A large portion of the current membership was hired after the organizing drive was complete and may not know the entire history of our local. Winning union representation was not easy, and it took the efforts of a lot of people to make this a reality.

In 1975, Plant 21 was constructed as part of GM’s Southern Strategy. The idea was to duplicate as much of the operation as possible in the south, in non-union shops. Plant 22 followed in 1978 and Plant 23 in 1980. Organizing efforts began in 1978, with a handful of people who transferred to the Site to get the ball rolling. These folks were spread out across the operation and worked in cooperation with the International Union’s Organizing Department.

Local 2195 Retiree Chair and former President Chuck McDonald was part of that group. “The first representation election at Saginaw was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board in June of 1980. Although the election was close, the Union was defeated by a handful of votes, and the election was maligned with violations. Many of the employees that supported the Union had been subjected to threats, intimidation, and coercion. After a lengthy hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, the first election was thrown out and a new election was ordered,” Chuck recalled.

A second election was held, with the union failing by a 15 vote margin. Once again, the drive and election were filled with violations. The anti-union group, which had been supported by the company, had gotten out of control to the point of embarrassing GM, and they agreed to another election without the need of a hearing. The third election again resulted in a narrow defeat for representation.
“In March 1982 the International Union and General Motors Corporation agreed to what has become known as a card check agreement to determine a majority status. The Corporation agreed the Union would submit signed authorization cards to a neutral, impartial arbitrator who would verify the Union’s majority status, and then the Corporation would recognize the UAW as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative.

In April 1982 the Union began the campaign to secure a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit on UAW Authorization Cards. The employees were informed there would be no election because of the tainted atmosphere that had proven on three different occasions that a fair election could not be held. The employees were informed that when they signed an authorization card it would be the same as a yes vote for the Union,” Chuck recalls.

Without the scare tactics that had been used before, many people signed cards signifying that they wanted union representation. The cards were submitted to an impartial arbitrator, and the union was certified on September 02, 1982.

The weeks that followed were not always easy, for many relationships had been strained in the organizing efforts. Friends and even families had ended up at odds over representation, but soon those hurts would be placed to rest. The first meeting held at Austin High School included many that had worked diligently to keep the union out. Many of these folks were honest in their efforts, but were misled by the lies of a few. There were those who fought to keep the union out, who went on to play leading roles in the local and made great union members. It is amazing what a little education can do.

Chuck McDonald was appointed Chairman until elections could be held. He went on to serve as President with Jim Gabbard being elected the first Chairman.

In December of 1984, the union hall was dedicated. With the dedication of the building, there was also the washing away of many of the hurts and pains from the organizing drive. Even though Alabama is a right to work state, the vast majority of the Alabama Site employees joined the union.