Sara Willis Oral History

Sara Willis Oral History

Sara Willis is an electrician at the Chrysler Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. Willis grew up in Grand Rapids and moved to Detroit in the early 1980’s to care for her ailing grandmother. She applied for the Local 58 electrical apprenticeship at the urging of a friend and after two years was called to start the program. Willis describes the apprenticeship schooling and work experience, she did not recall any mistreatment caused by her sex or race. Willis started working at Chrysler after 8 year of working at Local 58 and she compares and contrasts her experiences with both. Willis joined the UAW Local 1700 when she started working for Chrysler and is a member of CBTU-Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, CLUW-Coalition of Labor Union Women, co-chair of Women's Council Region 1, and chair of her Women's Committee. Willis explains what her official duties and activities with the groups are. At the time of this interview Willis was working towards a Bachelors degree in Management at Cornerstone College and did not plan on retiring from Chrysler. Willis closes by discussing the changes she would like to make in the local and the trades and how to make them more inclusive for women.

Raucher, Margaret; Advisory Group Members

Willis, Sara, 1960-

2004-02-16

Detroit, MI; 1978-2004