From The San Francisco Chronicle, the Daily Review (Hayward, Ca), and the Argus (Freemont, Ca)
LUND-SHEPPARD, Caroline
Friday, October 27, 2006
Caroline Lund-Sheppard Passed away on October 14, from Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS).
She was 62. She was an activist and leader in her union, Local 2244 of the United Automobile Workers at the New United Motors Manufacturing, Inc. plant in Fremont. She worked at NUMMI as a production worker since 1992.
For eight years she published a rank and file plant newsletter, the "Barking Dog." The "Barking Dog" became well known in the plant, and she built up its readership and in the end distributed over 1,000 copies of each issue. Most NUMMI workers liked it, and it was passed around the plant so many more of the over 4,000 union members at the plant read it.
The "Barking Dog" defended workers against company abuses, and criticized the union bureaucrats when they didn't. She gave other workers a platform to voice their opinions on everything from speed-up of the production line, contracting out of jobs, to complaints about the union leadership. Through her activism, Caroline developed a reputation for being fearless, honest and knowledgeable.
At one point, the president and chairman of the local threatened to sue her because Caroline criticized them. Workers were outraged that top union officials would seek to silence a rank and file worker, and the threat to sue her was quickly dropped. Support for her in the plant led to her being elected trustee, where she oversaw union finances and sat on the executive committee.
In the same election, the old leadership was thrown out and a new team came in. She became a member of the union's newspaper committee.
Until she became too ill, the "Barking dog" focused this year on a struggle led by autoworkers at General Motors and the Delphi parts plant in the Detroit area and other cities back east. These workers called themselves Soldiers of Solidarity and fought the use of bankruptcy to force massive concessions on the workers.
Caroline was also a socialist, having joined the Socialist Workers Party in 1964. She was active in the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War movements, and later in the new women's liberation movement. She left the SWP in 1988, having developed political and organizational differences, and then worked with various socialist groups in the Bay Area. She was at every demonstration opposing the war against Iraq.
She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Barry Sheppard; a sister, Catherine Vicary, and two nieces, Rachael and Elizabeth Vicary.
A memorial meeting will be held Saturday, November 11, 2 p.m. at the Humanist Hall, 390 27th Street, Oakland (near Broadway and Telegraph).