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October 2015 Two Anniversaries – and the Need to Look Ahead

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October 2015 Two Anniversaries – and the Need to Look Ahead September - October 2015 Two anniversaries – and the need to look ahead Last month we marked two peacefully demanded their right stirred the conscience of a nation important anniversaries for to vote were viciously beaten by and eventually led to President Americans who care about economic racist thugs. Those in the march, Johnson signing the Voting Rights and social justice. On Aug. 6, 1965, including many UAW members, Act. the Voting Rights Act was signed recognized that their only path Charlie Sheppard, a UAW Local into law by President Lyndon Baines to social justice in the South was 1226 retiree, was born in Selma Johnson. On Aug. 26, 1935, 200 collective action. Their efforts and knows the sting of racism delegates from auto plants all over firsthand. You can read about his the United States met in Detroit for memories of Selma during the the UAW’s founding convention. Civil Rights era on Page 12. He’s These two key historic moments Backed by a far-right seen how far we have come — but demonstrate what happens when leaning U.S. Supreme knows how far we still have to go. Americans stand up for their rights As we have seen in the last — and just how important it is Court, they largely decade, the protections afforded to ensure that the battles fought succeeded by making it African-Americans in the South and the sacrifices made by the under the VRA have been under courageous people who came before far more difficult for attack. The proponents of these us endure. efforts didn’t need snarling police Fifty years ago in March, tens of minorities, the elderly, dogs, fire hoses or billy clubs to thousands of citizens from all walks the handicapped and get their way; they were able of life traveled to Selma, Alabama, to do so through a well-funded in response to Bloody Sunday, where others to vote. effort at deceiving the public courageous African-Americans who about nonexistent voter fraud. Civil rights activists, joined by many UAW activists, march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to mark the 50th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday,’ which led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. PHOTO BY DENN PIETRO 2 SOLIDARITY September - October 2015 Backed by a far-right leaning U.S. Supreme Court, they largely succeeded by making it far more difficult for minorities, the elderly, the handicapped and others to vote. It’s shameful and no less of a stain on our democracy than those who used more aggressive methods a half century earlier. Eighty years ago, autoworkers, fed up with low wages, grueling work, nonexistent health and safety and subject to the whim of bosses who cared nothing about their families’ welfare, gathered in this city. They recognized that the only way to win economic justice was through collective action. Success didn’t A home for a vet: come easy or without bloodshed, but eventually the bosses Page 24 understood that working people — working together — would no 685 LOCAL / UAW TAYLOR LINDA longer cower. Better wages, health care, retirement security, a voice in the workplace and vastly improved health and safety on the job all came from collective bargaining. Four guest writers give their take on our unique place in American history 6 Auto Update beginning on Page 14. Talks begin in earnest They know that there has been a well-funded effort to destroy the union movement in the last few decades. Yet, even in 8 Time to Reward adversity, the UAW is growing. Because each time there is a grievance, your voice in the union is heard. Each time we come State employees need fairness together to bargain, your voice in the union is heard. Each time you show that union card to ratify or reject a contract, 9 Union in His Heart your voice in the union is heard. Our voice — your voice — is Anonymous donation supports amplified by hundreds of thousands by that union card. locals in South The great thing that both of these historic anniversaries share in common is that the power of voting rights and the power of 10 Skirting Labor Law the UAW are in fact powered by you. Whether it is the struggle Legislation would hurt those to gain rights or the struggle to maintain rights, it is achieved by all of us coming together in gaming through hard work, dedication, and yes, even as our histories 12 A Son of Selma have shown sometimes, bloody People died for right to vote sacrifice. We have much to do in the 14 COVER STORY next 80 years. But we should ‘Bridging the Gap’ for 80 years always remember that the moral arc of justice is a powerful thing. Together, believing in 24 Finally at home each other, the movement to Local 685 helps vet build a continue to protect the right to new life vote and the mighty voices of the UAW have only just begun. PLUS 4 PRO-Member 23 Union Sportsmen’s Alliance 26 Black Lake 27 UAW Bowling 28 Union Plus SOLIDARITY September - October 2015 3 Stronger together always beats going it alone A father had a family of sons who were perpetually sons’ hands, upon which they broke the sticks easily. quarreling among themselves. One day, he told them He then said, “My sons, if you are of one mind, and to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done unite to assist each other, you will be as this bundle, so, he placed the bundle into the hands of each of uninjured by all the attempts of your enemies. But if them in succession, and ordered his sons to break the you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken bundle in pieces. They tried with all their strength, as easily as these sticks.” but were not able to do it. He next opened the bundle, took the sticks — “The Father, His Sons and the Bundle of Sticks” separately, one by one, and again put them into his Aesop’s Fables Even though this story is 2,500 and have a strong contract handful of leaders or activists, years old, it still resonates. But without solidarity,” said David B. then they know they can wear sometimes “solidarity” is reduced Reynolds of University of Michigan’s them down. But if it is all of to just a slogan on a shirt or a chant Center for Labor and Community the workforce, that changes the at a rally. It’s easy to forget that it Studies. “The labor movement is dynamic completely and shifts is the very real basic engine that about sticking together — that’s power to the workers.” drives our union. where the power comes from. If A good example of this is the “I’ve never seen a union succeed management sees that it is just a experience of workers at Daimler Hill: Solidarity helped bring back jobs. Left: The Buy American program wasn’t about criticizing trucks made in Mexico. It was about reminding truckers that a truck made in the U.S. means more people employed in our country to buy the goods carried by those trucks. 4 SOLIDARITY September - October 2015 PHOTOS BY JEFF HICKS / UAW LOCAL 3520 Trucks North America (DTNA). “Most DENN PIETRO BY PHOTO folks know us as Freightliner,” said Corey Hill, president of Local 3520 in Cleveland, North Carolina. “I’ve been with Freightliner since 1992 — we organized in 2003 — so I have seen our plant with a union and without one. “North Carolina is a right-to-work state and our membership has at times dipped dangerously low — to UAW members at five Daimler Trucks North America facilities, including just above 50 percent. The boss at Thomas Built Buses, were able to secure a common agreement in knows it — they take care of dues 2014 because of the solidarity shown by the membership. deduction so they know who is and isn’t a union member. A lot of people don’t think about this, but two years and not being able to “We knew that the workers — what happens is that the company find work even close to what they who were not all members — were slowly starts to test the boundaries were earning at Freightliner was not going to get called back unless of the agreement. They know which a wakeup call for many. It was a the work was here. So we took workers won’t file a grievance so simple conversation to talk about that on and we won.” it’s easy to ask them to do things the value of our jobs coming from The campaign drew many outside the agreement. Before you the work we were able to do as a new members not only into the know it, a practice exists which union. Many joined the UAW after union but also into activism. undermines the contract.” that.” “People who were not involved On top of the erosion of their The next step was to build on before, people who were not contract, Freightliner workers also their momentum. even members before started faced the unthinkable when their “One thing to know is that when to help out because they got it company built a plant in Mexico that you buy one of these trucks, you — the connection between their produced the same Class 8 trucks can request where the truck is memberships, their participation they produce. made on the form. We also knew and securing this work,” Hill said. “Our greatest competition wasn’t that Freightliner was selling the As the local built up its another company,” Hill said.
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