COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

The goal of the Community Services Department is to work with UAW members and their families to improve and maintain their health, well being, and quality of life through the promotion of education, training, program development and linkages between worksites, labor and the community.

America today is facing an unprecedented assault on the well being of children, the elderly, the poor and families in general. Community empowerment and involvement require shifting the responsibility for planning and decision making from agencies and professionals to the community. Concerted effort is needed to develop a framework of inclusion of UAW members working together to build coalitions between union and community groups, both formal and informal, in all volunteer and prevention effort.

The Community Services Department along with UAW Regions--
- Assist local unions to develop and strengthen their Community Services Committees.
- Conduct conferences, seminars, institutes, and special workshops to assist our members, their families, and communities.
- Assist local unions and work with state, county and local United Way agencies during strikes, plant closings and long-term unemployment.
- Help local UAW community services committees to develop union awareness and education in the areas of prevention of substance abuse, domestic violence and workplace violence.

The Community Services Department along with local union Community Services Committees support, endorse and volunteer for agencies such as the American Red Cross and United Way. These agencies assist our members and the community at large when disaster strikes, whether that disaster is a tornado or a plant closing.

UAW Region 8 members have a relationship with agencies that support all of their perspective communities. It is a sincere commitment, motivated by a desire to help those who may not be able to help themselves. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

- UAW retirees in Florida have volunteered and been trained in disaster relief by the American Red Cross.

- Local 1413 in Huntsville, Alabama has raised approximately $24,700.00 and 5,000 units of blood since 1985 to help those in need. This community services committee has been recognized for its commitment to a better community by the Alabama AFL-CIO, the American Red Cross and the International UAW Community Services Department.

- Saturn Local 1853 in Springhill, Tennessee negotiated paid leave time to assist in disasters. These local union volunteers have responded to a tornado in Oklahoma and Hurricane Lili in the Gulf.

-In Memphis, Local 2406, which has only been chartered since November of 1999, is involved year-round in many food and clothing drives and are especially active at Christmas with the Grace House in Sardis, Mississippi and the Angel Tree program. They have instituted an Emergency Response Team which is responsible for saving at least one life in the short time it has been in effect.

-UAW Local 2195, located in Tanner, Alabama has a very active Community Services Committee that is especially busy during the Christmas season. They are involved in the angel tree program, hold a Christmas concert to purchase toys and clothing for needy children, and they have a Santa Train that goes through the plant, auctioning off donated gifts to buy toys for the Salvation Army. They also collect donations for the American Heart Association's "Heart Walk" each year.

Many of our members in Region 8 are actively involved in community services. Let us know what you're doing either as an individual or with your Local Union, CAP Council, or Retiree Chapter and we will share the information with future updates.