DETROIT - Today UAW Vice President General Holiefield announced that he will not seek re-election and will retire at the union’s 36th Constitutional Convention in Detroit in June 2014. Holiefield was elected to a second term as a UAW vice president at the UAW convention in 2010 and directs the union’s Chrysler, Heavy Truck and General Dynamics Departments.

“I leave with very cherished memories of more than 40 years as a member and leader of this great union,” said Holiefield. “My goal has always been to lift people out of poverty and to give them a better standard of living and that goal has been reflected in my work with the UAW, an institution that reflects the same goal. I have enjoyed my time with the members, my co-workers and staff, Bob King and others on the union’s International Executive Board. I will always be a part of this union. I will always leave the light on,” Holiefield added.

“Without General’s leadership, there wouldn’t be a Chrysler today,” said UAW President Bob King. “During the nation’s great economic crisis and its horrendous effect on the auto industry, General Holiefield demonstrated the leadership that helped guide Chrysler back to profitability and on to the great success it has achieved in the marketplace. The jobs of UAW members working at Chrysler are more secure today because of General,” said King.

A longtime political and community activist, Holiefield also serves as a board member of the NAACP's national board of directors and the AFL-CIO Executive Council.

Of his retirement, Holiefield said, “I’m looking forward to spending time with my three grandchildren who I haven’t had much time for in recent years.”