The union’s ongoing corruption scandal, which in August led to a conspiracy charge against former president Dennis Williams, has opened the door for the federal government to push for changes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit and the UAW have been in negotiations, which the U.S. attorney has indicated are progressing well.
“It would be a secret ballot process and every member of the UAW would have an opportunity to cast a ballot for the candidate they choose. It’s no longer rule by intimidation and it gives every member the ability to have a say in how their union is run,” said Houldieson, an interim steering committee member for Unite All Workers for Democracy.