December 2024

Greetings! Most of you know me as the VP of UAW Local 652. I am also the President of Capitol Area CLUW (Coalition of Labor Union Women). I wanted to take a moment to report on the Presidential election cycle and CLUW’s GOTV involvement. Here in Lansing, we surpassed the canvassing goal that National CLUW set for ALL of Michigan combined.  I am very fortunate to have such strong shoulders on which I stand. The women who came before me already had our GOTV path created, and all I had to do was go down the path and follow the steps that were already in place.

· The total number of doors CLUW went to was 6,188

· Leaving our literature in the hands of 10,184 voters.

· We sent out 1,500 postcards to remind people to vote.

· We made 250 phone calls.

· On our day of action, we also had a CLUW table and passed out candy at the City Clerk’s event, Souls to the Pouls. This was a Halloween-themed early voting and voter registration event.

· On the eve of election day, we targeted registered voters who didn’t vote yet and gave them a reminder flyer.

My MVP for activism for this election cycle was Kim Wheeler. Kim went to 1,656 doors. She also worked GOTV with the AFL-CIO while doing her 40-hour/week job as the bargaining chair at UAW Local 4911. Kim's efforts were unmatched!

We also have a retired member, Eileen Brooker, who belongs to APRI, LCLAA, and CBTU. She helped all four constituency groups a lot with GOTV. Eileen is a worker bee and a true union sister who everyone loves!

CLUW would like to thank the Appointed UAW/GM members who helped us reach our goals and the community members who helped with canvassing.

CLUW adopted a family for Christmas from UAW Local 475. Local 475 is the Jackson local who was on strike and recently ratified. The family we adopted is a family with 5 children. We gave them $500/child in hopes they have a bright Christmas. The parents have sent me messages with heartfelt gratitude and thankfulness. I’m so proud and thankful for CLUW to be in the position of dramatically helping in that way.  That’s what it is all about, brothers and sisters, and my heart is completely full.

On another note, some of you may have noticed I’m not at the union hall as much. In an effort to help save the hall money, I am working in the plant full-time. I am in materials, which is where I have worked since 2012. When times get tough, TRUE leaders do what they have to do for the membership WITHOUT question. Besides that, I love working alongside my brothers and sisters AND I get FAR more steps in when I’m working in the plant versus sitting at the union hall. J  

Because it’s the December issue, I want to wish my favorite retiree a happy birthday, my dad, Randy Whitaker! I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season. As always, it is my honor to represent you as your Vice President. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to call on me.

Lena