| "Labor is the only force that looks after the interests
of the common people of this country."
~ R.J. Thomas,1939-1946 |
|
 |
The UAW’s third president, R.J. Thomas, looking back, smiles while notorious union-buster Harry Bennett, representing Henry Ford, signs the union’s first contract with the Ford Motor Co. in 1941. Philip Murray, president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, sits at Bennett’s right and UAW Secretary-Treasurer George Addes is at Thomas’ left. |
|
"The world is going to judge America not by how many tons of steel we produce
or what our material wealth is. America will be judged by the real standards
by which a civilization should be judged. The real measurement of the greatness
of a civilization is its ability to demonstrate the sense of social and moral
responsibility needed to translate material values into human values, technological
progress into human progress, human happiness and human dignity.”
~ Walter Reuther, 1946-1970 |
|
 |
Walter Reuther, the UAW’s fourth president, often advised presidents such as John F. Kennedy, at podium, on social policy to help create a better world as well as a better workplace. Reuther advocated for national health insurance, full employment, civil rights, equal rights for women, clean water and air, and an end to nuclear weapons. |
|
"The essence of democracy is not simply to listen with pleasure to the things
with which you agree, but to listen with civility to the things with which you
disagree.”
~ Leonard Woodcock,1970-1977 |
|
 |
After Walter Reuther’s death in a 1970 plane crash, Leonard Woodcock was named the UAW’s fifth president. He had little time to ease into his new position. Woodcock, holding picket sign, immediately took leadership of Big Three bargaining that year and led the membership in a 10-week strike against General Motors that won the 30-and-out benefit for workers at least 58 years of age. |
|
"The true spirit of our democratic society embraces the fundamental rights of
workers to organize and to have safe and secure jobs in democratic workplaces.”
~ Douglas A. Fraser, 1977-1983 |
|
 |
The UAW’s sixth president, Douglas A. Fraser, at microphone stand, came into office at a time when corporate America responded to global competition by shutting down plants in America, building new plants in lower wage countries and importing parts and vehicles back here. Fraser led campaigns to save Chrysler from bankruptcy, keep good-paying jobs in America and pressure foreign companies to build where they sell. Photo: DAYMON J. HARTLEY |
|
"This fight over Social Security privatization isn’t simply over the size of a monthly check. It’s
a fight over what kind of people we are — and what kind of America we want.Do we want an America that’s simply a collection of individuals with no connection to one another? Or do wewant an America where we care about each other and care about the common good?”
~ Owen Bieber, 1983-1995 |
|
 |
As the UAW’s seventh president, Owen Bieber, applauding, led the effort to free jailed South African labor leader Moses Mayekiso. His compassion and determination were so highly valued that when political prisoner and South African leader Nelson Mandela, seen here at the Ford Assembly plant in Dearborn, Mich., was freed in1990 after 27 years, he traveled to Detroit to thank the UAW and its leaders. |
|
When we retire, we expect you to do your share to make it an even greater union. Every generation has an obligation, and your obligation is to build a better union.”
~ Stephen P. Yokich, 1995-2002 |
|
 |
The UAW’s eighth president Stephen P. Yokich led the charge against a corporate, profits-driven globalization policy. Instead, Yokich, speaking here at a 1999 Seattle march against the World Trade Organization, was a strong advocate for fair trade policies that benefited workers in all countries. By maintaining international labor standards and environmental protections, Yokich believed, workers in developed and underdeveloped nations would both gain. |
|
This union was born fighting for workers’ rights, and that is what we will continue to do.”
~ Ron Gettelfinger, |
|
 |
Working with the national bargaining committees and the UAW vice presidents, UAW President Ron Gettelfinger used his bargaining skills in 2003 national auto negotiations by settling five contracts in five days. Gettelfinger, the UAW's ninth president, can also be seen out in the trenches and on the front lines, shown above pledging the union's support to locked-out Peterbilt workers in Tennessee in 2003. Photo: John Davis |
