The United Auto Works union (UAW) has voted for a new President in the organization’s first direct election.
The election arrives some years after the end of a federal corruption probe, which resulted in a civil settlement and multiple convictions for union leaders and OEM executives. It also marks the first time general members were allowed to cast ballots. Incoming president Shawn Fain will take over for incumbent Ray Curry, who has led the organization since 2021, on Sunday. The two had previously run against each other in 2022, but failed to win more than half of the votes, resulting in a runoff. The appointment was further delayed when Curry challenged the election results, which showed his campaign fell short by only five hundred votes out of 141,500. However, the soon-to-be former UAW leader has now stated he is “committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and without disruptions.”
Since most of the organization’s board positions will also be replaced by his supporters, Fain’s appointment is expected to significantly alter the organization’s makeup. His campaign promised to challenge automaker management, after accusing prior leadership of giving into corporate demands too easily. The candidate’s platform also targeted a recently established tiered pay agreement, which has garnered considerable criticism from UAW members. All of these sentiments were echoed in the candidate’s slogan of “No corruption. No concessions. No tiers.”
U.S. automakers are now bracing for even more negotiations with the UAW. Fain has made no secret of his dislike for OEM leadership, and, in a memo draft obtained by the Detroit Free Press, speaks of restructuring the organization after a “more militant/fighting vision,” and alludes to a possible strike. He has also promised to secure additional member benefits, including raises and cost-of-living adjustments.
