[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 108 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF JOEL GODDARD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AND SERVICE 
                      WITH THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 23, 2017

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Joel Goddard 
for his career with the United Auto Workers and Ford Motor Company. Mr. 
Goddard has been an effective advocate for working Americans and labor, 
and his work has resulted in significant gains for our nation's 
autoworkers.
  Mr. Goddard began his career with Ford Motor Company in 1972, when he 
joined the company to work at one of the company's Ohio engine plants. 
He then moved to Rawsonville, Michigan, where he began as a diecast 
diemaker. Mr. Goddard earned his first position with the UAW as an 
Alternate Skilled Trades Committeeman in 1985. As a result of his 
knowledge of the auto industry and effective advocacy on behalf of his 
fellow workers, Mr. Goddard moved up in the UAW and served in a variety 
of high-ranking positions. He was Chairman of the Local 898 UAW branch 
at Rawsonville and was reelected nine straight times due to his strong 
leadership. Additionally, Mr. Goddard served as the UAW National 
Negotiating Committee's Chairman from 2002 through 2015, where he 
represented autoworkers in multiple high-level negotiations and won 
them lasting improvements in pay and benefits.
  Mr. Goddard has been an advocate and leader for the UAW throughout 
his career, and his deep knowledge of the automotive industry and 
tenacity have served the workers he represented well. As a result of 
Mr. Goddard's 25 years of work, the Rawsonville plant continues to 
provide good-paying jobs to Americans and produce high quality parts 
for Ford Motor Company. His commitment to a fair deal for UAW workers 
made him one of the longest serving Plant Chairmen in UAW history, and 
he continued to deliver wins for the workers he represented in 
negotiations. Mr. Goddard's leadership and expertise will be missed as 
he retires from his current position, and it is my hope that the 
Rawsonville plant and its workers continue to build on his legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Joel 
Goddard. His career with the UAW and Ford has helped preserve American 
jobs and protect our country's workers.

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