United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger on Monday warned companies not to misinterpret his union's past cooperation as a sign of weakness. Gettelfinger said the UAW would fight at the bargaining table, in the courts, politically and "if need be on the picket line." His comments Monday came as the UAW kicked off a two-day meeting in Detroit designed to set the union's bargaining agenda in upcoming contract talks in the auto and other industries. The 1,500 union members from more than 800 UAW locals in the U.S. and Canada weren't expected to get into the nitty-gritty of what will be discussed with individual companies, but they were to set the overall bargaining plan.
See "UAW president: Don't take past cooperation as a sign of weakness", Tom Krisher, Chicago Tribune, March 26, 2007