Once there was a man who began a long journey, and he spent the first two days covering flat and level ground. However, on the third day his steps brought him to the entrance of a deep, dark jungle. Unable to precede any further, the traveler sized the situation up and decided the only way to continue his journey was to cut a path. It would be hard work, but the only way forward was to get to work.

The mosquitoes bit at his face and the sweat stained his eyes as he brought the machete down again and again, hacking through the brush. Hours passed and his arms ached as slowly a path was cleared through the dense foliage of the jungle. At long last, the traveler exited the jungle on the other side leaving a path cut for others to follow.
A few days later two other adventurers reached the same jungle and saw the remnants of the path that had been cut. Together they decided to widen the path so others could follow. The two set out widening the path, but finding the job a little easier than the first because a trail had already been blazed. At the end of their toll, lay a path that others could easily follow.

Days passed and other travelers took the road, until soon a steady stream of pilgrims passed the way that had been made. Over time the jungle began to creep back in, reclaiming much that had been lost. The path began to narrow and the number of travelers began to dwindle. The path was too hard some said, while others simply shrugged and walked away. Soon the jungle greedily reclaimed the path, restricting access to those who came along. Smiling there, the jungle waited, waited until another arrived with the courage and conviction to clear a way for others.

This tale is not unlike the story we find ourselves in sometimes. These are hard time and we know all too well the tangles and the dangers of this jungle that corporate America has laid before us. However, we can never give up the fight; never give up our vision; never give up hope. For when hope is lost, so is the battle.

Before us great travelers walked; Walter Reuther, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Stephen Yokich, Mother Jones and scores of others who shouldered the weight and cleared the path. Today President Gettelfinger continues the war against the ills of the corporate jungle but we can’t expect him to carry the fight alone. There are those within the membership who say the leadership is not tough, but maybe the problem lies within the membership itself; it could be there is where we have gotten soft. We have had it so good for so long, we have forgotten about the struggles for the things we take for granted. Before we turn an accusing finger at the leadership, lets look at ourselves and ask if we have been as dedicated as we should.

You see, we have walked the paths carved by our fore fathers, taking advantage of their sweat, blood and determination. Now, the road grows dark and the path grows narrow. Even though many of us stand at the end of the path and turn to look back into the jungle, our journey is not complete; for toward the start of the trail another group of journeyers await the start of their trek.

Our new members and the others who are not leaving will need out help, our guidance and our support going forward. In the early days of this local union we were fortunate to have those with experience to help us along. Now, the time has come for us to repay those strokes of the hatchet and shoulder weight to help clear the path again.

Remember, we are all brothers and sisters in this social movement that is known as the UAW; it doesn’t matter what your hire date is, we are all the same in solidarity.

So thanks to those who cleared the path for us, now the time has come for us to join the fight to building a path to the future.
Peace my Brothers and Sisters,

John Davis