In Maywood, United Auto Workers union invests in workers inside and outside of plants
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Gary Holmes has spent over 45 years fighting for labor rights in Marion County.
A long-time employee of Allison Transmission, he now serves as president of United Auto Workers Local 933, a labor union with an office surrounded by smoke-churning plants, high-tech factories, contractors and manufacturers in Maywood.
The neighborhood, on Indianapolis' west side between White River and Mars Hill, is home to Eli Lilly's Recreation Park, Rolls Royce Training Center and Ryder Truck Rental, among others.
From the local's office on South Tibbs Avenue, Holmes and other UAW officers plot strategies to improve their members' lives. Between pouring over contracts and strategizing for collective bargaining, the local also keeps an eye toward caring for the community.
"Our people are more than just workers in these plants," he said. "We try to work in the community as well, especially in our area."
One day in April, for example, Holmes got a call. A woman was sleeping in her car and needed housing. He began calling around for help. On his desk, Holmes keeps yellow sheets of paper members can take to a nearby food bank for assistance — no questions asked. He also keeps a list of organizations offering assistance for things like infant care, utility and medical bills and home repairs.
On a larger scale, the local helped raise $55,000 to build a cabin for at-risk youth at the Indiana Sheriff's Youth Ranch in Brazil, Indiana. The program aims to help teens avoid getting lost in the criminal justice system.
UAW Local 933 has been located in Maywood for 82 years. Holmes remembers when the local had as many as 10,000 members. He said the organization is going and continues to make the community a better place to live and work.
"They think we're just local auto workers," he said, "but we try to do more than that."
Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @allyburris.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: United Auto Workers Local 933 work isn't just working inside plants
