Ronald A. Jordan 1949-2012

Ron Jordan, Region 3 Vice President of ATU Local 1700 and a 37-year veteran of Greyhound, passed away on Jan. 27 after a long, courageous fight against cancer.

Ron began driving for Greyhound in 1974 after serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. He was a prominent activist in the 1983 and 1990 strikes, and became a union steward soon after Local 1700 was formed in 1994. He was first elected Region 3 Vice President in 1999.

“Ron’s loyalty to workers was absolute, as was his hatred for bosses,” said ATU Local 1700 President Bruce Hamilton. “When a union member was hurt, Ron was hurt. And when Ron was injured, he became an injured tiger attacking the offender.”

Former Local 1700 President Chuck Flanagan, who knew Jordan for more than 30 years, said, “On a scale of 1 to 10, Ron was a 12. He was the epitome of what a tenacious union guy should be. Once he sunk his teeth into something, he would never give up until he won. He defended members whose cases were indefensible.”

ATU International President Larry Hanley described Ron as a friend and a ferocious fighter for Local 1700 members. “He was an uncompromising advocate and one of the last of the labor leaders who went to his grave cursing the bosses.”

Ron was a native of Birmingham, Alabama, where his life will be celebrated at services on Saturday, Feb. 4.

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