“The entire UAW family today expresses great sadness at the passing of Phil Wheeler,” says UAW President Ray Curry. “Phil was a tough leader who never shied away from taking on companies. Under his tough exterior was a man who loved the labor movement, UAW members and fighting for social justice.” Phil became a UAW member in 1964 when he was hired into Colt Firearms in Hartford, Connecticut, after the Army. He became steward of UAW Local 376, then moved to shop chairperson in 1967 and president in 1969. In 1986, he was appointed assistant director of Region 9A, which covers New ...
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