Recent UAW reforms

For decades, the UAW top leaders were elected by delegates chosen by regional directors, controlled by the “Administrative Caucus”(AC).

Since 2019, a dozen UAW top officials were investigated and convicted in federal court of taking at least $3.5 million in illegal deals and/or stealing $1.5 million in union funds.

After the scandal out in 2019, rank-and-file organizers in UAW formed a reform caucus: Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD). Their slogan is: “No Corruption, No Concessions, No Tiers.”

With the involvement of the US Justice Department, the reform caucus pushed for direct election of UAW top leaders, known as “One Member, One Vote”. They believe the way to clear out corruption was to let the members vote.

In 2021 Dec, the reform caucus won the referendum for One Member, One Vote.

In 2023 Mar, the reform caucus also won the election of UAW president.

In 2023 Nov, the reform caucus led and won the Big 3 contract.

References:

• One Member, One Vote: Taking Back Our Union
• After Decades of Corrupt, Antidemocratic Rule, UAW Members Are Finally Electing Their Leaders
• We Can Thank a Union Reform Caucus for the Militant UAW Strike
• Big 3 autoworkers vote ‘yes’ to historic UAW contracts