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UAW Delphi members disenfranchised by union in contract vote Ron, We have belonged to the UAW for 25 years, first as GM employees, and now working for Delphi. We have always been proud to be members and supporters. Our answer to criticism of our union, from fellow union members and non-union workers, was that the dues we paid to the union were some of our most well spent money. Due to the contents of (and future contents not yet stipulated), and the ratification procedure implemented by the UAW of the 2003 National agreement, we have become upset enough that we are writing this letter. We won’t go into details because we know that you are a busy man, and would never have the time to read the several pages of diatribes that would be listed. Besides, you as well as anyone, know of the shortcomings of the contract for Delphi UAW employees and of the deceitful and under handed way in which the ratification process was handled. Enclosed in this package are the rings we received from the UAW for 25 years of membership. We had anticipated for years wearing these rings with pride. They are symbols of achievement not unlike a college diploma or a journeyman’s card. They cannot be bought. They must be earned. They were received shortly after the 2003 National Agreement negotiations and ratification procedure. It is our hope that they will be reminders to you, the most influential representative of all of us in the UAW, that we hope that our leadership will remember that honesty, integrity and respect are still as important to us who work on the shop floor today, as when our Union was formed. If you do not want them for this purpose, feel free to give them to someone else. They are brand new, and never been worn, so there is no dirt or grime from being on a worker’s hand. If you don’t know anyone else who would like to have them, then throw them away, as we would be ashamed to wear them unless we were convinced that the Union was returning to the values which until now, have always made us proud to be members of the United Auto Workers. We do have one question. Will you explain how a two tiered wage scale at Delphi, which goes against one of the UAW’s basic beliefs “equal pay for equal work“, will ever promote solidarity among current and future employees? We will still pay our union dues and support our local union. Instead of feeling that it is some of our best spent money, we will have the same attitude as that of a small business owner who pays money to a group of unscrupulous thugs; it’s just the cost of doing business. Roderick M. Underhill
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