The United Auto Workers held its constitutional convention yesterday, officially swearing in former vice-president Ron Gettelfinger as the replacement for retiring president Stephen Yokich, and Elizabeth Bunn as the union?s first female secretary-treasurer (see WIT for Nov. 9, 2001). Mr. Gettelfinger already faces a major challenge in his new job, as the union begins its three-day convention on bargaining strategies for next year?s Big Three contract negotiations tomorrow. When the current four-year contract runs out next September, General Motors, Ford Motor and DaimlerChrysler are expected to seek layoffs to reduce overcapacity in production.
See "UAW's new chief vows to take tough stance", Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, June 6, 2002