Convention Reconvenes
at 9:00am EST

Day 2 UAW 38th Constitutional Convention Cobo Hall Detroit MI.

• Convention reconvenes and was called to order at 9:00am.
• UAW Region 8 member from Local 2164 Patrick Klein led the invocation for the morning. He is an ordained minister and lead Chaplain at his local. He is also a former UAW local 95 member originally.
• The timekeepers were announced and today they added a 5:00-minute clock on the screen so the delegates could see their time as they spoke on a specific amendment.
• The Retired Workers Advisory Council was introduced, 22 members in all, some from the International UAW Advisory council, Regional Area Members and Members at large.
• The updated Credentials Committee report was given, and 42 members were added to the count given on Monday. The number given on day one was as of 11:00am, these additions reflect registered delegates who arrived and registered after that time.
• Michigan District 12 Congress Woman Debbie Dingall gave a great speech covering a lot of our history shared by her late husband John Dingall and Walter Reuther. She has always been a supporter of union jobs and is the Co-author of the Medicare for All bill in the House. She told the delegates her late husband John’s last public event before his death was with UAW Region 1 people, who he held in very high regard. As she spoke, she brought passion and emotion to her audience, “it took a pandemic to prove we shipped so much American work overseas, you knew it, the UAW knows, you have been saying it for years” she stated to large applause. She completed her speech with several quotes from Walter Reuther and of course stated “United We Stand Divided We Fall.”
• We learned about the Global solidarity that the UAW has been working on. Supporting labor leaders and members across the globe in their struggles. Most notable developing a relationship with these labor leaders who share industry work for the corporations we work with too. UAW International Affairs Director Christine Peter told gave us information on the struggles these leaders endure in prisons and even death for being in the labor movement in their countries. She was the host for labor leaders from Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Christine also introduced IndustriALL Global Union General Secretary Atle Hoie who reminded us of the struggles we all have but we are winning and the union IndustriALL has over 50 million labor partners worldwide.
• VP Chuck Browning brought back up the Constitutional Committee to report and vote on changes to the Preamble of the constitution.
• VP Terry Dittes took the podium and worked through the Article 5 changes where we added the words Higher Education. Same we have done in the past with Gaming. The UAW now has over 40% of our members in Higher Education, 100,000 strong.
• Secretary Treasurer Frank Stuglin worked through the motion from the floor to take Article 10 proposal 32 out of Committee and debate it. This was a spirited discussion as well. We spent well over an hour on this subject (allowing retired members to run for IEB positions) and it did not pass in the end. There were several appeals from locals on this issue and that was the hot part of the debate too.
• Frank next tackled the addition of a new region to the UAW Region 6. Which now is made up of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii, and Alaska. Some parts are now in Region 8 and 4 respectively and this is the former Region 5, if your keeping score. It was easy and passed with little discussion.
• VP Cindy Estrada talked about Uniting Auto Workers a Facebook group that she asked us all to follow and support. The group is made up of members from non-union plants in the south, Nissan, Mercedes Toyota, Honda and others. Find them on Facebook and follow them.
• AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler spoke to the delegates and reminded them they are driving the future as we take on new things in our workplace. “When we join all working people together across all workplaces, we are unstoppable. We are a union team, and we all share the same goals” she stated. The AFL-CIO also posts on their website the CEO watch and right now we are at 324 to 1. The CEO is making 324% more than the workers they employ.
• We also added to Article 12 now called Section 21. Stating the International union will hold 2 Town Halls a year to be more transparent. This easily passed with little discussion at all, nothing but support for the addition to Article 12.
• We heard from Bruce Dickmeyer who is the son in law of Walter Reuther. He and his family have a petition to get a US postage stamp in honor of Reuther. The work is almost done but could always use more support. Once this is completed the history of the Reuther family in the UAW will be even more prevalent to Americans and spark more labor union discussion among them.
• Regional Director Mitchell Smith introduced Reverend Dr. Wendall Anthony who gave and amazingly rousing speech that had people on their feet in the first minute and they stood with him until the end of his speech 10 minutes later. He was inspiring and the crowd needed that boost.
  The longest and most robust discussion revolved around Article 11 Section 1, 2, 3, & 8. This article deals with pay and compensation for IEB and Staff members. The delegates spoke and worked through it for 2 hours. Ask your delegate for details.
• Day 2 was adjourned at 5:20PM