IUE-CWA Auto Conference Board Elects New Chairman

Delegates to the IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board on June 15 unanimously elected Willie Thorpe as chairman to succeed Henry Reichard, who died earlier this month of a heart condition. Reichard had been under intense pressure negotiating on behalf of IUE-CWA members affected by the bankruptcy of automotive parts manufacturer Delphi Corp.

"I am honored that the conference board leadership has turned to me in these difficult times," said Thorpe, who had been serving as director of IUE-CWA Region 7. He began his career at General Motors in 1968 as a member of Local 801, and went on to serve three terms as president. 

Thorpe had been working closely with Reichard since Delphi declared bankruptcy last October and was involved in all stages of the negotiations. Prior to being selected to oversee the 13 states and 96 locals in Region 7 last May, Thorpe has served eight years as benefits director on the conference board, where he led the benefits talks during national negotiations in 1999 and 2003 with GM and Delphi.

"Willie Thorpe is a man who gets the job done," said IUE-CWA President Jim Clark. "I am confident his knowledge of conference board history and our contracts will prove crucial to assist the local leadership during the most precarious times they and their membership have faced."

Following the election, the delegates were set to begin talks in Troy, Mich., on an attrition plan the company had given the union last week.