Below is an Endorsement from Over 100 UAW Retirees. To add your name, follow this link to the Post on the Curry Solidarity Team Facebook Page and add your name and local union number in the comments.

Click here to add your name to this endorsement on the Curry Solidarity Team Facebook page.

Click Here to download a PDF version of this endorsement you print and share or email to all your UAW friends.

Retiree Declaration of Support For the Curry Solidarity Team

We the undersigned retired members who are in good standing in our great UAW stand in full support of the The Ray Curry Solidarity Team. Ray leads a diverse Team that is representative of our UAW. The Curry Solidarity Team understands Auto, Aerospace, Ag Imp, Heavy Truck, IPS, TOP, Higher Education, Gaming and every other sector within our Union. This is a Team that is working for all of us every day and will continue to do so after the election.

Much has been said about retirees in the discussions around the upcoming election. As retirees we understand these comments more than anyone. Our years equate to experience and that gives our group a unique perspective on many of the issues being discussed.

We support the ruling that retirees are ineligible to run for International Executive Board positions. That has been a long-standing position of our Union and was recently upheld by the Court. Granted, retirees are a valuable support system for our Locals and the International Union. However, we are not a part of the bargaining unit and that removes us from participating and understanding the day-to-day issues faced by active members.

We understand the legal limitations on what can be accomplished at the bargaining table for non-active members. We know Ray Curry and his Team will do everything in their power in regards to protecting and building upon our pensions.

We are also aware that members of the Curry Team are experienced when it comes to representing our interest on the VEBAs that were created during the downturns in various industries to protect our health care. Ray Curry currently leads the UAW Trustees on the Auto VEBAs and appoints UAW Trustees to the other VEBAs when vacancies occur. We know the critical role that the UAW Trustees play in insuring that our VEBA benefits will be secure. This is of the utmost importance to us and we have continued confidence in The Curry Solidarity Team to be there for us.

Retirees understand the role Social Security and Medicare play in our financial security. We have witnessed, and we know, The Curry Solidarity Team has the experience and connections in Washington to secure and enhance those benefits.

We join with The Curry Solidarity Team in establishing the goal to abolish tiers and grow job security for our active members. We understand the importance of solidarity through equitable compensation. After all, many of us have relatives still working across various employer sectors represented by our Union. We know Ray Curry, after being in Office since July 1, 2021, and members of his Team have already been successful in making progress during negotiations in this area.

Lastly, it is important that we have leaders who will represent us with honesty, integrity and experience. That is exactly what we are getting with the entire Curry Solidarity Team. They have conducted themselves with transparency and integrity throughout their campaign. Wild accusations, outlandish promises and ridiculous graphics by some of their opposition only demean the name of the UAW and further tarnishes our reputation in the eyes of our communities. We have already suffered embarrassment at the hands of the guilty who were prosecuted. Ray Curry’s Team understands their responsibility and they are committed to carrying the UAW name forward every day with dignity and honor.

It is for these reasons the UAW Retirees support and stand with the entire Curry Solidarity Team. We encourage you to support Ray’s Team too. Thank you!

In Solidarity!

Ron Gettelfinger UAW President Emeritus	John Davis Local 2195	Debi Kirchner Local 598	Terry Thurman Local 440	Steven Stone Local 862 Retiree Chair
Dave M Careless Chair East TN Retirees Council Local 598	Charles McDonald Local 2195 Retiree Chair	Ray Davis Florida Sun Coast IAC Local 599	John Mahaffy Florida Sun Coast IAC Local 1264	Ghana Goodwin-Dye Local 909
Lloyd Mahaffey Local 12	Tracey Dye Local 889	Larry Kitson Local 659	Mark Corso Local 36	Marie Talley Local 435
Paul Elliott Local 23	Ken Lortz Local 70	Jon “Yogi” Cox Local 663 Retiree Chair	David Bortz Local 5841	James Tate Local 1929
Connie Thurman Local 9212	Lawrence Hamilton Local 719	James Patton Local 892	Michael Cavanaugh Local 435	Paul Quick Local 892
Lewis Sexton Local 862 Ex Bd Mbr	Dan White Local 94	Tom Savage Local 1407	Larry Williams Local 1413	Clifford Hollis Local 1413
George Dakuras Local 719	Rick A. Henderson Local 3047	Alan Henson Local 663	Ronald Cleary NWCFRC IAC Local 2166	Gene Hurd Local 509
Stan Belue Local 900	Jim Rogers Local 1590	Ken Collinson Local 1590	Jimmy C Hyde Local 10	Gene Ridley Local 599
Roger Shaw Local 1413	Scott Birdsall Local 659	Diane Doubrava Local 6000	Janet Woodson Local 598 Retiree Chair	Shirley Underwood Local 148
Ron Ancira Local 659 Retiree Chair	Jessie L Collins Local 599 Retiree Chair	Ted Fleming Local 211 RET CHR Region 2B CHR	Mo Davison Local 933	Bill “Whitey” Stevenson Local 2280
Willie Monroe Local 10 Retiree Chair	Bob Woodcock Local 933	Erv Heidbrink Local 2093 Retiree Chair	Jeff Lewis Local 22 Retiree Chair	Terri Zook Local 98 Retiree Chair
Mark Ferrell Local 226 Retiree Chair	Midge Collett Local 292 Retiree Chair	Dennis Green Local 371 Retiree Chair	James Donaldson Local 550 Retiree Chair	Dennis Cheshier Local 662 Retiree Chair
Ron "Shorty" Bendixon Local 685 Retiree Chair	Joyce Meltzer Local 941 Retiree Chair	Joyce Stone Local 977 Retiree Chair	John Flippen Local 1111 Retiree Chair	Bill Friskey Local 1166 Retiree Chair
Charlie Sheppard Local 1226 Retiree Chair	Jim King Local 663 IN ST Ret Chr	JoAnn Matney Local 12 Retiree Chair	Henry McCoy Local 14 Retiree Chair	Rick Cearley Local 233 Retiree Chair
Ann Watkins Local 533 Retiree Chair	John Casteel Local 549 Retiree Chair	Wayne Hansford Local 674 Retiree Chair	James Siuda Local 863 Retiree Chair	Jerry Schmidt Local 1005 Retiree Chair
Larry Doyle Local 1050 Retiree Chair	John Gordon Local 1112 Retiree Chair	Mary Lou Napka Local 1216 Retiree Chair	Gary Frueh Local 1765 Retiree Chair	Johnnie Jordan Local 1892 Retiree Chair
John Hunter Local 2000 Retiree Chair	Steve Yoder Local 2308 Retiree Chair	Bob Masterson Local 1005 OH ST Ret Chr	Shelia Pedersen Local 898	Jim Knappenberger Local 5841
Jim Pedersen Local 892	Larry Kitson Local 659	Mark Corso Local 36	Ken Senter Local 1714	Harold Cox Local 653
Steve Stout Local 5841	Don Hester Local 653 Retiree Chair	Mack Busby Local 2190	Sam McDowell Local 786S	Mike Johnson Local 472 Retiree Chair
Brenda Golisch Local 2185	Tony Hernandez Local 2278	Curtis Franklin Local 34	JC Phillips Local 882	Denise Megiel-Rollo Local 2278
Peggy Gervase Local 774	Carolyn Forrest Local 174	Harold Wise Local 34	Gary Casteel Local 3036	Donny Bevis Local 1155
Vivian Decker, Sun Valley IAC Chair Local 5960	Joe Rypkowski Local 1853	Joe Elizondo Local 723

This site is not an official UAW communication, nor is it intended to be. It is the personal page of UAW Region 8 Assistant Director Tim Smith and is maintained and paid for by Tim Smith. No UAW resources were used in the development of this communication. Titles are given for identification purposes only.