DETROIT – Ruben Burks, the first African American International UAW Secretary-Treasurer, died Monday. Burks also helped the Flint community. In December 2017, Local 598 renamed its union hall Ruben Burks Hall to honor his decades of leadership. “Ruben Burks will always be here in spirit,” said UAW Region 1D Director Steve Dawes. He was full of wisdom and never stopped fighting for active and retired UAW members and all working people.”