Union members who have worked with Financial Secretary/Treasurer Tim Yeager, or have attended one of his labor education classes, will know that he is fond of saying that Moses was the first union organizer, and that the first strike in recorded history was when the Hebrew construction workers walked off the job in Egypt. His speaking style sounds a bit like a preacher. Well, that’s what the Episcopal Church decided too, and on August 26th, they ordained Tim as a priest in the diocese of Chicago.
The November/December issue of Solidarity magazine carried a full page article about Tim, and about NOLSW generally, in the Region 4 edition. It is also available as a download. “I was honored when Solidarity decided to do an article about my ordination,” said Tim when he learned of the interest. “I am also glad that the work of our members is highlighted in the article, so that the rest of the UAW learns more about who we (NOLSW/UAW Local 2320) are as a union.”
Tim also noted the long history of collaboration between people of faith and the labor movement, noting that when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, he was in Memphis to support the right of sanitation workers to organize a union. He also recalled that Dr. King called the American labor movement, “the first and premier anti-poverty program”.
The ordination service was attended by more than 300 people, including a number of union members. Human Services Vice President Vicki Roebuck participated in the liturgy, handing Tim a “Save Legal Services” banner as a symbol of his ministry. During the communion portion of the service, the entire congregation sang “Solidarity Forever” (official song of the UAW), accompanied by organ and choir.
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