UAW Local 600

Bernie Ricke is President of U.A.W. Local 600, and has held that position since 2009. U.A.W. Local 600 currently represents 25,000 active and retired members, with over 40 autonomous bargaining units throughout Southeast Michigan. Local 600 represents a diverse membership including the historic Ford Rouge Complex, Severstal Steel N.A., truck drivers, independent parts suppliers, healthcare and technical office professionals. Bernie became a member of U.A.W. Local 600 when he hired in at Ford Motor Company in November of 1973, at the Detroit Parts Distribution Center. Between the years of 1978 and 1989, Bernie held the unit positions of Financial Secretary, District Committee-person, Bargaining Committee-person, and Vice President of the Parts Depot Unit. In 1989 Bernie was appointed staff representative of Local 600 and then in 1992 Director of Special Projects. During this period, he led the task of the re-creation of the historic Ford Hunger March. From 1997 to 2009 he served as Second and First Vice President of Local 600. From 2003 until the present Bernie has been an elected member of the U.A.W. Ford National Negotiating Committee. He is currently the elected Co-Chair of the U.A.W. Ford National Negotiating Committee and has held that position since 2009.
Bernie has earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Wayne State University. In 1999 and again in 2004 he was given the “Spirit of Detroit” award by the Detroit City Council. Bernie is a lifetime member of the NAACP, member of the Training Alliance Executive Committee for the MTEC technical training center, member of the Labor Advisory Board for Health Alliance Plan and serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Bridging Communities Incorporated. Bridging Communities is a non-profit organization that serves the community of Southwest Detroit by providing a variety of services to the homebound elderly including meals on wheels, minor home repairs, transportation for doctors appointments and medical care. They also provide intergenerational activities between the elderly and young children, and have helped stabilize the community by successfully developing over 190 units of new low income housing for seniors.

Tony Richard

2011 – Present Local 600 1st Vice President
Attended: Wayne State University & Oakland University
Elected: Part- Time District Committeeman
Elected: 3 shift Full Time District committeeman
Re-elected: 3 shift Full Time District committeeman
Elected Local 600 General Council delegate
Appointed to Local 600 By-Law Committee
Elected: Bargaining Committeeman
Re- elected: Local 600 General Council delegate
Elected: Chairman of Local 600 By-Law Committee
Re-Elected: Bargaining Committeeman
Elected: Vice- President at D.D.M.P.
Elected: Constitution Convention delegate
Elected: President/Chairman of D.D.M.P.
Re-Elected: Constitution Convention delegate
Elected: National Negotiator (Sub council 1) 2008
Elected: 1st Vice President of local 600 (2011)
Re-Elected 2011 National Negotiator (Sub council 1)

AJ Freer

2011 – Present Local 600 2nd Vice President
2010 – 2010 Local 600 Staff Representative
2008 – 2010 Local 600 Guide
2008 – 2010 Bargaining Representative Maintenance, Construction and Transportation Unit
2006 – 2008 District Representative Maintenance Construction and Transportation Unit
1998 – 2000 Bargaining Representative Brownstown PRC
2008 – Cornell University – Automotive Industry Studies
2007 Bachelor’s Degree, University of Michigan Dearborn
2003 – Graduated from the UAW/Ford Apprenticeship
1997 – Attended Wayne State Labor Studies
1994 - Associates Degree Business Administration and Paralegal Studies, Henry Ford Community College

David Freeman

2011 Recording Secretary UAW Local 600
2010 Elected Convention Delegate of Dearborn Engine Plant
2001-10 Elected Plant Chairperson/President of Dearborn Engine Plant
2006-09 Elected General Council Dearborn Engine Plant
2005-08 Elected Vice Chairperson Dearborn Engine Plant
2002-08 Elected Bargaining Committee Dearborn Engine Plant
1999-2005 Elected Trustee UAW Local 600
1999-2002 Elected District Committee Dearborn Engine Plant
1997-2002 Certified in Parliament Procedure, Collective Bargaining, Work Place Rights, Advance Grievance Handling, Membership Mobilization, (BMIU) University of Michigan Labor Studies
1997 Lifetime Member of NAACP
1997 Appointed Activities Director DEFTP
1996 Elected Precinct Delegate (17) Detroit, MI
1996 Graduated Wayne State Labor Studies
1995 Hired Ford Motor Co. Dearborn Engine and Fuel Tank Plant

Mark DePaoli

• Financial Secretary of Local 600
• Ford Motor Company, Dearborn Assembly Plant in 1993 and worked Production there until 1996.
• Tool & Die Apprenticeship in 1996
• T&D Unit Committee Replacement from 1999 – 2004
• Graduated from Wayne State University, Labor Studies Program in 2002
• Elected Local 600 "Guide" from 2002 – 2005
• Elected T&D Unit Bargaining Committee from 2004-2005
• Elected Local 600 General Council 2006-2009
• Elected T&D Unit Vice President and Bargaining Committee 2008-2010
• Tool & Die Unit Chairman, 2010 - 2011
• Elected T&D Unit Convention Delegate 2010
• Elected Vice President, Region 1A Skilled Trades Council, Ford Division -2010
• Appointed to the Local 600 Education Committee 2010
• Elected Alternate National Negotiator of National Ford Department, Sub-council #3 (Skilled Trades) for 2011 National Negotiations.