UAW Official Defends Record to Keep Jobs

The article, “Squabble at the UAW” (Sept. 24), presents a one-sided, and very distorted, view of the negotiations between the UAW and McDonnell Douglas.

I have been tireless in my efforts to keep union aerospace jobs in Southern California, notwithstanding the article’s statements to the contrary. I was instrumental in helping to bring about numerous aerospace projects to Southern California, including the B-1 bomber, the Peace Keeper nuclear strategic missile and the C-17 transport.

In a broader context, I spearheaded the negotiations that brought the NUMMI Plant to Fremont, Calif., and negotiated an expansion of that facility to include a truck production line. Employment at McDonnell Douglas’ Long Beach facility has remained stable, contrary to the article’s claim that thousands of jobs have been lost to other states.

The cooperative style of labor relations I promote has borne fruit at a number of facilities. It has succeeded wonderfully at the NUMMI Plant in Fremont. The same kind of contract was endorsed by the leadership of UAW Local 645, representing employees at the Van Nuys General Motors plant and approved by the membership.

While the Van Nuys plant may close next year, my efforts and the efforts of other UAW members kept the plant open for the past 10 years. We have not given up that fight either.

I have attempted to obtain a strong contract acceptable to the UAW’s membership at McDonnell Douglas. I have regularly met at the facility with McDonnell Douglas employees on the UAW negotiating committee to develop bargaining strategies and develop proposals.

There was a story to be told about the negotiations between the UAW and McDonnell Douglas. Tough times in the defense industry makes for tough labor negotiations. The Los Angeles Times certainly failed to report that story. You did the UAW, and all organized labor, a disservice by printing such a biased article.

BRUCE LEE

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The writer is director of United Auto Workers Region Six.