2006 Fall Issue - UAW-Chrysler.com
2006 Fall Issue - UAW-Chrysler.com 2006 Fall Issue - UAW-Chrysler.com
On Ramp NTC Welcomes New Leaders Leading the way: (left to right) John Byers, General Holiefield and James R. Coakley A NEW ERA OF UNION LEADERSHIP has begun for the UAW-DaimlerChrysler partnership. The change creates new opportunities to refocus joint programs overseen by the UAW-DaimlerChrysler National Training Center in order to help meet UAW members’ needs more effectively. This issue of Tomorrow welcomes General Holiefield, new vice president and director of the UAW’s DaimlerChrysler Department. Holiefield brings extensive experience as a UAW leader at the local and national level, having spent the past two years as the top assistant to UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. New NTC co-director John Byers also brings a fresh perspective and a diverse background to his job. Byers was previously an administrative assistant to UAW Vice President Bob King, where his responsibilities included contract compliance and negotiations . Byers joined UAW Local 1268 at Belvidere Assembly in July 1967. Starting on the chassis line, he rose through the ranks to become a chief steward, committeeman and president. A former NTC associate co-director from 1997 to 1999, Byers pledges to target resources for maximum impact on UAW members. “General Holiefield and I are committed to refocusing efforts on training and providing meaningful opportunities that improve safety, quality and other measures of our success as a union and management,” he says. Byers joins James R. Coakley as an administrative assistant to Holiefield and member of the UAW-DaimlerChrysler Joint Activities Board. A 40-year UAW member, Coakley is a former president of UAW Local 1200 at Chrysler’s former Detroit tank plant and coordinator in the union’s General Dynamics Department. In the As a forklift operator at Detroit Axle, General Holiefield learned a lesson about himself and the UAW that still drives his agenda today: If you feel your union needs improvement, it’s up to you to get involved, stand up for change and make a difference. Holiefield stood up when he became dissatisfied with his chief steward over a representation issue. “I thought we could do better,” he recalls. At the next Local 961 election, he ran against the incumbent and won in a landslide. It was his first UAW elected office, but it wouldn’t be his last. “Working in the vineyard is where it all starts,” says the 33-year UAW veteran. “Every member should get back to basics by learning the contract, living it, breathing it and remembering that an injustice to one is an injustice to all. That’s what our union stands for.” FRUITS OF HIS LABOR Nearly 20 years after that first union election, Holiefield is a UAW vice president and director of the union’s DaimlerChrysler Department. He was elected to the post in June at the UAW’s 34th Constitutional Convention, succeeding Nate Gooden upon Gooden’s retirement. Holiefield is also co-chairman of the Joint Activities Board, which sets policy for the UAW- DaimlerChrysler National Training Center. Spiritual in nature yet shop-floor savvy, Holiefield has risen to near the top of the UAW by putting members’ needs above his own. “There is a Bible correlation that I am very much reminded of,” he says, “and that is, ‘You can’t serve two masters.’ So I decided that I couldn’t serve myself because you will find that you will always serve yourself more.” Since his tenure as a chief steward, 53-year-old Holiefield has followed this higher calling. Prior to his election as vice president, he had served since June 2004 as executive administrative assistant to UAW President Ron Gettelfinger — making Holiefield the first African American to serve in the union’s top staff position. Holiefield’s days at Chrysler began in 1973 when he hired on at the old Jefferson Avenue Assembly Plant. Two years later he joined Local 961 after transferring to Detroit Axle. He rose through the local’s leadership ranks, becoming vice president and then president, first in 1992 when his predecessor retired, and again the following year when he was elected by acclamation. Holiefield held that position until he was appointed a UAW international representative in the Chrysler Department two years later. He became an assistant director and later administrative assistant to Gooden before his promotion to the president’s office. During 2003 national negotiations, Holiefield played a pivotal role in hammering out a four-year agreement with DaimlerChrysler. He coordinated the national negotiating committees and staff assignments and was instrumental in the ratification process. Holiefield looks forward to his vice presidency as an opportunity to have an impact on the lives of all UAW members at DaimlerChrysler. “I know 2 TOMORROW FALL 2006 www.uawdcx.com
General Holiefi eld comes to his new post with deep UAW roots BY RON RUSSELL & TANISHA DAVIS Vineyard what our members are dealing with and want them to know that they have someone in this office they can count on — someone who really listens,” he says. “I’d like them to always remember, I’ll leave the light on for you, brothers and sisters.” He says members should not be afraid to speak out, whether the issue is about vehicle quality, work practices or safety. “We all need to find a comfort zone thinking outside the box.” WORKING TOGETHER While sensitive to members’ needs, Holiefield expects them to share his strong work ethic. “These jobs are good jobs and we must never lose sight of that,” he says. “People must report to work on time and give a full day’s labor for a full day’s pay. We have to work harder to keep our jobs.” A self-described straight shooter, Holiefield also has high expectations for management as he seeks to work together on enhancing Chrysler Group’s competitive position, job security and other issues of common concern. “The trust and mutual respect will have to be there,” he says. “And that’s something we have to work on every day.” Holiefield’s dedication to the UAW as a champion of social and economic justice General Holiefi eld with his late grandmother Nellie Moore, a UAW workplace pioneer. is deeply rooted in the experience of a family member who also was a union trailblazer. His late grandmother Nellie Moore got a job at Chrysler during World War II and helped spark a revolution in attitudes toward race and gender in the U.S. auto industry. “I remember walking picket lines with Granny, and I learned to understand why she loved the UAW,” says Holiefield. “She taught me the value of working in the vineyard and never giving up when you know that righteousness and justice are on your side.” As a UAW vice president, Holiefield says, he will never forget his roots in the vineyard or Granny’s legacy as he continues to serve others’ needs before his own. Whatever challenges lie ahead, no one who knows him expects anything less. ■ “ I know what our members are dealing with and want them to know that they have someone in this office they can count on.” — GENERAL HOLIEFIELD Up Close and Personal Next to his faith, family and the UAW, a Harley is the love of General Holiefield’s life. “For most of the last 35 years, I’ve owned a motorcycle,” he says. And that includes his last bike, a union-made, top-of-the-line Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic. “I love the feel of the wind in my face and the freedom of the open road. It’s an experience that frees the spirit like nothing else can.” Holiefield and his wife, Marlene, have three adult children, daughter Shaelyn and sons Chalfonte and General Jr. The native of Middletown, Ohio, is an avid car buff who also enjoys fishing and horseback riding. BOTTOM LEFT: BILL SCHWAB www.uawdcx.com TOMORROW FALL 2006 3
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- Page 5 and 6: Cruise Control Call the Homework Ho
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- Page 9 and 10: BY RON RUSSELL Real People Mack Ave
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General Holiefi eld <strong>com</strong>es to his new post with deep <strong>UAW</strong> roots<br />
BY RON RUSSELL & TANISHA DAVIS<br />
Vineyard<br />
what our members are dealing with and<br />
want them to know that they have someone<br />
in this office they can count on —<br />
someone who really listens,” he says. “I’d<br />
like them to always remember, I’ll leave the<br />
light on for you, brothers and sisters.”<br />
He says members should not be afraid<br />
to speak out, whether the issue is about<br />
vehicle quality, work practices or safety.<br />
“We all need to find a <strong>com</strong>fort zone thinking<br />
outside the box.”<br />
WORKING TOGETHER<br />
While sensitive to members’ needs, Holiefield<br />
expects them to share his strong work<br />
ethic. “These jobs are good jobs and we<br />
must never lose sight of that,” he says.<br />
“People must report to work on time and<br />
give a full day’s labor for a full day’s pay.<br />
We have to work harder to keep our jobs.”<br />
A self-described straight shooter, Holiefield<br />
also has high expectations for management<br />
as he seeks to work together on<br />
enhancing <strong>Chrysler</strong> Group’s <strong>com</strong>petitive<br />
position, job security and other issues of <strong>com</strong>mon<br />
concern. “The trust and mutual respect<br />
will have to be there,” he says. “And that’s<br />
something we have to work on every day.”<br />
Holiefield’s dedication to the <strong>UAW</strong> as<br />
a champion of social and economic justice<br />
General Holiefi eld with his late<br />
grandmother Nellie Moore,<br />
a <strong>UAW</strong> workplace pioneer.<br />
is deeply rooted in the experience of a family<br />
member who also was a union trailblazer.<br />
His late grandmother Nellie Moore got a job<br />
at <strong>Chrysler</strong> during World War II and helped<br />
spark a revolution in attitudes toward race<br />
and gender in the U.S. auto industry.<br />
“I remember walking picket lines with<br />
Granny, and I learned to understand why she<br />
loved the <strong>UAW</strong>,” says Holiefield. “She taught<br />
me the value of working in the vineyard and<br />
never giving up when you know that righteousness<br />
and justice are on your side.”<br />
As a <strong>UAW</strong> vice president, Holiefield<br />
says, he will never forget his roots in the<br />
vineyard or Granny’s legacy as he continues<br />
to serve others’ needs before his own.<br />
Whatever challenges lie ahead, no one who<br />
knows him expects anything less. ■<br />
“ I know what our members<br />
are dealing with and want<br />
them to know that they have<br />
someone in this office they<br />
can count on.”<br />
— GENERAL HOLIEFIELD<br />
Up Close and Personal<br />
Next to his faith, family and the <strong>UAW</strong>, a<br />
Harley is the love of General Holiefield’s life.<br />
“For most of the last 35 years, I’ve owned a<br />
motorcycle,” he says. And that includes his<br />
last bike, a union-made, top-of-the-line<br />
Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic. “I love the<br />
feel of the wind in my face and the freedom<br />
of the open road. It’s an experience that<br />
frees the spirit like nothing else can.”<br />
Holiefield and his wife, Marlene, have<br />
three adult children, daughter Shaelyn<br />
and sons Chalfonte and General Jr. The<br />
native of Middletown, Ohio, is an avid<br />
car buff who also enjoys fishing and<br />
horseback riding.<br />
BOTTOM LEFT: BILL SCHWAB<br />
www.uawdcx.<strong>com</strong> TOMORROW FALL <strong>2006</strong> 3
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