UAW Members Cast Historic Mail Ballots for Top Union Officers

United Auto Workers members are casting mail ballots to elect top union officers for the second time in the union's 91-year history. Ballots were distributed August 21 and must be returned by October 5 to be counted.

The election will determine whether President Shawn Fain, who led the 2023 Stand-Up Strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, can continue steering the union away from its past practices of aligning closely with employers. Fain was first elected in 2023 on a platform opposing corruption, wage tiers and concessions.

His campaign emphasizes successful contract negotiations with major automakers and a commitment to organizing nonunion auto plants in the South and parts suppliers. Supporters point to contract gains such as cost-of-living adjustments, significant wage increases and reduced reliance on temporary workers.

William Hughes, a 27-year member of UAW Local 249 at Ford's Kansas City plant, said this year's contract victories marked a dramatic shift from previous decades. "In all my years, I’ve never seen the level of gains we’ve achieved," he said. "Even in parts plants, workers are now willing to strike for better contracts."

Fain's opponents argue that current gains were inevitable and focus on internal union conflicts and criticisms from federal monitor Neil Barofsky, appointed in 2021 to oversee reforms after a corruption scandal led to criminal convictions of top officials. They highlight reports of management strife at union headquarters and question Fain's leadership style.

Fain's slate faces five challengers: Rich Boyer, Tricia Geiger, Brian Keller, Will Lehman and Greg Mooney. Boyer and Keller are the most prominent challengers. Keller received 14 percent of the vote in 2022 and previously attempted to recall Fain. Boyer, a former Fain ally, has criticized union attendance policies and family hiring practices in the past.

Supporters of Fain's opponents describe him as arrogant and divisive. Jennifer Miller, recording secretary at UAW Local 1700 near Detroit and a Boyer supporter, said, "I don’t like the way he treats people. I don’t think he deserves credit for everything he claims."

Fain's backers counter that his hands-on approach and new bargaining strategies have empowered members. JoAnna McClenathan, a senior designer at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Connecticut and UAW Member Action steering committee member, credited Fain for helping her local secure a 30 percent raise through direct involvement.

At American Axle in Three Rivers, Michigan, workers approved a two-week strike in June that secured $30 per hour wages by 2030, up from a previous top wage of $22. "People are now able to buy cars to get to work," said bargaining committee member Jon Krause. "Some are even looking at their first homes."

Krause predicted Three Rivers members would support Fain's slate in the current election. Similarly, Brian Sullivan, a legal services worker in UAW Local 2325, said members in his sector are inspired by Fain's industry-wide bargaining approach and seek similar support for broader organizing efforts.

The election comes at a time when anti-incumbent sentiment may be less pronounced than in 2023, when Fain unseated Ray Curry amid widespread frustration with union concessions and corruption. This cycle, internal disputes and accusations of favoritism are central themes, contributing to member cynicism reminiscent of pre-2023 attitudes.

The outcome will shape the union's direction on issues including worker pay, contract enforcement and internal governance, with implications for members across the automotive and parts manufacturing sectors.