Kempf, Dutcher seeking UAW Local 95 top spot
Podcast Episode
Kyle Geissler talks with Janesville Gazette business editor Jim Leute about this week's U.A.W. Local 95 election.
JANESVILLE — With its largest unit struggling, United Auto Workers Local 95 will elect a new leader this week.
Mike Sheridan, Local 95 president for the last six years, is retiring from General Motors and is not seeking re-election. Sheridan continues to represent Janesville in the Wisconsin Assembly.
Kurt Kempf and Brad Dutcher are running for Local 95’s top spot. Balloting starts at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday and ends at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The new leader will take over a union that was hit last week with news that GM will end second-shift production in Janesville in July. Hourly workers at the plant also are contemplating an attrition program. Local 95 also represents workers at Lear Corp. and LSI, two supplier also hit hard by the GM announcement.
While Local 95 ratified a national contract with GM last fall, it has yet to settle a local contract that governs rules and working conditions specific to the Janesville GM plant.
Kempf has nearly 31 years in at the Janesville plant, where he has held a variety of positions but since 1989 has worked in general assembly.
“I know we have a great challenge ahead, but we also have a great opportunity to bring the union together,” Kempf said in a statement on his Web site. “We need to find ways to make our plant and people so great that the corporation would not ever think of shutting us down.”
Dutcher, too, has worked in a variety of positions in his GM career. He has served as a union committeeman in the plant and for the last six years has been a vice president for Local 95.
“I know the operation and how the union functions,” Dutcher said. “I’m running first and foremost to put everyone back to work and to make sure that we secure work for the future.”
John Dohner Jr., Local 95’s shop committee chairman at GM, will face two challengers in this week’s election. They are John Woodworth and Jerry Ahrens.
Other contested races:
-- First VP: Terry Sebero, Jim Benash and Andy Richardson.
-- Second VP: Steve Kerl, Kip Hirschfield and Michael Trail
-- Financial secretary: Tim Rutter, Lenette Holden and Pam Good.
-- Trustees (3): Tracey Cook, Brian Westendorf, William Schauer, Julie Spangler, Greg Malueg, Michael Saputo and Juvell Calvin.
-- Sergeant-at-arms: Lenny St. Michaels, Cleatus Marshall, Nate Nelson and Keith Breidenstein.
-- Guide: Sanford Jones, Mike Sommerfeldt, Jamie Hassinger and Rich Piccione.
-- Chairman, Lear Corp.: Drew Schoening, Mike Vaughn and Ken Champion.
-- Chairman, Alcoa Wheel: Mike Emmens and Mike La Belle.
-- Committeepersons, GM: Phil Selmer and Jim Kellogg for Zone 1, and Tim Silha, Vince Russo and Dennis Schaffer for Zone 2.
May 6, 2008 at 8:57 a.m.
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I think this IS news, even though I don't have any ties to GM, as there are so many businesses that have the potential to be affected by the vote.
Perhaps if the vote were at a different time, when GM and it's suppliers weren't about to lay off 1,000+ employees, it wouldn't be newsworthy to anyone outside of UAW Local 95.
I hope that whomever is elected to the positions will take his role seriously and will work to improve the future of this community through the work of the Union representation.
May 6, 2008 at 8:36 a.m.
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Why is this news? I don't see articles in the paper about who is running for top spots in other unions. And that's not an invitation to start printing that crap either.
May 6, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
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Local 95 needs a none GM worker as its President. But if they do elect a GM guy I hope he is tough on GM so the Company shows them all the door.
May 6, 2008 at 12:13 a.m.
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Wow fallman,
Who is left to vote for if you don't want the status quo or the guy with 30 years? None of the younger workers ran for president. I guess you couldn't run because you were too busy complaining. Thats what it looks like from here.
Get involved and run for election. Straighten things up if it really bothers you. If you talk to the people, this is what the vast majority wants, and they will stand with you.
gamblerone, excellent point. I know the person with 30 years started when he was 18.
Sometimes the best plans are not enough when tragedy strikes. Sometimes you have to start over. You never know someone's situation, so please consider this before making a blanket comment.
May 5, 2008 at 7:27 p.m.
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fallman, who made you such an expert on who should retire and at what age? There are a lot of people that are only 49 or 50 that have 30 years in. You do not know what situation they are in financally. Some still have kids in school. Socal security does not start until your 65. I will get a grip when I vote. OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW. I will vote for no one that is in there now.
May 5, 2008 at 7:15 p.m.
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What responsibility does the state have for GM workers? Wht should they promise anything? Its not the state's fault that GM isn't competing. The whole attitude of government bailout is just sickening.
Vote for a guy that understands economics, not pandering.
May 5, 2008 at 5:20 p.m.
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Thank God for Sheridan leaving!!!!!!!! And the guy running with more than 30yrs needs to pack up and go home too!!! Sheridan ran on the promise he was going to fight for the GM workers, well where is Sheridan when you need him folks. Right on, he's retiring. He has only provided the Janesville constuents with a half time GM representative and the constiuents with the same and got huge pay for BOTH. Wake up americans these kinds of representatives we do not need in Madison. But, I guess it's like Neil Heiman of Channel 3 editorial stated "Once again state representatives promised us nothing and lived up to their promise by doing nothing". Do not vote in some guy to UAW 95 President who should be retiring and get someone in the state assembly that will work FULL TIME for you. Get a grip when you vote!!
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