[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 89 (Tuesday, July 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1364-E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING JAMES SETTLES, JR. ON HIS ELECTION TO THE UAW VICE 
                               PRESIDENCY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2006

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, on June 14, 2006, James Settles Jr. was 
elected first vice president of the United Automobile Workers 
International Union at its 34th Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, 
Nevada. My colleagues, today I rise to honor this fellow Detroiter on 
his elevation to the post and wish him the best of luck in his new 
position. While James is joining the union's national leadership at a 
critical juncture in its history I believe he has the necessary 
motivation and determination to guide the UAW into a prosperous future.
  In some ways one could argue that James Settles, Jr. was a born labor 
leader. A third generation Ford Motor Company employee and son of James 
Settles, Sr., a well-known Detroit civil rights activist and labor 
leader, Settles' involvement with the UAW began in 1968, when he joined 
Local 600 after being hired at Ford's Dearborn Iron Foundry and 
Michigan Casting Center.
  Just two years later, in 1970, he was elected to the General Council 
of Local 600 and in 1973 he was elected District Committeeman and Unit 
Recording Secretary. Over the next decade, he served in a variety of 
union posts and as a delegate to three UAW conventions. In 1982, he 
took a staff position at Local 600 and later was elected its first vice 
president in 1987.
  As James Settles earned the respect and loyalty of his UAW brothers 
and sisters he has quickly and continuously risen through the UAW 
ranks. In 1992 he was first appointed to UAW International Staff and in 
2002 he was elected director of Region 1A.
  Having been a member of the UAW-Ford National Negotiating Committee 
since 1990, Mr. Settles brings a good deal of contract negotiating 
experience to the post of Vice President. This experience is especially 
important today given the current attack many workers are seeing on 
their collectively bargained contracts.
  I firmly believe that this expertise will help him in his job of 
overseeing several of the national organizations that operate in 
conjunction with the UAW and the over 115,000 technical and 
professional workers he will represent. These workers come from all 
across the country from a range of industries and professions, 
including the healthcare industry, individual universities and 
university systems, an array of professional service and non-profit 
agencies. 20,000 of these workers are employed by the State of 
Michigan.
  While Mr. Settles is a prominent leader in the UAW, his involvement 
in the community extends far beyond the factory walls. James is active 
in a wide range of community and civic organizations. He is a member of 
the Detroit-Wayne County Board of Authority, the Trade Union Leadership 
Council, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and a Life member of 
the NAACP. He serves on the boards of the Henry Ford Community College 
Employment and Training Development Center, the Detroit Public School 
Compact Association at

[[Page E1365]]

McMichael Middle School and the North Rosedale Park Civic Association. 
He is a former member of the board of the Rouge Employees Credit Union.
  In conclusion, Mr. Settles I congratulate your election and once 
again wish you the best of luck.

                          ____________________