[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 96 (Thursday, June 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING RON GETTELFINGER FOR HIS LEADERSHIP OF THE UAW

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2010

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I take 
this time to honor one of America's great leaders, retiring president 
of the United Auto Workers Union, Ron Gettelfinger. Mr. Gettelfinger 
served as president of the UAW from 2002 until 2010.
  Mr. Gettelfinger became a member of the UAW in 1964 when he became a 
chassis line repairman in Ford's Louisville factory. In 1984 Mr. 
Gettelfinger was elected by the membership of the UAW Local 862 chapter 
in Louisville to represent them as their committee person, bargaining 
chair, and president, and in 1992 Mr. Gettelfinger was elected to be 
the director of UAW's Region 3, which represents the UAW membership of 
Indiana and Kentucky. Then in 1998 Mr. Gettelfinger was elected vice 
president of the UAW, and he served in that position until June 5, 
2002, when at the UAW's 33rd constitutional convention Mr. Gettelfinger 
was elected president.
  Throughout Mr. Gettelfinger's rise to the top within the UAW he was 
driven by the sole purpose of fighting for the rights of the American 
worker. He fought for fair trade agreements that would protect the 
rights and health of American workers and the environment. He 
steadfastly worked to prevent a race to the bottom environment in 
countries around the world, and was an outspoken advocate for a 
national single-payer health care system. He fought for all of these 
ideals while having to lead the UAW through the worst economic downturn 
since the Great Depression, and I wish there were more exemplary 
fighters out there like Ron Gettlefinger.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask that you and my other distinguished 
colleagues join me in commending Mr. Ron Gettelfinger for his 46 years 
of service as both a member and leader of the United Auto Workers 
Union, and in wishing him all the best in his retirement.

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