Victory Without a Fight!

The last few weeks have seemed like a whirlwind. The UAW threw its full weight at the Work For Less petition issue, and Lansing Delta Township Assembly plant has laid off its third shift. I can’t think of a more perfect cause and effect example for our membership to get fired up over. The brain trust on the right must have thought that labor hadn’t noticed the war that was already being waged against us. Mistakenly figuring that we were too tired and beat down to stand up and fight back. There is a special sort of inspiration that a parent gets as their son or daughter is being laid off, or reassuring a sibling or spouse before they walk out the plant door for who knows how long. Having seen those uncertain times of lay offs with no real estimate of how long it can last, or when they can return to work; can stir echoes of picket lines and lay offs gone by in even the most apathetic of our membership! For that, I would like to thank the right wing for waking a giant for what could be the resurgence of a once mighty and powerful force; the membership of the UAW. The assault on unions has brought our memberships together in such a way that the right didn’t even bother to try! To me, that is the very definition of victory. Our opponent didn’t even bother to show up.

Most inspiring to me is the overwhelming support of our younger membership, and their willingness to mix it up and become activists. Some of our strongest support came from “Temps” and “New hires”. While I have 10 years in the plant, I group myself with this new class of labor. The group that is learning to fight the battles that will allow our beloved union to not only continue to exist, but to grow and prosper. Victor Reuther once said, “Often, when the younger generation in the union wants to learn about the 30’s, they’re always left with the impression that all the exciting and great battles are behind us. But it will be said of you that you performed an equally historic function, in helping the membership reclaim its great union.”

Thanks to everyone who jumped in to lend a hand. Congratulations. Today labor and its supporters showed that it wouldn’t go quietly, or without a fight.