May 8, 2025
Final Day of the 2025 UAW Region 8 Retiree Conference
text by John Davis photos by David Firkins

The final day of the 2025 Retiree Conference kicked off with the Director’s Breakfast, followed by updates on benefits.

Tony Vultaggio from the Ford Department gave an update on the National Ford Benefits. Vince Precopio gave a report on the Stellantis National Benefits.

The UAW Social Security report was presented by Renee Turner-Baley, Director of the UAW Social Security Department.

International UAW Vice President of the GM Department Mike Booth, his AA Nicole Current and International Servicing Rep over the GM Benefit Department gave a GM Benefit update.

UAW Region 8 Retiree/CAP Reps Kevin Huddleston, Mark Dowell and Anthony Towner gave an update on CAP issues facing our retirees.

After lunch, UAW Region 8 Assistant Director George Palmer introduced UAW Region 8 Director Tim Smith, who closed out the conference with a report to the retirees.

“Here in Region 8 we understand we are standing on the shoulders of giants,” Director Smith stated. “Our retirees have paved the way for the rest of us and fought for the wages and benefits we all enjoy. Our retirees have built and protected our communities, built the middle class and the nation.

Currently we are seeing vital programs that make up our social safety net attacked. Social Security and Medicare that our retirees have paid into for generations are being threatened. Our public schools are under attack, head start programs, school nutrition programs, special needs programs, all while public funds are funneled to private schools.

Our retirees have played by the rules, worked hard, and prepared for their golden years. Now billionaires want to take what our retirees have worked for. Our members are covered up in the lies and misinformation dumped on them from these same billionaires. We in the UAW will never stop fighting to protect our seniors, our children and the working class.”