April 2023

As many of you know, we have benefit reps at the hall on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Sometimes I get to meet retired union brothers and sisters when they come in for a benefit question. While they wait, I like to engage in conversation. I ask when they retired, what plant they worked at, and so forth.   When retired members Bob and Carol Gates came to speak to a benefit rep, I did just that.  We went to the basement where we have a map of where all the plants were located before they were demolished. Carol worked in Plant 5 and that is where she and Bob met.  I bet many of you married couples met in one of the plants, just as my parents did in Plant 3 in 1970. If any of you retirees are in town, or at the hall, I would love to show you the big map that we have in the basement at the union hall. I love to hear the “back in my day” type of stories and to learn more about our History at Local 652.

On a sad note. They say that people come into your life for a reason, season, or lifetime. When I started coming to union meetings as a new hire back in the late 90s, I didn’t know much about unions. I set my eyes and ears on one particular union brother because he was very active at the union meetings. He was so confident in the way he knew Parliamentary Procedure. In fact, it was this particular union brother that taught me Parliamentary Procedure just by watching/listening to him.   I watched him mentor the then-leadership before me and learned the importance of supporting the standing committees’ events and activities. This particular union brother’s teaching is instilled in many of us and goes on through us.  I’m sad that I never told him what a positive influence he was on me and how much I learned from him. This union brother is Harold Foster. I’m hopeful his family will find comfort in knowing the impact he made in the union movement.  Harold Foster came into my life for a reason and his legacy will live on. He was the epitome of what a great union brother is and I am honored to have met him. Well done, Brother Foster we will take it from here!