[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING STEPHEN P. YOKICH, PRESIDENT OF THE UAW, ON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 2002

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, 
Stephen P. Yokich, on the occasion of his retirement after nearly 35 
years of dedication to the UAW, including his impressive two terms as 
President of the organization.
  Steve is a natural born leader and has been a driving force within 
the UAW. He has played a leading role in re-energizing the labor 
movement, developing new strategies to address the challenges of the 
global economy, expanding the UAW's organizing activities, and 
cementing close ties with other major unions.
  Steve's long and impressive career in the labor community began when 
he was appointed by UAW President Walter Reuther to the Region I staff 
in 1969. Since then, Mr. Speaker, Steve has worked to make the UAW the 
strong and diversified organization that it is today.
  A former director of the UAW's Organizing Department (from 1983 to 
1989), Steve has made organizing a top priority of the Union. An early 
advocate of diversifying the UAW's membership, he planned and directed 
the highly successful 1985 organizing drive that brought 22,000 State 
of Michigan employees into the UAW.
  Mr. Yokich also has impeccable collective bargaining skills which 
were displayed on several occasions, including his 1999 and 1996 
negotiations with the major automakers. Under Steve's leadership, the 
contracts achieved with the Big Three automakers in 1996 bolstered 
hallmark job and income security programs, and further expanded the 
widely respected ``People Programs,'' that benefit members and their 
families.
  In the weeks leading up to the traditional opening of contract talks 
with the Big Three in 1996, Yokich's bargaining innovation and savvy 
took the floor. He surprised the companies and industry observers by 
refusing to designate one company a ``strike target.'' As he told the 
press, ``Our members elected us to bring back agreements, not to go on 
strike.''
  Just a few days prior to contract expiration, Yokich announced that 
the Ford Motor Company would be the lead company for the Union's all-
out settlement efforts. The results validated Steve's innovative new 
approach to auto negotiations. The Union gained wage and benefit 
increases in each year of the three-year Ford agreement, and greatly 
strengthened existing job and income security programs. Other key gains 
included: cost of living protection for retirees, health care 
improvements and the enhancement of many other programs.
  Mr. Yokich made an historic breakthrough with the first company-paid 
tuition assistance for post secondary education of dependents of UAW 
members, as well as tuition assistance for retirees. Similar contracts 
then followed at Chrysler and General Motors.
  Mr. Speaker, Steve has also been a forceful leader in bringing women 
and minorities into top UAW leadership positions. He has always been a 
strong believer that the UAW leadership must accurately reflect the 
make-up of the membership.
  Mr. Yokich not only believed in diversifying the UAW, but he also 
fought for improvements in workplace health and safety and for 
education and training for UAW-represented workers and their families. 
Steve was widely praised for his pioneering role in developing Employee 
Assistance Programs to help workers with problems such as drug and 
alcohol abuse.
  Steve has had a hand in virtually all facets of the UAW including the 
UAW's Agricultural Implement Department and the Skilled Trades 
Department. He is also a veteran political activist. Steve has 
coordinated and participated in numerous statewide and national 
campaigns.
  As if all of the above was not an impressive enough list of 
accomplishments, Mr. Yokich is also involved in a wide range of labor, 
civic, and charitable organizations. He is a member of the NAACP and 
the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), and serves on the boards or 
steering committees of the Economic Alliance of Michigan, Michigan Blue 
Cross-Blue Shield, the Michigan Cancer Foundation, and the Father 
Clement Kern Foundation.
  Mr. Yokich and his wife, Tekla, are the parents of two children, 
Stephen A. and Tracey, and have one grandson, Michael Stephen. 
Hopefully, his retirement will allow him to enjoy more time with his 
family, as well as devoting more time to golfing, hunting and fishing.
  Mr. Speaker, as Steve leaves after nearly thirty-five years of 
dedication to the UAW, I would ask that all my colleagues salute him 
and his efforts on behalf of American workers.

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