IUE-CWA Mourns the Death of Henry Reichard

Henry Reichard, IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board chairman, died suddenly at home on June 5 of an apparent heart condition.

Reichard was heading negotiations for a new contract with Delphi Corp. as the company restructures under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and had been under intense pressure in bargaining the week prior to his death. Delphi asked the court for a postponement of a hearing set for June 9 on its request to void union contracts.

IUE-CWA President Jim Clark, hundreds of IUE-CWA members and officials from Delphi and General Motors attended a memorial service for Reichard in Centerville, Ohio. Bargaining was recessed until at least next week.

Reichard first went to work for Delphi Energy and Chassis Systems in 1969 and held several leadership positions in Local 755 including vice president.

He joined the IUE-CWA District 7 staff in November 2000 as an organizer. In March 2001, he was appointed to the Conference Board staff as director of safety. He was elected chairman of the Conference Board in May 2005.

The IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board negotiates and enforces contracts for 17,000 members at five companies: Delphi, General Motors, DMAX, Visteon and Valeo.

"Over the last eight months, Henry has spent countless hours protecting our members and retirees as we face the challenges of the Delphi bankruptcy," Clark said. "At the same time, he oversaw negotiations at DMAX and General Motors. There are thousands of IUE-CWA members, retirees and their families who have Henry Reichard to thank for their wages, pensions and benefits."

Reichard is survived by his wife, Kathy, four children and five grandchildren.