Retirees History

Today the UAW has the largest, most progressive program for retired members in American labor unions. The first resolution addressing retired workers was introduced at the 1951 UAW Convention.

The UAW took its first step toward establishing a formal organizational structure for retirees at its 1957 Convention with its adoption of Resolution 17, "UAW Program for Older and Retired Workers and Other Citizens."

At the 1966 Convention, Article 53 was adopted by the delegates. This article (now Article 55) provided for the establishment of an organization "a structure that has remained essentially unchanged. The Article created Local Union Retired Workers Chapters, Area Retired Workers Councils and Regional Retired Workers Councils within the International Union and enables retirees to remain active, participating members of the Union."

Since then, retired UAW members have been entitled to all the privileges of membership except the right to vote in certain elections as detailed in the Constitution. Retirees have representation on Local Union Executive Boards and can vote for local union officers (except stewards or committeepeople) and can vote for delegates to the UAW Constitutional Convention. Retired members are also entitled to continue to receive Solidarity magazine.