Gettelfinger: Joining Union Is Not Enough

Anyone would expect UAW President Ron Gettelfinger to talk about the importance of being a union member. But when he spoke to the Livingston County Democrats' Winans Dinner on Saturday (April 19, 2008) he told unions members not to stop there.

He spent the earlier part of his day attending his 11th District Democratic Convention, where he was elected an uncommitted delegate to the Democratic National Convention, even though Michigan's delegates remain barred from being there.

"To me, it's like going to a union meeting," Gettelfinger told the crowd at the Hamburg VFA Hall, adding that's because Democrats and union members both are interesting in "reaching out and taking care of people in need."

"We have a lot of the same philosophies. We value each other," he said.

"I love being a Democrat. I love being a union person," he said. "It's wonderful to see people come out on a Saturday night to functions like this and help the party grow."

Gettelfinger thanked people like Bob Alexander, who is running for the Democratic nomination for the 8th Congressional seat, and Donna Anderson, who is running for the Democratic nomination for the 66th District in the Michigan House, for taking on the grueling task of running for office.

"It's so important that people get involved. I thought I'd come in here and there'd be three of us. But you can see something's happening out here," he said.

But Gettelfinger challenged the audience to do more.

"It's important for all of us, not to stand up here and give a talk and leave. That's not what it's about. It's about being willing to go out (and work). What's more important than registering another voter? What's more important than talking to a voter about the issues?" he said.

Gettelfinger dismissed suggestions that unions tell members how to vote. "We want to let people know what the issues are and then if they want to vote against themselves, they can do it," he said.

While some union members might be concerned about moral issues, Gettelfinger said moral issues should not stop with matters such as sexuality. Homeless veterans, people without jobs, and seniors needing prescription drugs are all moral issues, he pointed out.

And he said people should remember to vote the full ballot, not just the top of the ticket, because races such as the Michigan Supreme Court are critically important for working people, too.

"We're going to win. Yes we are. We're going to win," he said. "There's no greater equalizer than the voting booth. There's power in that voting booth, only if you use it."

(Above, Ron Gettelfinger talks to UAW retiree JoAnn Murphy and others at the 25th annual Winans Dinner.)