[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHARTERING OF UAW LOCAL #599 
                       LOCATED IN FLINT, MICHIGAN

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                          HON. DEBBIE STABENOW

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 3, 1999

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the members 
of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local #599, located in Flint, Michigan, on 
the 60th Anniversary of its charter. I would like to commend the 23 
members of the local that received the 19th annual Walter P. Reuther 
Award for Distinguished Service. I will list the recipients at the end 
of my remarks.
  Local #599 was chartered on January 10, 1939, and has been an 
integral part of the great accomplishments of the labor movement during 
this century. It is important to remember that not long ago in this 
country, laborers, including children, toiled in squalid factory 
conditions for pitiful wages. Within a generation, dramatic strides 
were made to greatly improve the quality of life of workers. With 
continued effort, organized labor has secured numerous important 
rights, including safe workplaces, decent wages, health and life 
insurance, worker's and unemployment compensation, and continuing 
education and training. This progress continues to this day, as the UAW 
recently completed a new round of contract negotiations with the big 
three automakers. The labor movement in the United States, led by Local 
#599, has been at the forefront of progress in the area of civil and 
human rights, representing one of the great social advances in history.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to pay tribute to the great contributions 
that the members of Local #599 have made to Michigan and the country, 
and I ask my colleagues to do the same. I would specifically like to 
acknowledge the leadership of Local President Arthur McGee, and 
recognize the recipients of the Walter P. Reuther Distinguished Service 
Award. This award is one of two sanctioned by the International Union 
UAW, and is given for exceptional meritorious service by UAW members 
and community leaders. The 19th Annual Walter P. Reuther Award 
Recipients are: Robert Aidif, David Aiken, Dennis Carl, Russell W. 
Cook. Harvey ``Whitey'' DeGroot, Patrick Dolan, Larry Farlin, Maurice 
``Mo'' Felling, Ted Henderson, James Yaklin, Ken Mead, Don Wilson, 
Frank Molina, Shirley Prater, Gene Ridley, John D. Rogers, Dale 
Scanlon, G. Jean Garza-Smith, Nick Vuckovich, Jerry J. Ward, Greg 
Wheeler, Tom Worden, and Dale Bingley. I again congratulate these 
members for their service to the UAW, their communities and their 
country. It is an honor to represent the members of UAW Local #599 in 
the United States Congress.

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