The 400,000 members of the United Auto Workers union plus its retirees will get the chance starting Tuesday to vote on whether they want to choose their leaders in direct elections.
The potential overhaul of the union's election system follows a corruption scandal — and settlement agreement with the government — that has roiled the top of the organization, which represents workers at a number of northwest Ohio companies including the Jeep plant.
When is the vote and how does it work?
The mail-in secret ballots will be sent to UAW members starting Tuesday and must be returned by Nov. 29. All members in good standing can participate, including part-time workers and retired members. The election is being overseen by an independent monitor, New York attorney Neil Barofsky.
How has the UAW elected its leadership up until now, and how would it change if approved?
The UAW's executive officers are presently elected to four-year terms at a convention, by delegates who are chosen by local unions. The system has allowed outgoing leadership to wield considerable control over who is selected next.
"There is a tremendous amount of pressure put on local delegates to toe the line," said Martha Grevatt, steering committee member of Unite All Workers for Democracy, a group of UAW members pushing for the election reforms. She said she knows firsthand having served as a delegate before.
If UAW members approve the change, it would mean they could directly vote for the union president and other leaders — a one member, one vote system. That vote on leadership would occur before next June.
How did the UAW corruption scandal lead to this election?
The vote and appointment of Mr. Barofsky, the monitor, are part of a December deal between former UAW President Rory Gamble and ex-U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider in Detroit that held off moves by the government to take over the union following the corruption scandal. Mr. Schneider viewed direct elections as a way to hold union leaders accountable for their actions.
The scandal involved millions of dollars meant for union training instead routed to UAW leadership for various luxuries, as well as other kickbacks and slush funds used to finance luxury trips and other pricey items and meals. Eleven union officials and a late official’s spouse have pleaded guilty in the corruption probe since 2017, although not all the crimes were connected. Some Fiat Chrysler employees have also been convicted in one of the schemes.
The former UAW president, Mr. Gamble, has said the direct election system would allow anti-union groups to put out disinformation, and that the current delegate system gives more of a voice to minorities, women, and those outside the auto industry.
But George Windau, a millwright at Toledo's Jeep factory involved in the Unite All Workers for Democracy campaign, said a direct election process would allow members to ensure their leaders have their interests in mind. If they felt leadership was "in bed with the company" — as was the case with the recent scandal involving Chrysler — members could turn around and say: "You're fired."
"More democracy is always better, in my eyes," added Dan Denton, another local Jeep worker and a UAW chief steward. "More member participation is always better."
Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12 in Toledo, did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Who is in charge of running the election?
Mr. Barofsky was appointed by a federal judge earlier this year as part of the settlement and is in charge of independently overseeing the election. The results must be approved by the U.S. Labor Department and a U.S. District Court Judge.
If the one member, one vote system is approved by UAW members, Mr. Barofsky, in consultation with the union, would develop election rules for the new system. He would also be charged with ensuring none of the candidates in a future election should be barred due to previous criminal conduct or other impropriety, as laid out in the consent decree.
What sort of campaigning has led up to the vote?
Ms. Grevatt, based in Cleveland, said her group has been reaching out to UAW members with leaflets, text messages, and phone calls in an effort to build awareness for the vote, what it would do, and ensure they check their mailbox for the ballot.
"This is a very grassroots, rank and file-driven campaign," she said. "It's about rebuilding solidarity and the fighting spirit that our union historically has been identified with."
It's unclear if any significant opposition campaign, to maintain the current delegate system, is underway. Ms. Grevatt and Mr. Denton noted they have seen little communication from top UAW officials telling members about the election, which could mean some members will be unsure what the election is about.
"Half the [Jeep] plant doesn't even know what's going on, because our union leadership has done nothing to let us know it's happening," Mr. Denton said.
Information from The Blade’s news services was used in this report.
First Published October 16, 2021, 2:55 p.m.
