USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

Representing  employees at Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Strattec Security Corp. in Milwaukee, WI

Membership Meeting 

Sunday July 25th, 2010

USW Local 2-232 Office

8500 W. Capital Dr.  LL 101  Milwaukee 

9:30a.m.

Election for Trustee at Large 

will take place during this meeting.

  Members are urged to Attend this Meeting.

President Greg Gorecki Retires

By Scott Godshaw

"My body is leaving but my heart is staying."

            President Greg Gorecki retired on May 1, 2003. He will be doing consulting work with Aurora Insurance as a Labor Liaison.

            Gorecki began his career at Briggs and Stratton on September 8, 1971 as a trucker in Die Cast, 2nd shift at the old East Plant. Six months later he became a L.G. 18 Dyna Cast helper. While still at the East Plant, a senior pieceworker said, “Hey kid, if you want to make some real money, go to the big plant.” So he did. He became a pieceworker 1st shift in dept. 168 crankshafts and never looked back. From there he decided to transfer to West Allis, dept. 552 flywheels in 1975. It was at that point that a coworker from cranks, Al Troop, a strong union-minded worker, told him to not take any guff at West Allis. “Talk to the steward or grievance representative immediately if that happens.” Troop said.

            After four months, the flywheels dept. was not for him and he attempted to transfer back to crankshafts. Nothing was available there but he was informed that dept. 194 cylinders had openings. It was in dept.194 that Gorecki’s union career began. In 1982, with the influence of Colin Campbell, he was successful in his first attempt, winning the alternate steward job. In 1983, he was elected the steward.

            Gorecki states, “The one regret I have is that I didn’t run for a union position sooner in my career.”

            The alternate grievance rep. position was next in line, winning that election in 1984. That position was held until 1991 when Karen Graef, the grievance rep, retired and Gorecki fulfilled the rest of her term.

            With the elimination of the small engine division in 1996, Gorecki was placed in dept. M-2 through job elimination.

            In January of 1997, the International removed most of the elected grievance reps at Briggs. Gorecki was among them; however the international later decided to offer Gorecki a position on the Bargaining Committee. He refused this position not only because he didn’t agree with the Trusteeship but he was instructed that if he didn’t recommend the contract, he would be gone. He said, “In good conscience, I could not look at people in their face and recommend it.”

            When the Trusteeship ended, he put in his application for the open time study analyst position and also sought the re-election for his grievance rep. job. He was re-elected as a grievance rep and then was offered the analyst job. He declined the analyst job due to his recent election.

            In 1998, the time study analyst job opened up again and this time when offered the position, he accepted.

            The year 2000, brought an unexpected career change. He was originally going to run for Vice-President and was nominated for that position at the 12:30 membership meeting. But, even to his surprise, he was nominated at the 3:30 meeting for the office of President. 48 hours was the time limit to put in his acceptance and he used most of that time to finally decide to run for President. He was successful in that election and again in March of 2002 when he was re-elected.

            Gorecki states, “The one thing I will miss the most is working with the Committees. The closeness and knowing that you are all pulling in the same direction. These people know what you are going through.”

            “I believe my best accomplishment is increasing union participation on Labor Day. Also seeing many members wearing union t-shirts all year long.” he added.

            “I enjoyed helping out in the community and having members do the same, showing what union people are really made of.”

            Gorecki recently received an e-mail that stated, “I enjoyed working with you. You got more for the people you represented because people on both sides respected you. Whenever you said you would do something, it would get done. People trusted what you would say. The Union will miss you.”

            Although that came from one member, it is quite certain that many, many other members feel the same way.

            Gorecki would like to be remembered as someone that always wanted to have the workers’ best interest at heart.

            This writer knows for a fact that President Greg Gorecki will be remembered for that and much more as well. We’ve been together for a long time in this business and I personally will miss you always being there for myself and the membership. I will miss our camaraderie, your commitment, your extensive union knowledge, and your strong leadership. I’ve always been proud to call you friend.

            When I asked Greg, “What will you be thinking when you walk out the Union Office door as the President for the last time?” He stated, “My body is leaving but my heart is staying.”