be filed with

the body responsible for the action in question. So, if you have a complaint about a committeeperson withdrawing a grievance, the starting point is the membership of your local union. If an election protest is involved under Articles 38 or 45, the protest is to the membership. If the problem is with an international representative, your appeal would be to the International Executive Board. Article 33 maps out the common causes.After the case has been decided

by the International Union, in most cases, it may be appealed to either the Public Review Board

(PRB) or the Convention Appeals Committee (CAC), but not both. The PRB, an independent board, of four nationally renowned scholars, has functioned since 1957 as the guardian of not only member’s rights but of moral and ethical practices of the union. Its decisions are final and binding.The CAC is the other supreme

tribunal and is comprised of elected delegates from local unions chosen by lot at UAW conventions. Their review and decisions are equally final and binding. The person(s) making the appeal choose(s) the tribunal.Where an ethical issue is involved,

the UAW’s precedent-setting Ethical Practices Codes give the PRB exclusive appellate authority over the appeal.For further information, please call

or write your regional director.

UAW V-CAP: Investing in Our Future

The UAW cannot use union dues to directly support federal candidates and, in an ever-in-creasing number of states, any candidate for public office. Our only means of monetary support for many labor-friendly candi-dates is voluntary political con-tributions from UAW members to UAW V-CAP (our union’s political action fund).

Members can contribute to V-CAP in multiple ways. Many of our contracts have “check off” which allows for direct contribution to V-CAP through payroll deduction. Members and retirees can also give to V-CAP directly with a check. Either way, a modest contribution of $10 a month comes to about 33 cents a day and allows our union to support candidates who support our values. Send to:

UAW National CAP Department8000 E. Jefferson Ave.Detroit, MI 48214


The UAW, like other unions, spends the vast majority of its funds on collective-bargaining- related activity, as well as some amounts for political lobbying, community services, citizenship fund activities, international affairs, organizing, charitable donations, publications advancing the union’s political positions, certain litigation and other matters. Under the Supreme Court decision in CWA v. Beck, nonunion members who pay money to the union under union security agreements may file objections to nonrepresentational-related expenditures of the money they pay under such agreements. (Such agreements, including those that the UAW is a party to, may be and are applied by the UAW only to require as a condition of employment that covered employees “tender the periodic dues and initiation fees uniformly required as a condition of acquiring or retaining membership” in the union. This means that at any time you may decline membership in the union and be a non-member agency-fee payer. In addition, if you do so, you are eligible to submit an objection to the UAW under Beck as described below.) To comply with the Beck decision,

the UAW honors objections by nonmembers of the union covered by National Labor Relations Act union security agreements who notify in writing the Agency Fee Payer Objection Administration-Private Sector, International Union, UAW, 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48214 of their objection. Objections may be filed at any time but must be renewed each year. Objectors will be charged only for expenditures related to representational

UNION SECURITY AGREEMENTSNotice to Persons Covered by Union Security Agreements

Regulated Under the National Labor Relations Act

activities. All non-members who file such an objection will receive the UAW’s Report of Expenditures Incurred in Providing Collective Bargaining Related Services for Fiscal Year 2016. This Report provides the basis for the amount which will be charged to Objectors for the period from Aug. 1, 2017, to July 31, 2018. The report arrives at this amount by an analysis of the UAW’s 2016 expenditures which provides a detailed allocation of those expenditures between the 78.46 percent of such expenditures which are related to the UAW’s representational activities, and from which the amount charged Objectors is derived, and the 21.54 percent of such expenditures which are not or may not be so related. Any challenge by an Objector

to the calculations in the Report or any challenge by an objector claiming the Report does not properly determine what portion of the UAW’s expenditures were expended on matters unrelated to representational matters will be referred to an impartial decision maker appointed by the American Arbitration Association under its Rules for Impartial Determination of Union Fees. Such challenges by Objectors to the Report must be made in writing, and must be addressed to Agency Fee Payer Objection Administration-Private Sector, International Union, UAW, 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48214. For arbitration this year, such challenges to the FY 2016 Report must be received by the UAW on or before Oct. 6, 2017, except for challenges by Objectors who have already received a FY 2016 report, who have been notified of the deadline applicable to them.

SOLIDARITYJuly - August 2017

Vol. 60, No. 7-8

International Union, UAWPresident: Dennis WilliamsSecretary-Treasurer: Gary CasteelVice presidents: Jimmy Settles, Cindy Estrada, Norwood JewellRegional directors: Charles E. Hall, 1; Rory Gamble, 1A; Gerald Kariem, 1D; Rich Rankin, 2B; Ron McInroy, 4; Gary Jones, 5; Ray Curry, 8; Terry Dittes, 9; Julie Kushner, 9A

Communications DepartmentSenior Communications Advisor: Brian RothenbergCommunications Director: Sandra DavisDigital Director: T. Andrew HuddlestonSolidarity Editor: Vince Piscopo International Representatives: Denn Pietro, Joan Silvi & Chris Skelly, members of CWA/The Newspaper Guild Local 34022. Clerical staff: Susan Fisher and Shelly Restivo, members of OPEIU Local 494.

Solidarity (USPS 0740610) is published bimonthly by Internation-al Union, UAW, 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48214, (313) 926-5000, uaw.org. ISSN 0164 856X.

Periodical postage paid at Detroit, MI, and at additional mailing offices.

ADDRESS CHANGESPostmaster: Please send changes to ATTENTION: UAW Solidarity Magazine. Readers: Please email changes to [email protected]; include old address and numeric identification number (the line above name on the mailing label). Or send changes and old mailing label to UAW Soli-darity Magazine, 8000 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, MI 48214. Printed in USA.Circulation this issue: 490,057


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