Cathy Dawson was born in Highland Park MI attended Michigan State University for three years before dropping out for financial reasons. After Dawson returned to the area she worked at Detroit Edison as a clerk for a few years but wanted a union job…
S.E., a journeyperson pipefitter with Consumers Energy and member of UWUA- Utility Workers Union of America grew up in Detroit and graduated from Marygrove College. S.E. started working for Consumers as a part-time dispatcher and then worked as a…
Ann Francis, a member of UAW Local 652, was a pipefitter, recruiter and instructor for the UAW-GM apprentice program at Oldsmobile plant in Lansing until her retirement. Francis joined the Peace Corps after college and taught English in Malaysia.…
M.G. is a member of Local 659 and is an Electrician at Flint Engine South. M.G began working at GM and after spending several years on the production line she began to seek a more demanding position. She tested for the skilled trades and was…
Denise Greer of Local 898 is a millwright at the Ford Rawsonville plant. Greer attended college for music but found fulltime work with Ford in 1998. She describes the problems she has had with supervisors and harassment as she is only one of five…
Carrie Harding of Saginaw, MI is an Operating Engineer with Local 3241 and an instructor of MIOSHA, hazardous waste removal, and mine safety courses. While working as a traffic flagger she had an opportunity to train as an equipment operator. …
Renee Holbrook is a mechanic with the National Conference of Firemen and Oilers Local 1219 under SEIU. Holbrook was born raised in Owosso, MI and attended technical school at Universal Technical Institute in Illinois and completed a certificate…
In this interview S.H., a sheet metal worker with Local 80 recalls growing up in Taylor, MI and attending college in Kentucky and Lawrence Technical University before having to drop out for financial reasons. A sheet metal worker friend encouraged…
Sue Jantschak is a business agent with the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in veterinary technology and working in that field for thirteen years Sue developed…
T.M., a non-union roofer and general contractor, was born and raised in Trenton, MI. T.M. got into the construction trade at age 18 after buying a house, realizing she could not afford to hire help she learned how to do the repair work herself. At…