38TH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION • JULY 25-28 DETROIT, MICHIGAN

WELCOME TO THE 38TH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN DETROIT

As you get ready to attend the 38th UAW Constitutional Convention at Huntington Place (formerly TCF), there will be time for union business and time to get acquainted with the Motor City, one of the most union-friendly cities in the United States, in your downtime.

Detroit is ready for you. There are many great new restaurants joining some old favorites. There are UAW-represented casinos within walking distance of the convention center and downtown hotels. Major League baseball is at Comerica Park (on the People Mover line). Diego Rivera’s Detroit industry murals are a must-see at the Detroit Institute of Art. And there’s much more. This city has been a center of revitalization and reinvention that even a worldwide pandemic couldn’t stop.

Detroit, of course, is the home of the International UAW, with its headquarters three miles east of the convention center on Jefferson Street. While a fire seriously damaged the iconic building in 2019, it is just about ready for occupancy after a massive renovation.

Most of Detroit is located in UAW Region 1, which covers the east side of Detroit, several nearby counties and parts of Ontario, Canada, just beyond the Detroit River.

Region 1A represents part of Detroit, plus what is commonly called “Downriver’’ and adjacent counties.

From Regions 1 and 1A UAW members work in a variety of workplaces.

The Detroit area is also home to the three U.S.-based automakers including General Motors, with its headquarters just a short walk away from the convention center (or a short ride away from the convention on the People Mover); Ford Motor Co., with its headquarters in nearby Dearborn; and Stellantis a few miles north of the city in Auburn Hills. While those three automakers employ tens of thousands of autoworkers in the metro Detroit area, there are many other UAW-represented workplaces, including the Greektown, Motor City and MGM casinos;. Dearborn’s world-famous Greenfield Village where the artisans are UAW members. Many public workers in city government in Detroit and nearby suburbs share UAW membership with you. Our members also include State of Michigan workers, librarians, and academic workers at Wayne State and Oakland universities.

We work for health care organizations such as Health Alliance Plan, Delta Dental, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network. Our members are librarians with the Detroit Public Libraries, and referees and lawyers in nearby Warren. Our ranks include skilled maintenance workers at the Roberts Riverwalk Hotel in Detroit, lawyers with Wayne County’s Friend of the Court, and a host of Technical, Office and Professional workers and other proud UAW members in and around the city.

Yes, lots of UAW solidarity here for you in Detroit. In other words, while you are here you are surrounded by your UAW brothers and sisters who also know that America works best when workers have the right to a job with collective bargaining rights. This week we will honor our mission, exercise our democracy and prepare to leave here and continue the work of improving our collective standard of living for ourselves, our families and our communities.

UAW members, have a great convention!