[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING RUBEN BURKS, SECRETARY-TREASURER 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 Ruben Burks on 
the occasion of his retirement from the UAW as secretary-treasurer.
  Mr. Burks was elected secretary-treasurer of the UAW on June 24, 
1998, by the delegates to the 32nd UAW Constitutional Convention in Las 
Vegas, Nevada.
  As secretary-treasurer, Ruben holds the second-highest office in the 
UAW. He is responsible for various administrative departments of the 
International Union, including Accounting, Auditing, Building 
Maintenance, Circulation, Purchasing, and Strike Insurance. In 
addition, Burks directs the UAW Michigan CAP (Community Action Program) 
and the UAW's Veterans Department.
  Prior to his position as secretary-treasurer, Ruben served three 
terms as director of UAW Region IC, which covers 11 counties in south-
central Michigan and is headquartered in Flint.
  Mr. Speaker, Ruben has been a member of UAW Local 598 since 1955 when 
he went to work as an assembler at the former Fisher Body Plant 2 of 
General Motors Corporation in Flint, Michigan. In 1970, Mr. Burks was 
appointed by then UAW President Walter Reuther to the International 
Union staff in Region 1C where he serviced UAW members in General 
Motors and independents, parts, and supplier plants.
  Ruben has been a long time community activist as well. He has been a 
leader in Flint Genesee County Economic Development, a cooperative 
effort by labor, business, and civic leaders to keep good jobs in the 
Flint community and to attract new industries to the area. Ruben played 
a leading role in the UAW-General Motors Community Health Care 
Initiative in Flint, an innovative community-based effort to improve 
the quality and accessibility of health care while at the same time 
making the community's health care delivery system more cost efficient.
  Ruben has not only been active in the UAW, but is also actively 
involved in numerous civic, charitable, and youth organizations in the 
Flint community, including Special Olympics, March of Dimes, Red Cross, 
and Easter Seals.
  An outspoken advocate for working families in the political arena, 
Mr. Burks has made grassroots political action by UAW members a high 
priority in Region 1C. Ruben also received an honorary degree in 
Community Development from Mott Community College in recognition and 
appreciation of his contributions to the Flint community.
  Ruben has lived in Flint since 1955 and is the proud father of seven 
children and ten grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, as Ruben leaves his 
position as secretary-treasurer of the UAW, I would ask that all my 
colleagues salute him and his leadership.

                          ____________________