UAW Local 31 News Updates

Heroes on the Front Lines: Robert Nader

UAW Local 245 member Robert Nader gets antsy sitting still. Instead of going stir-crazy, he signed up for a job that would keep him busy and hopefully save lives. He is making face shields to help fight the spread of the devastating COVID-19 virus. “It’s not just me. It’s a lot of different people in here coming together to help,” said Nader. “The medical community really needs these masks and other personal protection equipment right now.”

COVID-19 Update 4/3/2020

My Brothers and Sisters, Today brought more news of members and hard-working men and women stepping up to help our first line responders and their families and communities during these difficult days. We have members who have courageously volunteered their time, going through rigorous safety training at the GM Kokomo, Indiana, facility as they begin their work to make ventilators that will save lives. One of the first UAW workers to volunteer there said that she thought of her elderly mom as someone who might need this life-saving equipment.

Heroes on the Front Lines: Sandy Welch

UAW Local 95 member Sandy Welch is a five-year cancer survivor. She has high blood pressure, too. That means her immune system is not 100%. But, while others in Wisconsin are told to stay home, she heads to work every day as a medical transcriptionist at a medical clinic in Janesville. “I have a compromised immune system and sometimes I think about that, but I don’t let that take over my thoughts,” she said.

COVID-19 Update 4/2/2020

Sisters and Brothers, A short message today to recognize the courageous men and women stepping up to help all of us during these difficult days. As you all know, we have many members on the front lines of this crisis, who report to work every day and put their lives at risk to keep our communities safe and functioning. And we have members who are stepping up and volunteering to help save lives in so many ways.

Statement of UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, Director of the UAW GM Department on the Training for Production of Ventilators in Kokomo

COVID-19 Update 4/1/2020

Brothers and Sisters, I want to start this message by, again, thanking my UAW family for your strength and your support of your communities and families as we all work through this terrible crisis together. I’m very sad to report that we had one more UAW member fall to the virus yesterday, from Ford Michigan Assembly in Wayne, Michigan. I want to extend our sincere sympathies to family and friends.