Bob King

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Bob King

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Bob King is a leader of the United Auto Workers Union.[1]

Bob King was elected as President of the United Auto Workers Union in 2010. From 1998 until 2010, he served three four-year terms as a Vice President at UAW. In his final term as Vice President, he directed the Ford, Severstal, and Competitive Shops/Independent Parts Suppliers Departments of the UAW. Before this, Mr. King served nine years as the Union’s Director for most of Wayne, Monroe, and Washtenaw Counties in Michigan. He also chaired the UAW-Ford Negotiating Committee twice. [2]

Affiliations

Bob King is a life member of the NAACP and a member of the Coalition of Labor Union Women.[3]

Met with Cuban delegation

In May 1991, Bob King, then director of UAW region 1A, met with the members of the first Cuban trade union delegation to be granted visas to the US, since the 1959 revolution. The Cuban delegation consisted of Joaquin Bernal Camero, a member of the national secretariat of the Workers Central Union of Cuba, Luis Guillermo Abreu Meijas, general secretary of the National Union of Workers in Education, Sciences and Sports.

Nathan Head, of the UAW's civil rights department spoke at a welcoming reception, of the need to improve relations with a "country, just 90 miles off our coast".

The visit, and that of a separate Soviet delegation visiting Detroit at the same time, was organized by the National Council of American-Soviet Friendship and the Detroit Justice for Cuba Coalition.[4]

Saluting Democratic Left

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UAW leaders Stephen Yokich (President), Ruben Burks (Sec-Treasurer), and Vice Presidents Elizabeth Bunn, Ron Gettelfinger, Nate Gooden, Bob King and Richard Shoemaker, placed an advertisement in Democratic Socialists of America's Democratic Left, Winter 2001, "The men and women of International Union, UAW salute Democratic Left - A strong voice for social and economic justice". [5]

Anti Iraq war meeting

Almost 200 union activists filled United Auto Workers Local 600’s hall in Dearborn Michigan, to hear union leaders speak out against Bush’s war on Iraq. The panel included many leaders of union locals, leaders of the Michigan labor movement and leaders of international unions. It was moderated by Julie Hurwitz of the National Lawyers Guild.

Noel Beasley, international vice president of Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, linked organizing opposition to Bush’s war to building a more powerful union movement. Beasley urged members to remind co-workers that “this is a war that will put working men and women on the front lines to get killed” – and to kill Iraqi men and women. “The real issue is the economy. It’s Bush’s fault and we’ve got to put the focus where it belongs,” he said.

Al Benchich, president of UAW Local 909, stated bluntly “We won’t be able to stop [this war] unless labor raises its mighty voice to stop it.” Benchich also emphasized the significance of being able to dialogue with those who may differ, especially with veterans.

“We firmly stand in opposition to Bush’s smokescreen,” concurred Millie Hall, president of the Detroit Chapter of Coalition of Labor Union Women, “that will end up in our sons and daughters being brought home in body bags.”

Hurwitz outlined some significant consequences of the USA PATRIOT Act and its proposed sequel, the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003. This law will broaden power of the authorities, reduce the ability of the public to oversea or challenge their power, redefine terrorism to include some action of union organizing, provide authorities with unprecedented power of domestic spying and wiretapping without judicial oversight, and define as terrorism any attempt to mobilize opposition to influence the government’s policies.

Following this chilling account, Mich. State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney added the Homeland Security Act stripped the collective bargaining rights of over 140,000 workers. “The drumbeat for war is a drumbeat for war on unions,” he said.

Elena Herrada, a cafeteria worker’s union leader, emphasized the drastic effects the Bush policies have had on Detroit’s public services.

“We have a moral obligation to speak out against this war,” UAW International Vice President Bob King stated. To succeed in building an effective movement, he said, “We have to engage others in dialogue and really try to understand where they are coming from.” Education is key. Disarmament “should be done through UN inspections,” he said. “It’s not a single war [the Bush administration] wants to lead,” King said, but a whole series of wars and actions to gain control of the Middle East’s resources. [6]

Detroit rally

Over 10,000 Detroiters marched down Washington Boulevard from the UAW-Ford National Programs Center to Grand Circus Park on Saturday, August 28th 2010, to demand "jobs, peace, and justice". The march was organized by United Auto Workers (UAW) President Bob King and Operation PUSH founder and director Reverend Jesse Jackson. It commemorated the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s March on Washington.

The dais at Grand Circus Park was "teeming with dignitaries—politicians, clergy of every denomination, and union leaders". Among the elected officials present were Representatives John Conyers, Jr., John Dingell, Maxine Waters, Marcy Kaptur and Senator Debbie Stabenow. Michigan Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee Virg Bernero briefly addressed the audience and committed himself to placing the interests of Main Street over those of Wall Street. Among the union leaders who spoke were UAW President Bob King, newly-elected President of the Service Employees International Union Mary Kay Henry, Farm Laborers Organizing Committee President Baldemar Velasquez, and American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 25 President Al Garrett.[7]

Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center

In 2009, Bob King was a member of the Host Committee for the Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice Reception & Silent Auction which was held at the Atlas Global Bistro, Detroit. The reception, which was held on Nov. 18, 2009 is the annual fundraising event to benefit the far left National Lawyers Guild-affiliated Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice. Remarks were made by Steve Tobocman and the Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award was presented to Marilyn Mullane, Executive Director, Michigan Legal Services.[8]

Van Jones award host committee

Screenshot of Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice reception (click image to enlarge)

On November 18, 2010, the far left Maurice & Jane Sugar Law Center for Economic & Social Justice presented "The Maurice Sugar Voice for Justice Award" to Van Jones "Human Rights Activists and Green-Jobs Advocate", at the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, 660 Woodward Ave, Suite 300.

Members of the Honorary Host Committee were;[9]

Drinan Award

The Father Robert F. Drinan National Peace and Human Rights Award was established in 2006. The award is annually presented by the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World to individuals who exemplify the late Father Drinan's commitment |to peace and human justice".

The award broadly focuses on U.S. politics, political science, physical science, biology, peace studies, and peace and human rights activism.

Obama appointment

On February 16, 2011 President Barack Obama announced the appointment of Bob King to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.[11]

"The 99% Spring"

Individuals and organizations supporting The 99% Spring, as of April 20, 2012, included Bob King - United Auto Workers .[12]

UFW 50th Anniversary convention

The United Farm Workers' 50th Anniversary convention was held Saturday, May 19,2012. Rabobank Convention Center. Keene, California.

• A three-hour program (1-4 p.m.) honoring the UFW pioneers, with special segments on the 1962 founding convention, 1965-1970 grape strikers and boycotters, 1966 peregrinos who marched from Delano to Sacramento, the Filipino American grape strikers and the farm worker ministry. Among the speakers were Dolores Huerta, Chris Hartmire and Luis Valdez, whose Teatro Campesino performed old union songs and actos throughout the program.

• Other speakers included California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton and Maria Elena Durazo, former farm worker and head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

Sunday, May 20, Rabobank Convention Center. Keene, California

• Mass at 7:45 a.m. with Bishop Richard Garcia from the Monterey Diocese presiding, honoring the rive UFW martyrs.

• Among the speakers were U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, United Auto Workers President Bob King, Univision anchor Maria Elena Salinas and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.[13]

Peace Action Advisory Board

Peace Action Advisory Board as of 2014;

Kushner connection

Richard Bensinger December 9, 2018 ·

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It was wonderful to see Bob King, Moe Fitzsimons, Julie Kushner and others including Phil Wheeler, in celebrating Julie's UAW retirement and election to the Connecticut state senate.

External links

References

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  1. ↑ Executive Board
  2. ↑ White house press release, President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 2/16/2011
  3. ↑ White house press release, President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 2/16/2011
  4. ↑ Peoples Weekly World, May 18, 1991, page 10
  5. ↑ Democratic Left • Fall-Winter 2001
  6. ↑ PWW March 1, 2003, page 16
  7. ↑ Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of America DDDSA newsletter, September 2010 Volume 11, Issue 5
  8. ↑ Sugar Law Center website: 2009 Essential: Advocacy for Community Justice Reception & Silent Auction (accessed on Feb. 11, 2011)
  9. ↑ Sugar Law Center for Economic k Social Justice website, accessed Jan 25, 2011
  10. ↑ Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation website. Council for a Livable World 50th Anniversary Celebration
  11. ↑ White house press release, President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 2/16/2011
  12. ↑ THE 99% Spring, Who are we/ accessed April 20, 2012
  13. ↑ Talking Union, U.F.W. 50th. Anniversary Convention,Posted on May 2, 2012 by dcampbell1
  14. ↑ Peace Action Advisory Board
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