Another local legend has been lost due to coronvirus. Ruben Burks, the first African American International UAW Secretary-Treasurer serving from 1998-2002, has passed away. In December 2017, Local 598 renamed its union hall Ruben Burks Hall to in honor of Burks great work for the Flint community.
Burks’ career began as an assembler at the former General Motors Fisher Body Plant 2 in Flint in 1955. Burks joined UAW Local 598, was appointed to be an International Representative in Region 1C in 1970 and was the director of Region 1C by 1989. He was a leader with the UAW-General Motors Community Health Care Initiative in Flint, an advisory board member of the University of Michigan-Flint, director of the Flint Urban League and director of Goodwill Industries of Flint. In addition, Burks was also involved in the Special Olympics, Red Cross, Easter Seals and March of Dimes. He held a leadership post in Flint Genesee County Economic Development and became the first labor leader to chair the Board of Trustees of the United Way of Genesee and Lapeer counties.
Stay tuned to the Flint Courier News for an interview with Ruben Burks’ son; a Flint Courier News staff member, soon.
