Hollywood, Florida
Steve Yokich was a dedicated trade unionist whose leadership of the UAW and vision for improving the lives of working people combined to create his unrelenting push for social justice and economic empowerment.
The son of union activists, Steve Yokich continued their tradition. His union activism became the hallmark of his 46-year career at the UAW, whose members recognized his leadership skills by electing him regional director in 1977, international vice president in 1980 and president in 1995.
While gaining economic security at the bargaining table for UAW members, he led his union in confronting the challenges of the corporate and political interests that were pursuing trade agreements without regard to their effects on American workers. He remained a fierce, unrelenting opponent of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and he never ceased his efforts to force policymakers to remedy its damage to millions of jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Vice President Yokich stressed the need for unions to organize the unorganized and called on his members to be politically involved. He successfully negotiated Election Day as a paid holiday for his members.
He was elected an AFL-CIO vice president in August 1995 and contributed to the Executive Council as a member of the committees on the future, international affairs, labor and the environment, manufacturing and industry, organizing, political education and public affairs, Article XX and XXI review and union sportsmen.
Steve Yokich’s uncompromising commitment to economic and social justice, along with his leadership, has improved the lives of millions of UAW members and working men and women everywhere.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the AFL-CIO Executive Council, on behalf of all its affiliates, take a moment of silence to honor and remember Steve Yokich for his years of dedication to the labor movement.