Stephen Yokich

[1][3][5][6][7][8] When he was 22 months old, his mother (a UAW member of Local 174 who was out on strike at the Ternstedt Plant) took him to his first picket line.

[9] He served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1956, then became an apprentice in 1956 at the Heidrich Tool and Die Company in Oak Park, Michigan.

[5] Yokich became notorious for pushing and sometimes fighting with anti-union workers, managers and others while walking the picket line during strikes.

[8] In 1962, Yokich contradicted the legendary UAW president at a public meeting: "All we hear about is the sit-down strike and what we did in '38.

[2][10] Yokich was elected an international Vice President of the UAW in 1980 (he served five consecutive terms),[3] and led the union's Agricultural Implement Department.

[2][5][10] While head of this department, he ordered a strike against heavy industrial machinery manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. that lasted 205 days.

[1] The Detroit Free Press called his impact on General Motors "astonishing"; he significantly increased the union's presence and strength among workers at GM plants, agreed to tens of thousands of job cuts in exchange for higher wages and benefits, reined in the pace of change by calling strategically important local strikes, and built strong relationships with up-and-coming GM managers who he correctly predicted would eventually lead the company.

"[6] Yokich also ended a six-year strike against Caterpillar which saved the contract but led to major concessions and givebacks.

[1][2][10] During his tenure in office, he placed a greater emphasis on negotiating good contracts than on getting the union involved in national politics.

[3][11] David Cole, Director of the Center for Automotive Research, said Yokich accomplished two major tasks during his three terms as president of the UAW: First, he improved the union's relationship with General Motors and allowed Chrysler to downsize (helping to save the company).

[3] The Detroit Free Press cited his push to organize workers in casinos, health care, higher education, and other groups outside the automotive industry as his greatest accomplishment.