Political Quotes

“leaders demonstrate their talent and character not when life is easy but at times of crisis. During the greatest crisis in the history of the American auto industry, that industry's workers and the communities in which they live have benefitted enormously from the leadership of a quiet Kentuckian whose devotion to working families cannot be overstated. When Ron Gettelfinger took office as president of the United Auto Workers in 2002, I do not think anyone, and certainly not Ron, foresaw the turbulence ahead. As his 8 years as president of the UAW come to a close, it is time to congratulate and thank him for exceptional leadership in tough times. Ron navigated those rough waters guided by two lights: a clear-eyed assessment of what was necessary to preserve America's auto industry, and the sure knowledge that millions of families depended on its preservation. That knowledge came from Ron's days on the assembly line at Ford's Louisville assembly plant, from his days as his plant's local president, from his service as regional president for UAW members in Indiana and Kentucky, and from his time at Solidarity House in Detroit. He is a sharp, tough-minded negotiator, but underlying his talents and skills is a real emotional bond with the workers who have depended on his leadership. That bond with his members meant that when Ron Gettelfinger asked them to make sacrifices, they knew it was not because he was taking the easy way out, but because it was necessary.”