Longtime labor negotiator to lead autoworkers; aims to boost much reduced membership
By APWednesday, June 16, 2010
United Auto Workers elect Bob King as president
DETROIT — Longtime United Auto Workers labor negotiator Bob King is the new president of the union.
The 63-year-old King will serve a four-year term. More than 2,000 UAW members supported him in a vote at the union’s convention.
King faced limited opposition from Detroit-area Ford worker Gary Walkowicz (WALK-oh-witz), who also ran for president. Walkowicz says the union made too many wage and benefit concessions as Detroit’s automakers restructured.
King has said that one of his priorities will be boosting union membership. UAW membership has dropped to 355,000 active members, one-fifth of its size in the late 1970s.
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