I hope the readers of the Working Life Blog will indulge me for a moment. --

My father passed away last summer.  He was a good union man in a good IUE local at a GE plant in Hickory, NC.  The plant closed and moved to Mexico in 1996.  During his 30 years at the plant he held many union jobs, usually shop steward and such.  However, he did run for higher office in the local and eventually became President of IUE Local 182.  It was during his presidency that the factory closed and moved to Mexico.  He did all he could to save jobs and keep as much business at the plant as possible.  His long hours saved a few dozen families their 30 year pension and with that 30 years of service a much better health insurance policy.   This is a legacy that will live on for decades.  He also had a chance to speak in front of Congress about NAFTA.  Though I was privilaged to watch him as the union hall a few times I was not able to see him speak in front of Congress.  He did tell me that a camera operator for CNN was so moved by what my father had to say about NAFTA that the camera operator left his camera station and crawled under the table just to shake my dad's hand.

Both my sister and I have led lives that seek justice in the world.  We both owe that to our father.  I am a proud member of a small AFT local in North Carolina, and the reason I am in the union movement myself is the lessons and experiences my father taught me about labor, solidarity, and being on the right side of justice.

It is very common to suggest that condolenseces be sent to some organization.  And I certainly must state that Hospice deserves support, along with many other organizations that are often mentioned for memorial giving.  However I wanted to do something a little different.  Working with IUE-CWA, I gave some seed money to start the "Gary Hefner GE Organizing Fund."  It will never be a large fund, but it is the best way I know to say to my father, "Thanks for being a great dad, thanks for raising me with a sense of justice, and that I love you."  I know of no better way to honor him than helping grow the labor movement, especially at General Electric.

If anyone is moved to send a small (or large) amount to this fund you may do so at IUE-CWA, 2701 Dryden Road, Dayton, Ohio, 45439.   You can send in a short note and mention the money is for the Gary Hefner GE Organizing Fund.

Thanks for indulging my blog post.