{"id":22593,"date":"2022-05-18T16:43:11","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T20:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=22593"},"modified":"2022-05-18T16:43:11","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T20:43:11","slug":"2022-national-cap-conference-day-4-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=22593","title":{"rendered":"2022 National CAP Conference: Day 4 Highlights | UAW"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UAW President Ray Curry presents Speaker Nancy Pelosi with the Walter P. Reuther Distinguished Service Award<\/small><\/em><\/p>\n\n

A breakfast tribute to a UAW trailblazer<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Lori Welch, Local 598, Region 1D<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The day started off with the Odessa Komer Memorial Breakfast hosted by President Ray Curry and Vice President Cindy Estrada.\u00a0 The breakfast was formerly known as the Women\u2019s Breakfast, but the rebranding reflects that this is an occasion for all UAW members to honor one of our union\u2019s trailblazers, Odessa Komer.\u00a0 Lori Welch from Local 598 in Region 1D learned more about this important leader and how she broke through many barriers in her local and the International union.\u00a0 \u201cLike Komer, I believe all UAW members should be active and represented throughout our union.\u00a0 For her it was about giving visibility to women in our union.\u00a0 For me, I want to make sure unions are visible in my community because if unions fail, so does 99% of America.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Welch added that the remarks from Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge were also a rallying cry.\u00a0 \u201cShe said that as long we have unions, we will always have a nation. She told us that it is time for us to build the nation.\u00a0 I am definitely going to use my hammer and get to work!\u201d<\/p>\n

A rousing conclusion to a great week<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Retiree, Local 599, Region 8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day four of the National CAP Conference started off with an attentive crowd being stirred by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS 2nd<\/sup>).\u00a0 Delegates were surprised by the introduction of a very special speaker:\u00a0 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. \u00a0Speaker Pelosi warmly commended the UAW and our members and stated her commitment to our cause.\u00a0 After her remarks, President Curry presented her with the Walter P. Reuther Distinguished Service Award for the work she has done on behalf of labor.<\/p>\n

As Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke this morning, retiree Ray Davis (a retiree from Local 599 who is now part of Region 8) perked up.\u00a0 He has known about Speaker Pelosi\u2019s support of unions for years and to see her proudly declaring her support of our union was both reassuring and inspiring. \u201cIt makes me feel good to know that she will not stop fighting for working people. \u00a0She knows the importance of fair wages and having a voice on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Todd Genaw, Local 889, Region 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Todd Genaw, a member of Local 889 in Region 1, listening to speakers was a big part of this week\u2019s experience.\u00a0 \u201cSenator Debbie Stabenow is a big advocate of labor in Michigan and I\u2019m glad everyone at the conference got to hear her.\u201d\u00a0 Genaw adds that the work she is doing on an EV tax credit for union-made electric vehicles is a top priority. \u201cWe have to support those who support us.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t about your political party, but about your actions,\u201d said Genaw.<\/p>\n

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Trey Durant, Shop Chair, Local 1178, Region 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the last day of the conference, Representative Cindy Axne from 3rd<\/sup> district in Iowa spoke about her long relationship with labor and the Striking Workers Healthcare Protection Act bill she recently introduced after being inspired by walking the picket line with Deere workers. \u00a0Trey Durant, shop chair from local 1178 in Region 4, knows that members are often divided politically, but we come together around fairness.\u00a0 \u201cWhat Axne is saying is the right thing:\u00a0 if workers have a legal right to strike, employers should not be able to punish them for that by taking away their healthcare.\u00a0 I think our members will be energized to know about the work she is doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plenary ends on a high<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The last day of speakers left nothing on the table.\u00a0 Each guest brought perspectives around voting, the mid-term elections, supporting labor, organizing and keeping jobs in our communities.\u00a0 The electrified crowd left eager to go back to their respective locations and share what they have learned.\u00a0 Though the plenary was adjourned, the real work now begins.\u00a0 Onward!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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