William J. Peterson

Coordinator, UAW Skilled Trades Department  

Currently, Peterson holds the position of Coordinator for the UAW Skilled Trades Department. In July of 2010, he was re-appointed Administrative Assistant to the then Vice-President to administer all channels of the UAW Skilled Trades Department. In 2006, he was assigned to the UAW Education Department and the UAW Health & Safety Department. In October of 2009, he was assigned to the UAW Arbitration Department. Peterson was appointed Administrative Assistant for the UAW Veterans Affairs Department and UAW Skilled Trades Department in July of 2002. In May of 1992, he was assigned to the International Representative Staff for the UAW Skilled Trades Department by Vice-President Stephen P. Yokich. In 1996, he was appointed Assistant Director to Rick Karas, Director of the UAW Veterans Affairs Department and the UAW Skilled Trades Department.

Peterson has been a member of UAW Local 469 since 1973, thereafter graduating as a Tool and Die Maker in 1985. The Union employees at Master Lock Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin elected Peterson President and Bargaining Chair for five (5) consecutive terms before he was assigned to the UAW International Staff. Peterson was appointed to the Macomb State College Workforce Development Board and served as Chairman of the Advisory Committee from January of 1995 to the present. Currently, he is Chairman of the Administrative Committee for the Board of Directors. In 1997, he was appointed to the Michigan Governors Commission, and held that position until 2019. In 2002, he was appointed by the Obama Administration to the Federal Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships and currently serves on that Committee.

Peterson and his wife, Dana, have four (4) children: Tammy, Jason, Matthew and Amanda. They have five (5) grandchildren: Kayley Grace, Ella Rae, Jonathon Joseph, Lucas Allen and Victoria Marie.