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President, Continued from page 3 the community. Additionally, we
keep the other two past presidents
about the Fisher House and still sup- around, so we retain that knowledge.
port them as well. And I told them, “You guys just pass
me the torch, and I’m not going to
CC: You worked on the shop floor drop it.” We’re going to improve and
for six years, before choosing to keep this legacy—this tradition that
enter the political arena with a run Local 900 has—going.
for district committee representative.
What was the deciding factor in your CC: And to top it all off, you and
decision to run? your wife of 21 years, Shawna, enjoy
DW: I think it stems from when a blended family with four adult chil-
you realize that there’s a need and dren, who are all in their twenties
that people are looking for help and and thirties and prospering.
guidance. I was willing to give my all DW: My wife and I have done
and make a difference. It’s some- great service in the community—
thing my dad always told me: “Just she’s a former school board member
get up every day and try to go make and myself as a former member of
a difference.” And once you figure [Westland’s] Zoning Board. We enjoy
out you can make a difference in each other’s company. And even
someone’s life, that motivated me be- small things like when I went to
cause I was doing something that Chicago to ratify the contract, she
was beneficial to all of us. came with me.
Bobby Ramirez, Dwayne Walker, Bob Stover and Laura Dickerson Region 1A Director
CC: Following your nine years as at the Local 900 during the strike. CC: As this year ends, where do
district committee representative, inated me as an alternate. Then, at where we need to be so that we both you see yourself both personally, as
you then took the position of bargain- the last minute, the primary guy can move on? There were days when well as professionally, in the new
ing representative from 2005 until stepped aside when he got promoted. I’d walk through there [the plant], year?
2017. How did your previous role as So, I kind of fell into it. But we [the and it seemed like nothing could go DW: Personally, I’m in a good
district committee representative negotiators] are the ones who actu- right. But all it takes is one person place. When you get to a certain
prepare you for this next step? ally make the resolutions from the to say [to a worker] that the job point in life, you reach that comfort
DW: Well, it kind of laid the foun- floor, from the different locations. you’re doing is not going in vain. It’s zone. And we’ve been through a lot,
dation. That was the learning part We’re the ones who sit down and bar- like playing golf: You could be having but we’ve accomplished a lot. We
because I had no knowledge of what gain with the company. That’s what a bad day, but you sink a putt on the made it through a pandemic, we
a district rep did or what transpired. a negotiator does. last hole, and, hey, you’re coming went on strike, which is something
But being on the night shift, you had back. that hasn’t happened in forty years.
to make decisions. And right, wrong, CC: I assume that hearing a lot of So, most of us have never experi-
or indifferent, if that decision got me complaints comes with the territory, CC: How long have you served as enced that. But we came through
through—or held me over until a bet- which requires tremendous people the president of Local 900? with a good contract, which enables
ter one could be made, I was okay skills to handle it with tact. How did DW: Six years. I’m going into my a decent standard of living. When
with that. That’s where you get all you learn not to internalize all the third term. they retire–just like the other re-
your learning. criticism and feedback? tirees, they can retire with dignity
DW: Growth and maturity. Be- CC: Where do you see Local 900 and respect. We have done our job.
CC: In 2011, you served as a na- cause it’s not easy to do when you’re in the future? The UAW’s mission is to uplift the
tional negotiator, which honestly in your twenties. After a while, you DW: Well, we constantly want to standard of living and to take care of
sounds like kind of a big deal. What learn that their concerns are how make sure that Local 900 is recog- the community. And I feel like we’ve
was that like? they feel. You have to always try to fig- nizable and that we are partners accomplished that. Going into 2024,
DW: It’s kind of funny, they nom- ure out, Okay, how do we get to with the community because we are I feel good.

4 · December 2023 · The Wayne Dispatch