Vice President Harris and Governor Walz visit Wayne

Governor Walz and Vice President Harris speak at the UAW Local 900 last month.

By Sarah Shurge – “I say to all the members of UAW, I am so deeply honored, as a lifelong supporter of union labor, for Tim and I to have the endorsement of UAW,” said Vice President Kamala Harris.
On Thursday, August 8th, Vice President (V.P.) and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visited UAW Local 900 in Wayne to endorse the Harris/Walz Presidential campaign.
“It says a lot that they would come out here and see us,” Dwayne Walker, United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 900 President. “It’s important because it shows that they think of us and our history.”
Shawn Fain, UAW President, introduced V.P. Harris and Walz, calling them “one of us” and “working-class people.”
“Vice President Harris talked yesterday about how she had a first job at McDonald’s. Governor Walz’s been a school teacher. We’ve seen what this government, what the Republican Party in particular, has done to education in our lifetime,” said Fain.
Harris was a prosecutor in San Francisco before being elected attorney general of California, then a U.S. senator, and then Vice President. Walz was a high school teacher and football coach before being elected to Congress and then governor of Minnesota.
Both V.P. Harris and Walz talked about the importance of voting with labor-friendly candidates in mind.
“That’s who we are, we are working class, middle class people,” said Walker. “We’ve always backed them, as a labor-friendly, blue-collar town.”
According to the Detroit News, “President Joe Biden was the first sitting president to walk a strike picket line during last year’s strike at the three Detroit automakers at a General Motors Co. components distribution warehouse in Van Buren Township.”
“You’ve got two people up here that have stood on the picket line with striking UAW members,” said Fain, in reference to V.P. Harris and Walz.
During the 2019 national UAW strike against GM, V.P. Harris walked the picket line. During the 2023 Stand Up Strike, Walz was standing on the picket line too.
“They’re very personable, and know what the average person needs. We’re fortunate to have someone we can communicate with,” said Walker. “The V.P. she picked seems like an everyday guy. If you didn’t know he was from Minnesota, you would think he was from right here in Wayne.”
Walz is also a proud union member.
“I couldn’t be prouder to be on this ticket and couldn’t be prouder to stand with UAW,” said Governor Walz.

Vice President Harris

UAW Local 900 was the first Ford plant to go on strike last fall during the UAW’s nearly seven weeks strike against the “Big Three” (Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Stellantis).
“They realize a lot of things happened here in the past year. We were under negotiation. Ground zero for the strike. They are definitely representing UAW. We’re doing a lot of positive things in Wayne,” said Walker.
Walker has been UAW Local 900 President for seven years.
“My favorite part is the fact you can make a difference in so many people’s lives everyday. It gives you a good feeling knowing the decisions you make affect others’ livelihood. That’s what we’re here for. That’s what UAW stands for. To uplift standards of living conditions of the working class. You can’t get a better reason than that,” said Walker.
Walker has been with Ford for 34 years and 29 years as an elected UAW representative.
“We’re glad to be a part of the community. We live here, we work here, we do everything here. We’re loyal. If you need us, just call. We’ll be right there with you,” said Walker.
UAW Local 900 has hosted and participated in events such as: Red Cross blood drives, food drives, food banks, coat drives, back-to-school drive with Hill Crest Bible Church, Adopt an Angel with Wayne-Westland Goodfellows, Trunk-or-Treat, Stuff the Bronco, Stuff the Bus, and much more.
The Local 900 recently had a golf outing for veterans, Slow Roll in the community, and is already planning their Adopt an Angel program to support less fortunate families for Christmas.
They are currently working on their Stuff the Bronco program where they pack a Bronco with school supplies. Donations including: backpacks, pencils, pens, paper, rules, erasers, folders, or other school supplies would be appreciated.
If you’d like to get involved or support the UAW Local 900, they collect eyeglasses for Lions Club, Cell Phones for Soldiers with the Wayne Police Department, or you can drop off gently used clothing that they share with Veteran’s Haven or Lighthouse Church. Local 900 is also collecting prom dresses.
UAW Local 900 is located at 38200 Michigan Ave in Wayne.
For more information about UAW Local 900 or upcoming events, you can find them on Facebook by searching “UAW Local 900” or call (734) 721-2530.
“The bottom line about UAW is even if you’re not a member of a union, you better thank unions. So I’m here to say thank you. Thank you to the sisters and brothers of UAW for all you are and all we will do over these next 89 days,” said V.P. Harris.