Ron Gettelfinger, a vice president of the United Auto Workers since 1998, was chosen yesterday to run for the union's presidency by the 18 member caucus composed of high ranking officials that effectively elects the UAW's top officers. The caucus also made the historic move of giving its approval to vice president Elizabeth Bunn for the position of secretary-treasurer---which will make her the highest ranking female in the union's history. Among the top concerns of the two officers elect will be reversing the UAW's massive decline in membership caused largely by the union's inability to organize workers in foreign-owned U.S. auto plants.
See "Gettelfinger to become UAW leader; more changes at Ford", Tribune News Services, Chicago Tribune, November 8, 2001