Eric Welter

Brothers and Sisters,

I am asking for your support to continue to represent the greatest local in the country. I have been Chairman for the past 10 years and have also been supported by you at every position on the bargaining team, from Alternate to Shop Committee. I am most proud to be your Chairman.

On a personal note, I have been married for 28 years to a wonderful woman, and we have three daughters who are all successful young ladies. I proudly serve as Vice President of the Board of Directors of a nonprofit called the IMA. Family, community, and the membership are my driving forces.

The difficult moments in our lives build our beliefs and values. In my career, there were two times when I thought I was out of a job and didn’t know how I would take care of my family—first during the Delphi spin-off, and second during GM bankruptcy. Those experiences shaped my focus on job security. I do not want my members to feel the way I felt at those times. Together, we have grown the membership, expanded the plant, and secured future work commitments. With your help, this plant has become a place where GM wants to build products, winning the battle for dominance over Oshawa and weathering many external challenges to build our own job security.

Although there are many things I have achieved, there is still more work to do. The conversion of more temporary employees to permanent. I have converted over 1500 workers, more than any Chairman in 598 history! Seniority status for our temporary employees is life changing, and I do not minimize the importance of making that happen as quickly as possible. I will not let any opportunity pass; my experience and relationships help me navigate the precarious situation within the company. 

 A major goal is climate control. When I started as Chairman, there were no climate-controlled areas. Today, almost the entire plant is climate controlled. Chassis Final remains the only shop without it, and I plan on fixing that!

 I want my members' work life to support their families and personal lives. While this industry provides strong wages, it often lacks flexibility. By converting over 1,500 employees, we have improved seniority, allowing more members to access better departments and shifts. In addition, we are about to re-enter my Every Saturday Agreement that provides unprecedented time off.  You will be the envy of your peers at other locations.

Thank you for your consideration and your support. In Solidarity, Eric Welter