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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

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