For Local 660 Vice President Nan Holden, this time it’s personal.

Her high school senior daughter Sunnie traveled with her on the all-night bus from Elsie, Mich. to Washington D.C. to take a stand against granting permanent Normal Trade Relations for China.

Sunnie has already put in an application at Lear Corp. where her mother and other UAW members make seat adjusters for vehicles, and she hopes to start working after graduation.

"We have to fight to make sure there are good-paying jobs for our children," says Nan Holden.

That’s part of why she and thousands of other UAW members came from as far away as California and Oregon to rally on the Capitol steps and participate in the largest lobby day in the history of the AFL-CIO.

Their rallying cry: "No Blank Check for China."

The prominence of the UAW contingent of active members and retirees--with more than a sprinkling of spouses and children--was reflected in the boisterous reception given UAW President Stephen P. Yokich when he addressed the crowd of 15,000.

"I’m here to deliver a very simple message to the members of Congress," thundered Yokich. "We expect you to stand up for us. We expect you to stand up for human rights. We expect you to stand up for worker rights, decent wages, and good working conditions."

Continued