September 26, 2012
Region 8 Members Represent the UAW at the DNC
by Region Webmaster John Davis
all photos by John Davis
On September 4-6, 2012 the Democratic National Convention was held in Charlotte North Carolina. This convention is held during each president election cycle for each party to nominate their candidate for the election.
The UAW was represented in Charlotte with 89 members serving as delegates. The delegates hailed from all over the country and were part of their respective state delegations. The one common dominator was their membership in the UAW. This convention was an affirmation of our commitment to America’s working  families.
Each day the UAW held a caucus meeting to discuss the issues of the campaign, and listen to special speakers. Sharing the information is the entire point of UAW conferences. Even with this not being a UAW conference, the UAW worked to educate their members and others on issues facing working families.
The Democratic National Convention featured speakers from the Democratic Party outlining the party position. Perhaps never in the history of this country has the differences between the party platforms been more apparent. The economy has made improvement over the past three years – but is still not where it needs to be.
UAW President Bob King was a featured speaker on Wednesday night, just prior to former President Bill Clinton. President Obama's strong leadership saved more than a million jobs. “Since June 2009, the industry has even added a quarter of a million jobs, and is thriving once again,” President King stated. “ These are good, middle-class jobs – in glass, plastics and steel. Jobs making things for an economy built to last.
And Mitt Romney's record? At Bain Capital, the corporate buyout firm he founded, too often he and his partners made their money not by building companies up, but by taking them apart. And too often, the workers ended up in the street, even as Romney and his partners walked away with millions.”
The UAW members in attendance cheered loudly as President King addressed the convention. “I thought his speech hit the key points needed as president of our union,” said John Crawford, President of Local 5287 High Point, North Carolina. “He laid out the vision of where our country can go in the next four years, and he thanked President Obama for his support of the auto industry,” a move which saved more than one million  American jobs.”
Region 8 had a number of members serving as elected delegates. They included:
- John Morris - Chairperson Palm Coast International Area Council
- John Crawford - Local 5287 President
- Lynn Nelson - Local 1853 Retiree
- Mary Briscoe - Local 862 Retiree Chapter Chairperson
- Charles McDonald - Local 2195 Retiree Chapter Chairperson
- Phinis Hundley - Local 2012 President
- Ray Curry - Assistant Director
- Sam Lathem - Local 1183 Retiree DNC Credentials Committee
- John Davis of Local 2195 was not a delegate but served as the UAW’s photographer
Over the course of three days delegates heard from many speakers, discussing the differences between the party platforms. In addition to members of Congress and the Senate, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden addressed the convention, as well as former President Bill Clinton.
With election day approaching, UAW members should educate themselves on the issues and vote for the candidate that best represents their interest. All elections are important- but the future of the country could be at stake here so all our members should look at the candidates and make an informed choice on election day. |
