Joining the Picket Line

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I proudly joined United Auto Workers on the picket line at United Auto Workers Local 12 in Toledo, Ohio, striking Jeep Stellantis in solidarity.

Our mother helped organize the United Auto Workers nearly 90 years ago at Champion Spark Plug, organizing and negotiating with United Auto Workers founders Victor and Walter Reuther.

Our father, Stephen, who they called Kappy, retired in 1969 from Jeep. Both were able to get better wages and benefits to help our family as we were growing up.

I am including in the Record our mother's brief summary of why she joined the union and worked so hard; primarily to assure seniority rights of employment so you couldn't be fired because the supervisor brought family members to replace you.

A bidding system was established so any open job was put up on the board so the one with the most seniority got the job, if qualified.

Discrimination was outlawed so the foreman could no longer put his pets or relatives on the best job. The right to ask for a pay raise was assured through negotiation and the right to strike granted to employees.

Leaves for illness were granted so people wouldn't be fired if a doctor certification was provided.

I will continue tomorrow and enter the additional three sentences orally, but I just want to say go, UAW. We are so proud of you.

When our mother Anastasia was in her early 20's, she landed a job at the Champion Spark Plug Company in Toledo where she had applied at the employment office every day for one year. She never missed a day of work between any of her jobs. Here, her weekly wage rose to $40 a week. She worked the production line at plug tamping where she was paid based on her output and she always did the maximum number each day. It was at Champion that she was elected to the Charter Committee of the Local 12 United Auto Workers Trade Union that was forming. She summarized for her children why she helped form the union--``primarily to assure seniority rights of employment so you couldn't be fired because the supervisor brought family members to replace you. A bidding system was established so any open job was put up on the board so the one with the most seniority got the job if qualified. Discrimination was outlawed so the foreman could no longer put his pets or relatives on the best job. The right to ask for a pay raise was assured through negotiation and the right to strike granted to employees. Leaves for illness were granted so people wouldn't be fired if a doctor's certification was provided. Bathroom privileges were allowed for personal contingencies. Three months leave was allowed for pregnancy. Layoffs would occur according to seniority. And a grievance procedure was established to curb harassment by mean foremen.''

Elected union Secretary, Mom gained respect by both company and union members for her knowledge of the bidding system, her ability to handle grievances, and her detailed grasp of the labor contract.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source