http://www.uaw.org/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=454Thursday, April 12, 2007
Text of speech by UAW President Ron Gettelfinger on 'Global Trading Practices and the Impact on American Industry'
The following is a speech on "Global Trading Practices and the Impact on American Industry” by UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. It was given on April 10, 2007 at Michigan State University's School of Labor and Industrial Relations in East Lansing, Mich.
Thank you for the kind introduction Dean Baba and to all of you for the warm welcome.
It is a pleasure to be here with Dean Baba, Director Curry and all of you. I am especially pleased that Board of Trustees members Faylene Owen, George Perles and Colleen McNamara are in attendance as well. And, I would like to express my appreciation to Bill Cooke for the invitation to be here today. The UAW appreciates this opportunity and we hope that the bridge Bill has begun to construct between the UAW and the School of Labor & Industrial Relations at MSU will become a strong and lasting one.
It is an honor to be in Lansing which is part of our UAW Region 1C under the responsibility of our very capable Director, Duane Zuckschwerdt. We appreciate his leadership and the support we receive from our staff and local unions in this region as well as from our other three Michigan regions.
It is also my pleasure to bring to all of you the greetings from the men and women of the UAW as well as from our union’s International Executive Board. I am pleased that Vice Presidents General Holiefield, Cal Rapson and retired Vice President Dick Shoemaker as well as so many of our local union leadership are in attendance. I also appreciate the fact that retired General Motors Vice President Guy Briggs is in attendance.
It is important to recognize and understand the role of labor not only in the workplace, but in all of society. And, MSU’s School of Labor and Industrial Relations is helping to do that.
The UAW thinks it is imperative to have open dialogue and public debate on issues of importance and it is through forums such as this that makes those opportunities available.
FULL speech at link.