Retiree Declaration of Support For the Curry Solidarity Team
We the undersigned retired members who are in good standing in our great UAW stand in full support of the The Ray Curry Solidarity Team. Ray leads a diverse Team that is representative of our UAW. The Curry Solidarity Team understands Auto, Aerospace, Ag Imp, Heavy Truck, IPS, TOP, Higher Education, Gaming and every other sector within our Union. This is a Team that is working for all of us every day and will continue to do so after the election.
Much has been said about retirees in the discussions around the upcoming election. As retirees we understand these comments more than anyone. Our years equate to experience and that gives our group a unique perspective on many of the issues being discussed.
We support the ruling that retirees are ineligible to run for International Executive Board positions. That has been a long-standing position of our Union and was recently upheld by the Court. Granted, retirees are a valuable support system for our Locals and the International Union. However, we are not a part of the bargaining unit and that removes us from participating and understanding the day-to-day issues faced by active members.
We understand the legal limitations on what can be accomplished at the bargaining table for non-active members. We know Ray Curry and his Team will do everything in their power in regards to protecting and building upon our pensions.
We are also aware that members of the Curry Team are experienced when it comes to representing our interest on the VEBA’s that were created during the downturns in various industries to protect our health care. Ray Curry currently leads the UAW Trustees on the Auto VEBA’s and appoints UAW Trustees to the other VEBA’s when vacancies occur. We know the critical role that the UAW Trustees play in insuring that our VEBA benefits will be secure. This is of the utmost importance to us and we have continued confidence in The Curry Solidarity Team to be there for us.
Retirees understand the role Social Security and Medicare play in our financial security. We have witnessed, and we know, The Curry Solidarity Team has the experience and connections in Washington to secure and enhance those benefits.
We join with The Curry Solidarity Team in establishing the goal to abolish tiers and grow job security for our active members. We understand the importance of solidarity through equitable compensation. After all, many of us have relatives still working across various employer sectors represented by our Union. We know Ray Curry, after being in Office since July 1, 2021, and members of his Team have already been successful in making progress during negotiations in this area.
Lastly, it is important that we have leaders who will represent us with honesty, integrity and experience. That is exactly what we are getting with the entire Curry Solidarity Team. They have conducted themselves with transparency and integrity throughout their campaign. Wild accusations, outlandish promises and ridiculous graphics by some of their opposition only demean the name of the UAW and further tarnishes our reputation in the eyes of our communities. We have already suffered embarrassment at the hands of the guilty who were prosecuted. Ray Curry’s Team understands their responsibility and they are committed to carrying the UAW name forward every day with dignity and honor.
It is for these reasons the UAW Retirees support and stand with the entire Curry Solidarity Team. We encourage you to support Ray’s Team too. Thank you!
In Solidarity!
John Davis
Local 2195
LUCA Chair
Debi Kirchner
Local 598
LUCA Chair Emeritus
Ron Gettelfinger
Local 862
UAW President Emeritus
Rory Gamble
Local 600
UAW President Emeritus
Gary Casteel
Local 737
Former Int'l Union Secretary-Treasurer
Elizabeth Bunn
Local 1981
Former Int'l Union Secretary-Treasurer
Geral Bantom
Local 600
Former Int'l Union VP
Ford Department
Carolyn Forrest
Local 174
Former Int'l VP
Aerospace & IPS
Terry Thurman
Local 404
Former Int'l Union VP
Organizing
Jimmy Settles
Local 600
Former Int'l Union VP
Ford Department
Stan Marshall
Local 599
Former Int'l Union VP
Chrysler Department
Gerald Kariem
Local 362
Former Int'l Union VP
Ford Department
Terry Dittes
Local 2177
Former Int'l Union VP
GM Department
George Andros
Local 467
Former Region 1D Director
Duane Zuckschwerdt
Local 659
Former Region 1C Director
Paul Korman
Local 1301
Former Region 4 Director
Ken Terry
Local 155
Former Region 1 Director
Joe Peters
Local 400
Former Region 1 Director
Chuck Hall
Local 889
Former Region 1 Director
Mo Davison
Local 933
Former Region 3 Director
Bob Roth
Local 599
Former Region 1C Director
Bob Madore
Local 376
Former Region 9A Director
Lloyd Mahaffey
Local 12
Former Region 2B Director
Ken Lortz
Local 70
Former Region 2B Director
Bob Lent
Local 869
Former Region 1 Director
Jack Sizemore
Local 12
Former Region 2B Director
Julie Kushner
Local 2210
Former Region 9A Director
Jim Rogers
Local 1590
Former International Rep
Paul Quick
Local 892
Former AA Ford Department
Bill Stevenson
Local 2280
Former AA President's Office
Donny Bevis
Local 1155
Former Region 8 Assistant Director
James Patton
Local 892
Former AA President's Office
Paul Elliott
Local 23
Former Int'l Rep
Tom Savage
Local 23
Former Int'l Rep
Charles McDonald
Local 2195
Retiree Chair
Former Int'l Rep
Harold Cox
Local 653
Former Int'l Rep
Connie Thurman
Local 9212
Former Int'l CAP Rep
David Bortz
Local 5841
Former Int'l Rep
Joe Rypkowski
Local 1853
Former Int'l Rep
Shirley Underwood
Local 148
Former Int'l Rep
Scott Birdsall
Local 659
Former Int'l Rep
Dick "Tiny" Saylor
Local 677
Retiree Chair
Steve Stone
Local 862
Retiree Chair
Dave M Careless
Local 598
Chair East TN Retirees Council
Ray Davis
Local 599
Florida Sun Coast IAC
John Mahaffy
Local 1264
Florida Sun Coast IAC
Lewis Sexton
Local 862
Executive Board member
Jon "Yogi" Cox
Local 663
Retiree Chair
Ronald Cleary
Local 2166
NWCFRC IAC
Janet Woodson
Local 598
Retiree Chair
Ron Ancira
Local 659
Retiree Chair
Jessie L Collins
Local 599
Retiree Chair
Ted Fleming
Local 211
Retiree Chair
Retired 2B Chair
Erv Heidbrink
Local 2093
Retiree Chair
Jeff Lewis
Local 23
Retiree Chair
Terri Zook
Local 98
Retiree Chair
Mark Ferrell
Local 226
Retiree Chair
Midge Collett
Local 292
Retiree Chair
Dennis Green
Local 371
Retiree Chair
James Donaldson
Local 550
Retiree Chair
Dennis Cheshier
Local 662
Retiree Chair
Ron "Shorty" Bendixon
Local 685
Retiree Chair
Joyce Meltzer
Local 941
Retiree Chair
Joyce Stone
Local 977
Retiree Chair
John Flippen
Local 1111
Retiree Chair
Bill Friskey
Local 1166
Retiree Chair
John Hunter
Local 2000
Retiree Chair
Steve Yoder
Local 2308
Retiree Chair
Bob Masterson
Local 1005
Retiree Chair
Don Hester
Local 653
Retiree Chair
Ann Watkins
Local 533
Retiree Chair
John Casteel
Local 549
Retiree Chair
James Siuda
Local 863
Retiree Chair
Jerry Schmidt
Local 1005
Retiree Chair
Larry Doyle
Local 1050
Retiree Chair
John Gordon
Local 1112
Retiree Chair
Mary Lou Napka
Local 1216
Retiree Chair
Gary Frueh
Local 1765
Retiree Chair
Johnnie Jordan
Local 1892
Retiree Chair
Mike Johnson
Local 472
Retiree Chair
Vivian Decker
Local 5960
Sun Valley IAC Chair
Peggy Gervase
Local 774
James Patton
Local 892
Michael Cavanaugh
Local 435
Ghana Goodwin-Dye
Local 909
Tracey Dye
Local 889
Larry Kitson
Local 659
Mark Corso
Local 36
Marie Talley
35
Lawrence Hamilton
Local 719
Dan White
Local 94
Lary Williams
Local 1413
Clifford Hollis
Local 1413
James Tate
Local 1929
George Dakuras
Local 719
Rick A Henderson
Local 3047
Alen Henson
Local 663
Judy Harden
Local 862
Former Int'l Rep
Gene Hurd
Local 509
Stan Belue
Local 900
Bob Woodcock
Local 933
Ken Collinson
Local 1590
Jimmy C Hyde
Local 10
Gene Ridley
Local 599
Roger Shaw
Local 1413
Willie Monroe
Local 10
Diana Doubrava
Local 6000
Shelia Pedersen
Local 898
Shirley Underwood
Local 148
Jim Knappenberger
Local 5841
Jim Pedersen
Local 892
Larry Kitson
Local 659
Mark Corso
Local 36
Ken Senter
Local 1714
Brenda Golisch
Local 2185
Tony Hernandez
Local 2278
Curtis Franklin
Local 34
JC Phillips
Local 882
Denise Miguel-Rollo
Local 2278
Mark Busby
Local 34
Sam McDowell
Local 7865
Steve Stout
Local 5841
Harold Wise
Local 34
Lue Adams
Local 2195