Many UAW members have shared their personal stories with us on this blog, so today we want to share with you a story about UAW members across the country working together for a common cause.

We recently found a set of videos created by UAW members who work at GM plants across the country. Each of these videos conveys a heartfelt “Thank You” to the U.S. troops who are currently serving overseas, and the veterans who have served in the past.

The video below was created by UAW Local 1853 members who work at GM Springhill Manufacturing in Springhill, TN.

To see more of the military thank-you videos created by UAW members across the U.S. you can visit the UAW and GM’s You Tube Channel.

After 30 years of work building the world's finest engines, I am finally enjoying my retirement. I am so thankful and proud to be a retired member of the UAW.

I am just finishing a 30 day trip to the Philippines, and another 20 days in Hong Kong. During this trip I have done it all. Extremes from walking through rice paddies at the end of the world in Ajuy Philippines, all the way up to watching the "Symphony of Lights" in Hong Kong...They play music at the civic center and hundreds of skyscrapers light with laser lights, and move with the music.

One morning, I was shocked by a China newspaper article. This country actually pays companies to move to low wage areas so the company can make more profit. Also it compensates that companies suppliers for added cost of shipping its product to the moved company. This causes me concern for my remaining brothers and sisters still working in UAW plants. I am concerned for their happy retirement. We need increased activism in our own government to level the playing field.

I noticed in the Philippines the amount of poor and desperate. Thousands dream of going to America. My fear is that with worldwide promotion of corporations, and trickle down poverty for persons of all nations, that the dream that I am living at the moment will not be available to Children of the future.

I hope that I have encouraged my fellow union members, while at the same time enlightening them a little.

I am thankful for each and every one of you, and may God Bless you all.

This is about my mother. She started in Framingham, Massachusetts UAW Local 422 (now gone), transferred to Fort Wayne, Indiana UAW Local 2209 truck plant. She will have her thirty years in June of 2009. My brother and I are very proud of her- she always put us first, raised us as a single parent after she divorced from our father, and put us through college. I am married with two beautiful sons that adore my mother. My brother is engaged and living in Massachusetts and I live in Pendlton, Indiana. My mother worked her way through the union and she is now a committeeperson for paint and body and paint support on the 2nd shift at Fort Wayne. We are proud of her as she has always maintained her dignity throughout the years working at General Motors. She has gone through the laid offs in the 70's 80's and 90's and yet with her union behind her has managed to make us proud of her. She is one heck of a mother and grandmother. I just wanted people to know about her as she is a remarkable lady to many of her friends and co-workers. She loves her union family and friends.

To you mom, we love you.
Michelle and John, Camden and Evan and Thomas and Janine

Proud member of the UAW, Kirk Lane, speaks of how he uses media to help better explain the lives of workers. He also gives advice on how workers can give back to the community.

C. Jay Latham, retired General Motors worker, shares his thoughts on his continued support of the UAW. He also talks of how important the UAW is to him, as well as, to younger workers.

John Gokee recently sent us a picture accompanied by this message:

“If half the people in Florida would buy American-made cars, our economy would be better off. They don't realize the importance of buying American.

Thank you,
                        John W. Gokee"