A New Beginning at Freightliner

(Recently UAW Local 3520 joined Freightliner for the Rowan County North Carolina United Way Kickoff. The group organized a tricycle race that helped the local United Way Chapter exceed their goal for 2005 by 18%. The event is providing common ground as this new UAW local gets up and running.)

Yesterday marked a new beginning in the relationship between Freightliner and UAW Local 3520. Two years ago who would have imagined on the parking lot of the YMCA you would see both the President Jeff Plott and VP Gene Holleman putting past differences behind us and building community services.
I had a heart felt conversation with Jackie Harris who made references to a letter she cherishes from the late Steve Beaver. She indicated, and I agree with her, that Steve would not have wanted “the good people at the Y to suffer for the past choices of a few.” Our local was denied use of a facility, and we must take the high road and not withhold our support for our community.

Freightliner employees, both card signing and non-unionized, also put our differences aside and all came away winners. We have a multi-talented group of employees, and we are committed to putting the pride back in the Freightliner name in our community. This will require our local to take ownership in the United Way campaign. I want to personally thank everyone who was involved in this event and also thank the future contributors who are going to make this year’s United Way campaign a success.

In Solidarity,
Gene Holleman
VP UAW Local 3520