(Maumee, Ohio) – UAW Region 2B Director Ken Lortz announced his retirement effective May 31. Lortz, a member of the UAW International Executive Board, has 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. Nationally the UAW has grown for seven consecutive years. “It has been an honor to wake up every morning and fight for the benefits, safety and wages of Region ...
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General Motors today announced investments of $552 million for key U.S. manufacturing facilities located in Tonawanda, Lockport and Rochester, N.Y.; and Parma, Ohio. The investment is split between three facilities in New York and one facility in Parma, Ohio, saving over 1,300 jobs New York InvestmentOhio Investment $333.66 million UAW Local 774, Tonawanda Engine – $295.9 million for future engine production 857 retained and 67 new jobs UAW Local 686, Lockport – $31.86 million for components 320 retained jobs (incl. 13 salaried) UAW Local 1097, Rochester – $5.9 million components 20 retained jobs $218 million UAW Local 1005, Parma Metal ...
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“The UAW stands firm with the workforce at Fuyao in Dayton as, obviously, there continues to be serious health and safety issues in the plant,” said Ken Lortz, director of UAW Region 2B. “The fact that OSHA would announce over $226,000 in fines after eight safety inspections for things like personal protective gear, machine hazards and electrical and chemical exposures is a rare and serious situation. Fuyao’s blatant disregard for the health and safety of workers cannot go unchecked. The UAW will continue to support the workers who brought these issues to the attention of OSHA, and all workers, as ...
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“If Mike Pence had his way America would have 2.6 million less jobs and $284.9 billion in lost income for just 2009 and 2010 alone. Every day in communities across Ohio and Indiana the auto rescue pays dividends through family paychecks. It’s astonishing he would double down on his opposition to a bill that saved the American middle class.” To watch Mike Pence make these comments, see the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRFHRvBi88U&feature=youtu.be Please visit our website for more information on the Auto Recovery.
Unprecedented walkout threat by temp workers paid as little as $9.50 an hour leads to victory Avon, OHIO– Workers who had planned to walk off their jobs Tuesday at an Ohio auto parts plant called off the strike after their employer, Detroit Chassis, agreed to their demand to join the UAW. The workers, who were fed up with low pay, lack of benefits, and permanent temp status, had voted unanimously Sunday to strike. The vote followed a march Thursday during which the workers delivered a letter to management outlining their demand for union recognition. A walkout could have halted production within ...
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On Tuesday, January 26, UAW Members from Region 2B gathered for breakfast in Washington, D.C., in the the aftermath of Winter Storm Jonas. Dozens of members from Ohio and Indiana had been fortunate enough to make it into the capital before the worst of the storm hit and the conference was officially canceled. With many elected officials out of town and unable to get back due to travel conditions, it wasn’t certain that members would have anyone to meet with. However, Senator Joe Donnelly (D- Ind.) was able to travel to Washington from Indianapolis thanks, he said, to his UAW-made ...
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ROCKPORT, INDIANA –– For the second time in less than a month, highly skilled maintenance working women and men at Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (CB&I) rejected a vicious anti-union campaign and voted overwhelmingly to join the UAW. The skilled-trades workers, who are subcontractors at the AK Steel plant in southern Indiana, voted 84-33 join the UAW almost identical to a vote in August that was 87-37. Disregarding workers’ clear desire to form a union, the company had filed frivolous objections to the first election. To prevent the company from further delaying the process, the union pushed for a settlement ...
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TOLEDO – United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 2B Director Ken Lortz announced today that UAW has voted to endorse former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland for U.S. Senate against U.S. Senator Rob Portman. “Ted Strickland has always stood on the side of working men and women in Ohio. When auto workers needed him most, Ted fought right alongside us to secure the auto rescue and together we saved 160,000 Ohio jobs. Ted has sided with workers and voted against every job-killing trade deal that has ever come before him. And he’s siding with us now in the latest fight to protect American ...
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FRENCH LICK, IND. – Saying he’s the best person for the job; today the UAW officially endorsed John Gregg for Indiana Governor. “Indiana faces many challenges in the years ahead, and we are confident that John Gregg has the leadership skills, the experience and the vision to lead Indiana forward,” said Ken Lortz, UAW Region 2B Director. “He will fight for jobs that pay a living wage, to keep workers safe on the job and to ensure that all Hoosiers have rights and respect on the job. “Our Indiana members are proud Hoosiers, they care about their neighbors, their communities ...
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DETROIT –Retirees from a closed Moen International facility in Ohio will continue to receive their health care benefits, thanks to a group of Ken Lortz, UAW Region 2B Director retirees and the UAW who successfully convinced a federal judge that their contract was clear on the issue. U.S. District Judge James Gwin ruled on Tuesday that the collective bargaining agreements the UAW negotiated with Moen International and its predecessors, including an agreement negotiated in 2008 over the closing of the Elyria facility, were clear and granted summary judgment to the union and its retirees. Judge Gwin ruled that the retiree ...
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