he ordered a strike against heavy industrial machinery manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. that lasted 205 days. Critics later said that Yokich's tough public stands may have prolonged the strike. In 1983, Yokich was assigned to lead the UAW's Ford Department. Although Yokich did not generally support expanded labor-management partnerships, he pushed the UAW to participate in employee involvement programs which it had already negotiated with Ford, and later negotiated work rule changes to obtain job security for his members. At least one newspaper said Yokich helped create a "virtual overhaul of the factory floor". He was critical of what UAW leaders called "Ephilinism"—joint labor-management teams championed by UAW Vice President Donald Ephlin at the Saturn Corporation—for leading to many concessions but no job security. Yokich led the UAW's General Motors Department from 1989 to 1995. Thirty minutes after taking over the department, he began demoting staffers he felt were ineffective at their jobs. The Detroit Free Press called his impact on General Motors "astonishing"; he significantly increased the union's presence and strength among workers at GM plants, agreed to tens of thousands of job cuts in exchange for higher wages and benefits, reined in the pace of change by calling strategically important local strikes, and built strong relationships with up-and-coming GM managers who he correctly predicted would eventually lead the company. He attended Wayne State University for a time, but never completed his degree. UAW presidency Stephen Yokich was elected President of the UAW in 1994. He led the union out on a 54-day strike against General Motors in 1998 that the news media characterized as "bitter." It was one of five UAW strikes against the automaker that year. Yokich agreed that neither side came out ahead after the strike but defended his decision. "We had to strike to get what we already negotiated, and the burden on the employees and the community and everybody else was unreasonable." Yokich also ended a six-year strike against Caterpillar which saved the contract but led to major concessions and givebacks. He was re-elected in 1998, and retired in 2002. During his tenure in office, he placed a greater emphasis on negotiating good contracts than on getting the union involved in national politics. He also insisted on a provision in all UAW automotive industry contracts which made federal elections a holiday for UAW members (so they could vote). David Cole, Director of the Center for