UAW President Ron Gettelfinger to Address Detroit Economic Club, March 31

Gettelfinger to be first UAW president to address club in more than a decade

DETROIT, March 26 -- The Detroit Economic Club (DEC) announces Ron Gettelfinger, UAW President, will speak at its Monday, March 31st meeting. Gettelfinger, in his first year as president will be facing one of his biggest challenges when negotiations with the Big Three automakers commence in July. Gettelfinger will deliver a presentation titled "Why America needs Unions."

The event will begin at 11 a.m. with a press conference. The club meeting will begin at noon. Both the press conference and DEC meeting will take place at Cobo Center, located at One Washington Boulevard in Detroit.

"The UAW is a tremendous force in the Detroit region and we are very pleased to have Ron Gettelfinger address the DEC. In fact, Owen Bieber was the last UAW president to address the club in 1992," said Detroit Economic Club President Beth Chappell. "It has been several years since we've had the honor of a UAW president at our podium. With the Big Three negotiations beginning in July, Mr. Gettelfinger's appearance is very timely."

The 58-year old Gettelfinger started his career with the UAW in 1964 when he was a chassis line repairman at UAW Local 862 in Louisville. Gettelfinger succeeded Stephen Yokich and was elected President of the UAW on June 5, 2002, at the UAW's 33rd Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The meeting is open to the public, at a cost of $30 for members and $45 for non-members. To reserve a seat for this event or for additional details, contact the Detroit Economic Club at www.econclub.org or call 313-963-8547.

The DEC was established in 1934, and is recognized worldwide for its contribution to the discussion and promotion of economic, political and societal issues. Serving more than 2,000 members, the Detroit Economic Club is acknowledged as one of the premier economic organizations in the United States.