Post by TonyV on Dec 12, 2009 2:51:28 GMT -5
King emerges as next UAW chief
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Bob King will be tapped to succeed United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger as the new head of the union, according to UAW sources. On Wednesday, the union's administrative caucus is expected to formally nominate King, who is vice president in charge of the UAW's national Ford section. That effectively guarantees he will be the next president of the UAW.
The union he will inherit is a shadow of the juggernaut that once dictated terms to Detroit's automakers.
At its peak in 1979, the UAW claimed 1.5 million members. Now, its membership has dropped to 431,000 from well over 500,000 a year ago. The UAW has lost so many members that it is cutting at least 120 staff positions in an effort to balance its budget, UAW sources said.
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"We've got to downsize," a union source said. "It may not end there."
In a stunning role reversal, Gettelfinger told UAW employees Thursday that he would impose the terms of a concessionary contract that they voted down last month. That means reduced benefits for the union's own retirees and requires each UAW employee to take a two-week unpaid furlough or give up their 401(k) matching contribution next year.
"Ron Gettelfinger led the UAW during its toughest times and he's had to make some of the most difficult decisions in its history," said Harley Shaiken, a professor and labor expert at the University of California, Berkeley, who said the union boss has had to ask his members to accept painful concessions to keep American factories open. "I don't expect much different direction (from King)."
UAW spokesman Roger Kerson said the union had no comment.
Heir apparent
King, 63, has long been seen as Gettelfinger's heir apparent.
King joined the union in 1970 after hiring on at Ford's Detroit Parts Depot.
Before becoming head of the UAW-Ford section in 2006, he headed the union's national organizing efforts.
Between 2002 and 2006, he was credited with bringing in 66,000 new members, many of them the product of bitter campaigns waged in right-to-work states.
Prior to coming to Solidarity House, he served three terms as director of the UAW's powerful Region 1A, which represents workers in southeast Michigan.
Though the election itself will not take place until the UAW's national convention -- scheduled to be held in Detroit in June, according to UAW sources -- his nomination by the caucus, which is made up of senior union leaders, will all but ensure King's election.
"Since the 1940s when Walter Reuther formed the administrative caucus, the person selected by that committee has won the election," Shaiken said. "I'm not surprised that Bob King may be nominated. He is very well respected and well liked in the UAW."
Though there were several other candidates to replace Gettelfinger when he took control in 2002, none of them managed to secure the backing of enough union leaders to pose a serious challenge to his candidacy.
Bruised reputation
But King's reputation is still bruised by the recent defeat of an agreement he negotiated with Ford to match some of the concessions the UAW granted rivals General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC during their bankruptcy reorganizations earlier this year.
On more than one occasion, union dissidents booed King when he tried to speak in favor of the deal at factories from Michigan to Missouri.
Gary Walkowicz, a member of the bargaining committee at UAW Local 600 in Dearborn and a leading union dissident, would not rule out a direct challenge to King from the convention floor.
"I don't agree with King's policies," he said. "But it really depends on who gets elected as delegates."
Terry Everman, chairman of UAW Local 599 in Flint, said many of his members are looking for "strong direction" and someone willing to help them find jobs in other industries. Just 460 workers remain at the GM plant in Flint he represents. Five years ago, there were 3,500.
"Most of us realize that, with the technological changes, it only takes a fraction of workers to do the kind of work and volume we once did," he said. "It would make sense that our leaders pursue other interests including energy, wind and solar."
Because of his age, King will likely be a one-term president, as it has long been UAW policy for officers to retire when they turn 65.
bhoffman@detnews.com (313) 222-2443 Detroit News reporter Christine Tierney contributed.
Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News
Bob King will be tapped to succeed United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger as the new head of the union, according to UAW sources. On Wednesday, the union's administrative caucus is expected to formally nominate King, who is vice president in charge of the UAW's national Ford section. That effectively guarantees he will be the next president of the UAW.
The union he will inherit is a shadow of the juggernaut that once dictated terms to Detroit's automakers.
At its peak in 1979, the UAW claimed 1.5 million members. Now, its membership has dropped to 431,000 from well over 500,000 a year ago. The UAW has lost so many members that it is cutting at least 120 staff positions in an effort to balance its budget, UAW sources said.
Advertisement
"We've got to downsize," a union source said. "It may not end there."
In a stunning role reversal, Gettelfinger told UAW employees Thursday that he would impose the terms of a concessionary contract that they voted down last month. That means reduced benefits for the union's own retirees and requires each UAW employee to take a two-week unpaid furlough or give up their 401(k) matching contribution next year.
"Ron Gettelfinger led the UAW during its toughest times and he's had to make some of the most difficult decisions in its history," said Harley Shaiken, a professor and labor expert at the University of California, Berkeley, who said the union boss has had to ask his members to accept painful concessions to keep American factories open. "I don't expect much different direction (from King)."
UAW spokesman Roger Kerson said the union had no comment.
Heir apparent
King, 63, has long been seen as Gettelfinger's heir apparent.
King joined the union in 1970 after hiring on at Ford's Detroit Parts Depot.
Before becoming head of the UAW-Ford section in 2006, he headed the union's national organizing efforts.
Between 2002 and 2006, he was credited with bringing in 66,000 new members, many of them the product of bitter campaigns waged in right-to-work states.
Prior to coming to Solidarity House, he served three terms as director of the UAW's powerful Region 1A, which represents workers in southeast Michigan.
Though the election itself will not take place until the UAW's national convention -- scheduled to be held in Detroit in June, according to UAW sources -- his nomination by the caucus, which is made up of senior union leaders, will all but ensure King's election.
"Since the 1940s when Walter Reuther formed the administrative caucus, the person selected by that committee has won the election," Shaiken said. "I'm not surprised that Bob King may be nominated. He is very well respected and well liked in the UAW."
Though there were several other candidates to replace Gettelfinger when he took control in 2002, none of them managed to secure the backing of enough union leaders to pose a serious challenge to his candidacy.
Bruised reputation
But King's reputation is still bruised by the recent defeat of an agreement he negotiated with Ford to match some of the concessions the UAW granted rivals General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC during their bankruptcy reorganizations earlier this year.
On more than one occasion, union dissidents booed King when he tried to speak in favor of the deal at factories from Michigan to Missouri.
Gary Walkowicz, a member of the bargaining committee at UAW Local 600 in Dearborn and a leading union dissident, would not rule out a direct challenge to King from the convention floor.
"I don't agree with King's policies," he said. "But it really depends on who gets elected as delegates."
Terry Everman, chairman of UAW Local 599 in Flint, said many of his members are looking for "strong direction" and someone willing to help them find jobs in other industries. Just 460 workers remain at the GM plant in Flint he represents. Five years ago, there were 3,500.
"Most of us realize that, with the technological changes, it only takes a fraction of workers to do the kind of work and volume we once did," he said. "It would make sense that our leaders pursue other interests including energy, wind and solar."
Because of his age, King will likely be a one-term president, as it has long been UAW policy for officers to retire when they turn 65.
bhoffman@detnews.com (313) 222-2443 Detroit News reporter Christine Tierney contributed.
