Activists discuss Delphi struggle

Less than one week after United Auto Workers members throughout the Midwest gathered for an organizational meeting in Michigan denouncing international union leadership, local activists brought the struggle closer to home.

UAW activist group Future of the Union invited current and retired union members to Sunday’s meeting at the Quality Inn & Suites to discuss issues ranging from union concessions related to Delphi Corp. bankruptcy to an ultimate goal of changing the very way the union operates.

Future of the Union founder Todd Jordan said an address to the approximately 100 UAW members was expected by Kokomo mayor Matt McKillip, though he never made an appearance.

During the meeting, which was closed to members of the media, Jordan presented a statement saying the struggles with Delphi are only a small part of the union’s problems.

“The long-term goals must be outlined and addressed to win this battle for Delphi. To solely focus on short-term battles is to fail before we begin,” Jordan said in a published statement. “The battle for Delphi, the battle against globalization, social security, health care, and living wages — these things are mere battles of a greater war. We can not continue to fight the battles and forget the war. If we continue this, we will continue to fail.”

The group said it will push for a legal work slowdown to fight proposed wage and benefit cuts at Delphi, the same thing UAW President Ron Gettelfinger has endorsed. Such actions call for employees to perform no duties beyond the rules of the workplace, often as specified in a union contract.

“There was not much talk of a strike as much as we talked about work-to-rule,” Jordan told The Indianapolis Star.

Delphi retiree Beverly Hollowell said she didn’t know what to expect from the presentation, but in the end she received a lot of information.

Hollowell, a line worker at Delphi for 32 years, said uncertainty is a common thread shared by active workers and retirees alike.

“Nothing is for sure, and I always knew that,” she said. “I’m not for sure my retirement is going to last.”

Peoria, Ill., resident Rob Wilson said he came to the meeting not so much for his own struggles, but in solidarity with Delphi employees.

“Everyone here is out in support of our brothers and sisters at Delphi,” Wilson said. “I’m here for them.”

Wilson, employed by Caterpillar for six years, said he understands some of what they are going through, as his company went through negotiations recently.

Wilson, who also attended the Michigan meeting last week, said he saw a common theme of working to bring the power back to workers presented at each. Jordan, he said, is simply doing what others are fearful of doing.

“A lot of people feel the same way Todd does, but they’re scared,” Wilson said. “There’s an entrenched elite that speaks for the minority, and I think Todd speaks for the majority.”

Christin Cech, a Delphi employee from Milwaukee, traveled to the meeting to hear thoughts from her fellow union members. Cech said she supports local forums for the mid-level worker to make change.

While Cech acknowledged that there are problems in the unions, most come from corporations.

“I think there’s problems with the management of the big businesses and corporations,” Cech said.